Vignette or toll: what is the difference?
A vignette is a fixed amount for a period: you pay once and can then use that country’s toll roads as often as you like. With a toll you pay for each stretch of road you drive. Which of the two applies differs per country, and above 3.5 tonnes it is often different again.
The three systems
- Vignette. You buy it for a day, a week, a month or a year. The periods on offer differ per country: Switzerland only has an annual vignette. Most vignettes are digital and linked to your number plate.
- Toll per section. You pay for the distance you drive, at a toll gate or afterwards. The price depends on your vehicle class. This is how it works in France, Italy and Croatia.
- Distance-based toll. A unit in the vehicle counts the kilometres. As a rule this applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and in some countries to heavy motorhomes too.
There are also countries without a general toll, where you only pay on a bridge, in a tunnel or on a single road. The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom are among them.
Which system applies where
Choose your vehicle. The table shows what applies to you in each country.
Choose your vehicle
| Country | For your vehicle | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Car Vignette Standard rule. Car with caravan Vignette One vignette for the car. No toll is due for a trailer towed by a vehicle up to 3.5 t. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Vignette Motorhomes up to 3.5 t use the vignette. Motorhome over 3.5 t Distance-based toll GO-Box required (EUR 12 processing fee), toll per kilometre by the motorhome's number of axles. Trailer axles are not counted for motorhomes. | Vignette required on motorways and expressways for vehicles up to 3.5 t. From 1 February 2027 only the digital vignette is valid. Some sections have a separate section toll. |
| Belgium | Car No toll No toll now. Road vignette planned from 1 May 2027. Car with caravan No toll No toll now. Whether a trailer falls under the planned vignette is not yet known. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No toll now. According to the Brussels Region the vignette planned from 1 May 2027 also applies to motorhomes up to 3.5 t. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll Category M is exempt from the kilometre charge. Only a motorhome registered in category N over 3.5 t pays the kilometre charge. | No toll for passenger cars at present. According to the Flemish Tax Administration a digital road vignette is needed from 1 May 2027 on Belgian regional roads and motorways. The decree is still pending. |
| Croatia | Car Toll per section Group I. Car with caravan Toll per section Group I car with a trailer: group II, regardless of the trailer's number of axles and height. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section Higher than 1.90 m and up to 3,500 kg: group II. With a trailer: group III. Motorhome over 3.5 t Toll per section Two or three axles over 3,500 kg: group III. Two axles with a single-axle trailer: also group III. With a two- or three-axle trailer, or three axles with a trailer: group IV. | Toll per section on motorways. The vehicle group depends on height, axles, permitted mass and whether you tow a trailer. |
| Czechia | Car Vignette Standard rule. Car with caravan Vignette One vignette for the car. The trailer is not subject to the vignette. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Vignette Covered by the rule for four-wheeled vehicles up to 3.5 t. Motorhome over 3.5 t Distance-based toll No vignette. According to the ministry, motor vehicles over 3.5 t fall under the electronic toll. Motorhomes are not named separately there: check with mytocz.eu before you leave. | Electronic vignette required on tolled motorways for four-wheeled vehicles up to 3.5 t. Trailers and motorcycles are exempt. |
| Denmark | Car No toll Only bridge tolls on Storebælt and Øresund. Car with caravan No toll Only bridge tolls, by vehicle type and length. Storebælt 2026: car with caravan DKK 360, DKK 314 with Bizz or number plate payment. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll Only bridge tolls. Storebælt 2026: motorhome up to 6 m DKK 235, up to 10 m DKK 645. Up to 3,500 kg and longer than 6 m: DKK 314 with a motorhome agreement (autocamperaftale). Motorhome over 3.5 t Not yet confirmed For now only bridge tolls (Storebælt 2026: up to 10 m DKK 645, longer DKK 1,020). The 2027 toll targets trucks used for goods transport; the source does not say whether motorhomes stay exempt. | No vignette or road toll for passenger cars. Tolls do apply on the Storebælt Bridge and the Øresund Bridge. The kilometre toll applies to trucks. |
| Estonia | Car No toll No toll. Car with caravan No toll No toll. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No toll. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll No road user charge as long as the motorhome is not registered as N2 or N3. | No toll for passenger cars. The road user charge (teetasu) applies to trucks in categories N2 and N3 over 3.5 t. |
| Finland | Car No toll No toll. Car with caravan No toll No toll. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No toll. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll No toll: time-based and distance-based charges do not exist in Finland. | No tolls. According to Traficom, vignettes, distance-based tolls and emission stickers are not used in Finland. |
| France | Car Toll per section Class 1. Luggage on the roof does not change the class. Car with caravan Toll per section Caravan up to 2 m high: class 1. Between 2 and 3 m: class 2. From 3 m: class 4. For weight only the towing car's permitted mass counts. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section Usually class 2 (2 to 3 m high). Higher than 3 m: class 3. Motorhome over 3.5 t Toll per section Class 3 with two axles, class 4 with three or more axles. With a trailer: class 4. | Toll per section on most motorways. The rate depends on the vehicle class: height, permitted mass and number of axles. |
| Germany | Car No toll No vignette or general toll. Tolls only in two tunnels (Rostock, Lübeck) and on a few private mountain roads. Car with caravan No toll No vignette or general toll; tolls do apply at the individual toll sites. Combinations only fall under the truck toll if the towing vehicle itself exceeds 3.5 t and serves goods transport. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No vignette or general toll. Tolls only in two tunnels (Rostock, Lübeck) and on a few private mountain roads. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll Exempt from the truck toll, also above 7.5 t, as long as the vehicle is not used for goods transport. | No vignette or general toll for passenger cars, caravans and motorhomes. Tolls do apply in the Warnow tunnel (Rostock) and the Herren tunnel (Lübeck) and on a few private mountain roads in Bavaria. The truck toll (Lkw-Maut) applies only to goods transport over 3.5 t. |
| Hungary | Car Vignette Category D1. Car with caravan Vignette Towing car in D1: no separate vignette for the caravan. Towing vehicle in D2: the caravan needs its own U vignette. In 2026 the U vignette costs the same as D1. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Vignette D1 for category M1 with at most 7 seats, otherwise D2. Motorhome over 3.5 t Vignette Category D2, more expensive than D1. A trailer then needs its own U vignette. | E-vignette (e-matrica) required on toll roads. Since 1 January 2026 motorhomes over 3.5 t also use the e-vignette, in category D2. |
| Ireland | Car Toll per section Motor car class. Car with caravan Toll per section Rate for a car with caravan not confirmed. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section TII lists classes for motor cars (up to 8 passengers plus driver), buses and goods vehicles by weight. Motorhomes are not listed: class not confirmed. Motorhome over 3.5 t Not yet confirmed Class for motorhomes over 3.5 t not confirmed. | Tolls on a number of motorways and tunnels. The M50 around Dublin has barrier-free tolling between junctions 6 and 7: pay afterwards or register with eFlow. |
| Italy | Car Toll per section Class A, or B if the car is higher than 1.30 m at the front axle. Car with caravan Toll per section Combinations with more than two axles are classed by number of axles: class 3 with three axles, class 4 with four. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section Two axles and higher than 1.30 m at the front axle: class B. Motorhome over 3.5 t Toll per section Class B with two axles, class 3 with three axles. Weight does not count. | Toll per section on motorways: rate per kilometre times distance. Five classes based on height at the front axle and number of axles. |
| Latvia | Car No toll No toll. Car with caravan No toll No toll for a passenger car with caravan. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No toll according to the law (goods transport only). Still to be confirmed for motorhomes between 3,000 and 3,500 kg. Motorhome over 3.5 t Not yet confirmed Not explicitly confirmed that motorhomes over 3.5 t are exempt from the vignette. | No toll for passenger cars. The vignette (road user charge) applies to goods vehicles over 3,000 kg and combinations over 3,500 kg on main and regional roads. |
| Liechtenstein | Car No toll No toll in Liechtenstein itself. Car with caravan No toll No toll in Liechtenstein itself. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No toll in Liechtenstein itself. Motorhome over 3.5 t Mixed Lump-sum heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) as in Switzerland. Current rules still to be confirmed. | No toll system or vignette of its own. For Swiss motorways you need the Swiss vignette. Over 3.5 t the heavy vehicle charge shared with Switzerland applies. |
| Lithuania | Car No toll No toll for M1. Car with caravan No toll No toll for an M1 car with caravan. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll Exempt in category M1. A motorhome registered as N1 is subject to the charge. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll Exempt in category M1. In an N category the charge applies. | No toll for passenger cars (category M1). The road charge applies to categories M2, M3 and N1 to N3. From 1 January 2027 a distance-based toll replaces the vignettes, M1 stays exempt. |
| Luxembourg | Car No toll No toll found. Car with caravan No toll No toll found. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No toll found. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll The Eurovignette applies to goods vehicles from 12 t, not to motorhomes. | No toll or vignette for passenger cars found. The Eurovignette applies only to goods vehicles from 12 t on motorways. |
| Netherlands | Car No toll No vignette or general toll. Exception: the A24 Blankenburg connection, 1.57 euros per trip up to 3,500 kg (2026). Car with caravan No toll No vignette or general toll. A24: 1.57 euros per trip (2026), nothing extra for the caravan. The Westerschelde tunnel charges vehicles higher than 3 metres. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll No vignette or general toll. A24: 1.57 euros per trip up to 3,500 kg (2026). Westerschelde tunnel: motorhomes registered as category M1 pass free, even above 3 metres. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll No truck charge for category M. A24: 9.49 euros per trip over 3,500 kg (2026). Westerschelde tunnel: motorhomes registered as category M1 pass free, even above 3 metres. | No vignette and almost no tolls. Exceptions: the A24 Blankenburg connection near Rotterdam (electronic toll, foreign plates too), the Kiltunnel and, in the Westerschelde tunnel, vehicles higher than 3 metres. Motorhomes (M1) pass there for free. |
| Norway | Car Toll per section Rate group 1. Car with caravan Toll per section The car is in rate group 1. AutoPASS does not mention trailers in the toll rates. On AutoPASS ferries total length counts: up to 6 m 1x, up to 10 m 2x, longer 3x the car fare. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section Rate group 1. Motorhome over 3.5 t Toll per section With tag and agreement rate group 1 (M1), otherwise group 2. A tag is not mandatory for private motorhomes. With a foreign plate you arrange the group 1 rating with your tag issuer. | Automatic toll stations (AutoPASS) on roads, in tunnels and around cities, without barriers. With a foreign plate you register with Epass24 or drive with a toll tag. |
| Poland | Car Toll per section Toll only on concession sections. Car with caravan Toll per section Since 21 September 2026 a vehicle up to 3.5 t with a trailer no longer has to use e-TOLL. On the A2 Nowy Tomyśl to Konin a car with a trailer is category 2: PLN 71 per segment. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section Same rule as a car. Motorhome over 3.5 t Distance-based toll e-TOLL mandatory for motor vehicles over 3.5 t, motorhomes included. You need an e-TOLL account with credit and drive with the e-TOLL PL app or an on-board unit. | For vehicles up to 3.5 t the state sections A2 Konin to Stryków and A4 Wrocław to Sośnica have been toll-free since 1 July 2023. On concession sections of the A2 and A4 you pay at toll plazas. |
| Portugal | Car Toll per section Class 1 if the car is lower than 1.10 m at the first axle. Car with caravan Toll per section Towing car lower than 1.10 m: class 1, also with a caravan. From 1.10 m the caravan's axles count: class 3 or 4. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section Two axles and 1.10 m or higher at the first axle: class 2. Motorhome over 3.5 t Toll per section Class 2 with two axles, class 3 with three axles. | Toll per section on motorways. Some have electronic-only tolls without a gate: with a foreign plate you must activate a means of payment beforehand. |
| Slovakia | Car Vignette Standard rule. Car with caravan Vignette Combination up to 3.5 t: only a vignette for the car. Above 3.5 t in total the car and the trailer (category O1 or O2) each need their own vignette. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Vignette Covered by the rule up to 3.5 t. Motorhome over 3.5 t Vignette Vignette if the motorhome is registered as M1. For another category the rule is not confirmed. | Electronic vignette required on designated motorways and expressways. Applies up to 3.5 t and to category M1 vehicles regardless of weight. |
| Slovenia | Car Vignette Usually class 2A. Car with caravan Vignette One vignette on the towing car's plate. The trailer's mass does not count. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Vignette Registered as a camping vehicle (code SA in the vehicle documents): class 2A, regardless of height. Without that code and higher than 1.30 m above the front axle: class 2B. Motorhome over 3.5 t Distance-based toll DarsGo with on-board unit, toll class by number of axles. | E-vignette required on toll roads for vehicles up to 3,500 kg, with or without a trailer. The e-vignette is not valid in the Karavanke tunnel: a separate toll applies there, EUR 9.00 per passage up to 3,500 kg. |
| Spain | Car Toll per section Ligeros group. Car with caravan Toll per section Trailer without twin wheels: Ligeros. Single-axle trailer with twin wheels: Pesados 1. Two or more axles with twin wheels: Pesados 2. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Toll per section According to the tariff tables Ligeros also covers vans and minibuses with two axles and four wheels. Motorhomes are not listed separately: classification not confirmed. Motorhome over 3.5 t Not yet confirmed Classification of motorhomes over 3.5 t not confirmed in the official source. | Toll per section on part of the autopistas (AP roads). Three rate groups: Ligeros, Pesados 1 and Pesados 2. |
| Sweden | Car No toll Only congestion tax and bridge tolls at the places listed. Car with caravan No toll Only congestion tax and bridge tolls at the places listed. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll Only congestion tax and bridge tolls at the places listed. Motorhome over 3.5 t Not yet confirmed No separate charge found. The heavy bridge rate is listed only for goods vehicles over 3.5 t; the source does not say whether a motorhome falls under it. | No vignette or general road toll. There is a congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg and bridge tolls in Motala, Sundsvall and on Skurubron. Foreign vehicles pay too. |
| Switzerland | Car Vignette Standard rule. Car with caravan Vignette The caravan or trailer needs its own vignette in addition to the car's. Motorhome up to 3.5 t Vignette Motorhomes up to 3.5 t use the vignette. Motorhome over 3.5 t Mixed No vignette. PSVA for 1 to 30 days, 1 to 11 months or a calendar year, by weight. Minimum CHF 25 per payment. Without valid proof: CHF 100 fine plus the charge due. | Annual vignette required on motorways and expressways for motor vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 t. Only an annual vignette exists. |
| United Kingdom | Car No toll Tolls only on individual roads, bridges and tunnels. Car with caravan No toll Tolls only at individual sites. Dartford Crossing: a car with a trailer stays in class B. M6 Toll: a car with a trailer or caravan is class 3. Motorhome up to 3.5 t No toll Tolls only at individual sites. Dartford Crossing: motorhomes are in class B. M6 Toll classifies by axles and height at the first axle: from 1.3 m class 4 or higher. Motorhome over 3.5 t No toll No separate charge found: the HGV Levy applies to heavy goods vehicles from 12 t. Dartford Crossing: motorhomes are in class B, with no weight limit in the class table. | No vignette or general motorway toll. Tolls do apply on the M6 Toll, the Dartford Crossing (M25) and a number of bridges and tunnels. |
Where a vignette goes wrong
- The number plate. A digital vignette is only valid for the plate you enter. One typing error means you are driving without a vignette.
- The start date. A vignette bought online is not always valid straight away. In Austria the 2-month and annual vignettes bought by consumers only start on the 18th day after purchase. The details are under vignette and tolls in Austria.
- The class. In Slovenia you choose the toll class yourself, and the wrong class means a fine. See vignette and tolls in Slovenia.
- The trailer. In Switzerland a caravan or trailer needs a vignette of its own. See vignette and tolls in Switzerland.
- Extra tolls. A vignette does not always cover everything. In Austria you pay separately on a number of Alpine sections, even with a vignette.