The times when the lack of a vignette on a foreign motorway could go unpunished due to the absence of a police patrol are long gone. In 2026, road control systems in Austria (managed by **ASFINAG**) and Slovenia (managed by **DARS**) rely on advanced automation and artificial intelligence scanning license plates.

Automatic whip for drivers: SKD gantries and mobile radars

Both the Austrian SKD system and Slovenian vignette speed cameras operate on the principle of continuous video surveillance (ANPR). High-resolution cameras placed on metal gantries above motorways capture images of every license plate at speeds exceeding even 200 km/h.

The computer checks in a fraction of a second in the central database whether a given license plate number has an assigned active e-vignette. If the system detects a lack of payment, the case does not go to manual verification – the penalty generation process is fully automated.

Fine schedule in 2026 – How much does a mistake cost?

Ignoring regulations or simple carelessness in Southern Europe costs extremely dearly. Here are the official rates for the current season:

• Austria (Ersatzmaut): 120 EUR for a passenger car. The fee must be paid immediately upon receiving the summons. In case of refusal, the case goes to the administrative court, where the fine increases from 300 EUR to 3,000 EUR.
• Slovenia (DARS): From 300 EUR to 800 EUR. Importantly, Slovenian services very often station at toll booths and physically stop foreign drivers, preventing further travel until half the fine amount is paid in cash or by card.

It is worth remembering that these systems also record the exact time of entry. Attempting to cheat the system and buying a vignette on your phone *after* passing a control camera will not work – a fine will be generated based on the minute difference.