Video Maut in Austria 2026 – How to pay for tunnels online?
Video Maut in Austria: How to drive through alpine tunnels without queuing?
Many Polish drivers heading to Italy or Croatia face an unpleasant surprise: despite having a valid vignette, they have to queue at the toll booths before entering tunnels. The solution is Video Maut – a digital ticket that automatically opens the barriers.
Vignette vs. Video Maut – know the difference
Austria has two types of road tolls. The first is the classic vignette for Austria, which grants access to the motorway network. The second is Streckenmaut – a toll for specific, high-maintenance alpine sections (mainly tunnels and bridges).
Having a vignette does not exempt you from paying for these sections. If you don't buy a Video Maut ticket in advance, you'll have to stop at the gate and pay by card or cash, which can mean losing dozens of minutes in traffic during the holiday season.
Where does Video Maut (Streckenmaut) apply?
Section tolls apply to five key transit routes in the Austrian Alps:
- A13 Brenner Autobahn: Route from Innsbruck to Italy.
- A10 Tauern Autobahn: Tauern and Katschberg tunnels (direction Slovenia/Croatia).
- S16 Arlberg Schnellstraße: Arlberg road tunnel.
- A9 Pyhrn Autobahn: Gleinalm and Bosruck tunnels.
- A11 Karawanken Autobahn: Karawanken Tunnel on the border with Slovenia.
Video Maut / Streckenmaut service specification
| System Feature | Details | Technical Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Availability (deliveryTime) | Online / Instant | PDF sent to email. |
| Activation Time (transitTime) | ~15 minutes | We recommend purchasing at least 15 min before the toll gate. |
| Processing (handlingTime) | 0 - 1h | Fast payment processing. |
| Return Policy | NoReturns | returnPolicyCategory: Digital service. |
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Does Video Maut replace the regular vignette?
No. Video Maut is an additional fee. Driving to the tunnel via the motorway still requires an electronic vignette for Austria.
Is the Video Maut ticket a one-time use ticket?
You can buy a ticket for a single trip or for two trips (there and back). They are assigned to the license plate number.
What if I bought Video Maut, but the barrier doesn't lift?
Just drive to any manned barrier and show the PDF confirmation from your phone – the employee will verify your license plate number and open the passage.