Austria in Winter – The Number 1 Destination for Polish Skiers 

The 2026 ski season is fast approaching. Austria has remained a favorite destination for winter holidays for years. Perfectly prepared slopes, modern infrastructure, and guaranteed snow on glaciers attract thousands of tourists from Poland. However, before you clip on your skis, a car journey awaits you. The Austrian motorway system is one of the most developed in Europe, but it is also fully tolled. Driving without a valid toll risks a fine of 120 EUR (substitute toll), and in case of further problems – up to 3000 EUR in administrative proceedings.

To ensure a stress-free journey, purchasing vignettes in advance is key. In the age of digitalization, you no longer need to look for petrol stations at the border and scrape adhesive residue from your windshield. The best solution are digital vignettes for Austria, which you can buy without leaving your home.

Types of Vignettes in Austria – What to Choose for Your 2026 Holiday?

The Austrian road toll system is flexible and allows you to match the vignette type to the length of your holiday. In 2026, drivers of passenger cars (up to 3.5t) have several digital options to choose from. The right choice depends on whether you're planning a short weekend trip, a standard week of holidays, or perhaps regular returns to the Alps throughout the season.

1. 1-Day Vignette (New in the offer)

A one-day vignette has recently become available. This is an ideal solution for those who treat Austria solely as a transit country, e.g., when going skiing in Italy (Dolomites) and not planning an overnight stay in Austria. If your journey through Austria is completed within one calendar day, this option will save you money. Remember, however, that you will need a second vignette for the return trip.

2. 10-Day Vignette (Most common choice for holidays)

This is an absolute bestseller among tourists. If your skiing trip lasts a standard 7 days (e.g., from Saturday to Saturday), the 10-day vignette is the ideal solution. It covers both the journey there, your stay at the resort (if you travel on motorways between ski resorts), and the return.

Important: The validity period is 10 consecutive calendar days. If you enter Austria on January 1st, the vignette is valid until January 10th at 11:59 PM. If your stay extends, you will need to purchase another vignette.

3. 2-Month Vignette

For those planning a longer holiday or two trips in a short period. It often happens that skiers go to Austria for Christmas and then return for holidays in February. In such a case, the total cost of two 10-day vignettes might be similar to a 2-month vignette, and the latter offers greater comfort and flexibility of travel.

4. Annual Vignette

An option for true Austria enthusiasts, people working in the country, or those who own property there. The annual vignette is valid for the entire calendar year and January of the following year (up to 14 months in total if purchased in December of the previous year).

Sectional Tolls (Streckenmaut) – Tunnels and Mountain Passes

Many drivers become confused when, despite having a valid vignette, they arrive at motorway toll booths and see a barrier. These are known as sectional tolls (Streckenmaut). In Austria, there are several sections – mainly expensive-to-maintain Alpine tunnels – for which an additional fee is charged. On these sections, a standard vignette is not required, but the sectional toll is mandatory.

• A13 Motorway (Brenner Autobahn): Main route to Italy.
• A10 Motorway (Tauern Autobahn): Tauern and Katschberg Tunnels (route to Carinthia and Villach).
• A9 Motorway (Pyhrn Autobahn): Bosruck and Gleinalm Tunnels.
• A11 Motorway (Karawanken Autobahn): Karawanken Tunnel (border with Slovenia).
• S16 Expressway (Arlberg Schnellstraße): Arlberg Tunnel (frequent destination for trips to Vorarlberg).

The good news is that you can also pay for these sections online! On the Winiety24.eu website, you can purchase a digital sectional toll. This way, as you approach the toll booths, the camera system will recognize your license plate, and the barrier will lift automatically. You can drive through the green-marked lane (often described as "Prepaid" or "Videomaut"), bypassing queues at manual cash registers.

Remember to have appropriate winter equipment – it is strictly controlled in Austria.

Winter Equipment in Austria – What to Remember Besides the Vignette?

Buying a vignette is essential, but Austrian police (Polizei) pay great attention to the technical condition of vehicles in winter. The principle of "Situative Winterausrüstungspflicht" applies from November 1st to April 15th. This means that in winter conditions (snow, ice, slush), the car must have winter tires on all four wheels.

Moreover, when driving to higher mountainous areas (access to hotels, ski resorts), you will often encounter a sign requiring the use of snow chains. Chains must be carried in the trunk and fitted to the drive wheels when signs require it. Failure to use chains in a situation where you block the road can result in a huge fine and towing costs.

Also, make sure you have reflective vests for every passenger (not just the driver!) – they must be accessible in the cabin, not in the trunk.

Why buy a vignette on Winiety24.eu?

Planning holidays involves a lot of logistics: hotel booking, equipment, insurance. Road tolls should not be an additional stress. By choosing our service, you gain peace of mind and security:

Don't wait until the last minute, when pre-trip stress peaks. Check prices and buy a vignette for Austria now.