Once again this year, the different toll charges in the EU countries are as colourful as the Easter eggs in the nest. They are all increasing prices, digitalisation is progressing, one country is scoring points with eco-reductions and Italy wants to become cheaper and more transparent from 2027.
We have compared our most important bike spot neighbours in terms of their current toll charges. And when it comes to value for money - i.e. travel costs in relation to the trail experience - one destination in particular stands out for bikers.
Austria: 2.9 per cent more expensive & digital only from 2027
After the "annual vignette" in Austria broke the 100 euro barrier last year, another 3 euros will be added this year. The daily vignette (only available digitally) will cost an additional 30 cents. From 2027, Austrian vignettes will no longer be available as stickers, but only in digital form.
The 2026 vignettes & route toll for Austria
- 1 day: 9.60 euros (only available digitally!)
- 10 days: 12,80 Euro
- 2 months: 32 Euro
- 1 year: 106.80 euros (valid until 31 January 2027)
Attention: Observe the deadline for online purchases
The two-month and annual vignettes are only valid for online purchases. valid after 18 days! If you need the vignettes at short notice, it is better to buy the digital version in analogue form, e.g. at the petrol station.
The fines have also been increased for 2026: Anyone caught in 2026 without a licence plate number or in the digital version with a transposed number when entering the licence plate number (according to the ADAC, this happens more frequently) will now have to pay 200 euros instead of 120 euros.
"Route toll"
In addition to the general motorway toll, extra charges are due on certain sections in Austria. These have also been increased by 50 cents almost everywhere. In each case per single journey:
- Burner: 12,50 Euro
- Tauern motorway: 15 Euro
- Karawanken: 9 Euro
- Arlberg tunnel: 13 euros
- Felberntauern tunnel: 13.50 euros.
News about the construction site at the Brenner Pass
Construction work on the 1.8 kilometre long Lueg Bridge will - as things stand today - continue until the end of 2030. Until then, one lane will remain open in both directions. On particularly busy days (from Easter), two lanes in each direction will be reopened. ASFINAG has set up a webcam that shows the current traffic flow on the bridge, plus an up-to-date daily calendar: asfinag.at/build-maintain
Unfortunately, the Reschen Pass is only a limited alternative bypass on the way to South Tyrol. A rockfall gallery is being built between Pfunds and Nauders until the end of 2026. The construction site will be regulated by traffic lights, but there will be full road closures from time to time.
Reschen Pass bypass
During the closure of the Reschenpass road, the only 6.6 kilometre longer route through Switzerland is recommended: Engadiner Straße (B184) and Martinsbrucker Straße (B185). However, vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must pay a fee of 5 euros at the Swiss customs station in Martina. Trucks, caravans and trailers over 6.5 metres in length are not permitted on this alternative route.
Italy: 1.5 per cent more expensive - money back for traffic jams!
Take a ticket and, after driving a few kilometres, put the toll into the machine at the exit or press it into the cashier's hand. This has been the custom on Italy's motorways since time immemorial. A system that is one of the most expensive in Europe.
New for 2026
You can use an app to claim back part of the toll you have paid if you have been stuck in a traffic jam on the Italian motorway for more than 10 minutes, e.g. due to roadworks (does not apply to accidents). If you have to wait for more than 3 hours, the entire toll will be refunded. However, whether this will also apply to foreign vehicles is still being examined...
From 2027/2028
The Italian toll system is about to undergo a complete reorganisation. In future, costs are to be reduced and, despite different operators, standardised and made more transparent. A dynamic system is planned: in future, the toll charges are to be determined by the Time of daythe Traffic volume and the Environmental class of the vehicle depend on it. Those who are not travelling at peak times will then be rewarded with cheaper tolls and congestion could be reduced. Sounds good, but not necessarily more transparent. We will see.
Special toll routes in Italy
- Mont Blanc tunnel in the direction of France: 56.40 euros
- Fréjus tunnel in the direction of France: about 56.40 euros
- Great St Bernard Tunnel towards Switzerland: 31-33.50 euros (depending on the day of the week)
- Munt-la-Schera tunnel to Livigno: 25-35 euros
- Timmelsjoch pass road: 20 euros
Switzerland: Annual sticker - no price increase
No toll booths and slips of paper flying around in your car - in Switzerland everything stays the same: pay 44.50 euros once a year and then you can use all the country's motorways for 14 months (validity period 1.12. - 31.1.). Problem: This fee is always due. Even if you only want to pass through Switzerland on your way to Italy. The sticker is also available digitally.
Czech Republic: 9.5 per cent more expensive, e-cars drive for free
The Czech Republic is the country of top trail centres. A bike trip there is therefore worth every cent. Although tolls have been increased here too, which also apply to "R" category motorways, you can recoup the money at Europe's cheapest petrol stations (e.g. diesel approx. 1.38 - 1.46 euros / litre).
Important: Vignettes are only available digitally in the Czech Republic. They can be purchased locally at petrol stations or ordered online. Incidentally, driving without a vignette is not a good idea in the Czech Republic: cameras also record the number plates of private cars and automatically notify the motorway police. Fines of between 201 and 821 euros are possible here.
New from 2026
In future, vignettes ordered online will also be valid immediately. And: The annual vignettes are no longer tied to the calendar year, but are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
But don't drag yourself across the border with the last drops in your tank, because the first petrol stations in the country are often overloaded.
- 1 day: 9.45 euros (plug-in hybrids: 2 euros)
- 10 days: 12.30 euros (plug-in hybrids: 2.90 euros)
- 30 days: 19.70 euros (plug-in hybrids: 4.90 euros)
- 1 year: 105.50 euros (plug-in hybrids: 26.20 euros)
E-cars and hybrid vehicles receive an "eco-toll price" in the Czech Republic: Hybrid vehicle owners pay 25 per cent and E-cars are after this application (!) even completely exempt from the vignette requirement.
France: 0.78 per cent more - free flow
In France, motorway routes are charged at different toll rates by different operators. 100 kilometres can cost 6 euros on one route and 21 euros on another. The whole thing alternates wildly.
On average, however, you should expect to pay around 10 cents per kilometre driven. That's quite a lot and there is correspondingly little traffic on the French motorways. That also has something in its favour.
What is becoming increasingly popular, however, is the free-flow principle. The respective sections of the route are marked with the additional sign "Péage Flux Libre". The toll is calculated by digital licence plate recognition. This eliminates traffic jams at the toll booths. However, the method is not entirely uncontroversial.
Locals prefer to use the very well-developed and free motorway network throughout the country. The motorways in Brittany and around the major cities in France are also free of charge.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
