From 1 January 2026, the Austrian annual vignette costs EUR 106.80, the Slovenian weekly one runs around EUR 16, and the Tauern tunnel passage alone is an additional EUR 15.00 per direction. A BiH driver heading to Italy, Germany or Austria almost always passes through both countries, and this guide brings together the 2026 Slovenia and Austria vignette prices, additional tolls, mandatory equipment and fines in one place, with fresh data as of 2 May 2026.
This guide was prepared by the Auto Gas Gaga workshop from Banja Luka, based on the official price lists of DARS and ASFINAG and many years of experience preparing cars for trips heading west.
Table of Contents
- Why a BiH driver needs a dedicated guide for Slovenia and Austria
- Slovenia - the 2026 e-vignette and what is new
- Austria - 2026 vignette and the end of the paper sticker
- Additional tolls - Tauern, Brenner, Karawanken and other sections
- Mandatory equipment in the car - what SLO and AUT police check
- Fines and enforcement - what happens if you do not have a vignette
- Green card, documents and insurance for a BiH driver
- Practical AGG advice - what to check on the car before departure
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Articles
Why a BiH driver needs a dedicated guide for Slovenia and Austria
The trip from BiH toward Slovenia and Austria starts by crossing into Croatia, so check the border situation live through our cameras - Gradiška on entry into Croatia and Rupa / Jelšane if you take the coastal route into Slovenia. An overview of all crossings is on the cameras page.
Slovenia and Austria are not just one more border crossing. Both countries operate a vignette system on motorways, both changed prices or rules on 1 January 2026, and both enforce strictly. The sticker you slapped on the windscreen last year is no longer a golden ticket: Slovenia has been fully electronic for years, and Austria phases out paper completely from 1 February 2027.
The shortest route from BiH to northern Italy, Germany or further north almost always runs through Slovenia (Obrežje, Gruškovje) and Austria (Šentilj, Karawanken). The variant via Croatia and a short stretch through Slovenia toward Italy also means you need a vignette.
This guide is for a driver with a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes on a private trip. Prices are for category 2A passenger vehicles.
Slovenia - the 2026 e-vignette and what is new
Slovenia has been on an electronic vignette for years. The system is called the e-vignette, it is run by DARS, you buy it online or at petrol stations, it is tied to your licence plate, and a camera reads it.
E-vignette prices for passenger vehicles in 2026
For a passenger vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes (category 2A):
| Vignette type | Price (EUR) | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | ~16 | 7 consecutive days |
| Monthly | ~32 | 30 consecutive days |
| Annual | ~117 | calendar year |
The weekly is the most cost-effective option for a holiday of two weeks or shorter. Two weekly vignettes (~32 EUR) come out the same as a monthly, and weeklies are usually overkill for a simple transit. One weekly covers both the outbound and return trip if they fall within 7 days.
How to buy a DARS e-vignette online
You buy it at evinjeta.dars.si, pay by card, and receive confirmation by email. Enter the exact licence plate, country of registration (BiH) and start date of validity. In 2026 you can pre-select the activation date in advance, which is useful if you buy a week before departure. There is no sticker to apply, everything is tied to the licence plate.
What is new in 2026 - coastal sections H5 and H6
From 1 January 2026, Slovenia removed two coastal sections from the e-vignette: H5 (Škofije-Srmin-Koper) and H6 (Koper-Žusterna-Izola). If your final destination is Koper, Izola or Portorož and you use those short coastal expressways, driving on them is now toll-free.
Note: this only applies to those two sections, NOT to the rest of the Slovenian network. As soon as you join the open motorway from A1 or A2 toward Ljubljana, Maribor or Karawanken, the vignette is mandatory.
Austria - 2026 vignette and the end of the paper sticker
In Austria, motorways and expressways are managed by ASFINAG. Tolling is mandatory on all motorways (marked A) and expressways (marked S). There are two vignette types: digital (tied to the licence plate) and the classic paper sticker, but paper is on its way out.
Austrian vignette prices in 2026
Prices rose by 2.9 percent on 1 December 2025 in line with the harmonised consumer price index, and these prices apply for the whole of 2026:
| Vignette type | Price (EUR) | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day | 9.60 | 1 calendar day |
| 10-day | 12.80 | 10 consecutive days |
| 2-month | 32.00 | 2 months |
| Annual | 106.80 | 14 months (from 1 December of the previous year) |
Price of the 10-day Austria vignette 2026
For most BiH drivers on holiday in Italy or Germany, the 10-day vignette at EUR 12.80 is the optimal choice. It covers outbound, transit and return. More expensive vignettes only make sense if you regularly return to Austria.
Important: the basic vignette does NOT cover everything. A series of Alpine sections and tunnels has separate tolling alongside the vignette.
What about the old paper Austria vignette in 2027
Mark this in your calendar: 2026 is the last year that paper stickers are sold. From 1 February 2027, only the digital vignette will be recognised. A sticker bought in 2026 is valid only until the end of 2026.
Tip: switch to digital now. You buy it at shop.asfinag.at or via authorised apps, the system is tied to the licence plate. No sticking, no losing receipts, no worry about a sticker being applied incorrectly.
Additional tolls - Tauern, Brenner, Karawanken and other sections
This is the part that most often catches BiH drivers off guard. You have a paid vignette, but at the entrance to the Tauern tunnel you pay another EUR 15 for a single direction. Section tolls are a separate tolling system for Alpine sections, applied because of the high cost of maintaining tunnels and bridges.
Section toll prices in 2026
Prices were raised on 1 January 2026 (snapshot as of 2 May 2026):
| Section | Direction | 2026 price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| A10 Tauern + Katschberg | south-north or vice versa | 15.00 |
| A13 Brenner | Innsbruck-Italian border | 12.50 |
| A9 Gleinalm tunnel | north-south | 12.00 |
| A9 Bosruck tunnel | north-south | 9.00-10.00 |
| A11 Karawanken tunnel | Slovenia-Austria | ~8.80 |
| S16 Arlberg tunnel | Vorarlberg-Tyrol | ~11.00 |
A10 Tauern is the best-known section, the classic route from Šentilj toward Salzburg. Brenner is the segment from Innsbruck to the Italian border, the route toward Verona. Karawanken is the tunnel you use to enter Austria from Slovenia if you take the Ljubljana-Klagenfurt-Salzburg route.
Tauern tunnel or detour - what makes sense
There is a detour over the Großglockner road, but that means a mountain pass, several hours longer travel, sharp bends and a separate toll for the Großglockner road itself. For a family with children in the car, EUR 15 for the Tauern is a much better calculation.
Karawanken tunnel passage price 2026
Karawanken connects Slovenia and Austria, the toll is collected on the Austrian side, around EUR 8.80 per direction. It is the only classic entry point into Austria from Slovenia with a separate toll on top of the vignette. Šentilj-Graz-Vienna runs on the vignette only.
You can pay all section tolls by card at the booth. Have your card ready, do not rely on cash.
Mandatory equipment in the car - what SLO and AUT police check
Both countries have a clear list of mandatory equipment. If you are stopped and something is missing, you get a fine on the spot. The list is similar, with minor differences.
Slovenia:
- High-visibility vest (EN 471) for the driver and any passenger leaving the car on the motorway.
- Warning triangle.
- First-aid kit to EU standard (check the expiry date).
- Spare bulb (except for LED lamps which cannot be swapped easily).
- Spare wheel or tyre repair kit.
Austria:
- High-visibility vest (EN 471), the driver must keep it within reach, not in the boot.
- Warning triangle.
- First-aid kit compliant with the DIN 13164 standard (Austrian standard, slightly stricter than the EU one).
- A spare bulb is not mandatory for passenger vehicles in 2026.
Important: in Austria the vest must be ACCESSIBLE without leaving the car. The classic mistake is keeping it in the boot. If you stop because of a breakdown, you put on the vest BEFORE you step out of the vehicle. Keep it in the door pocket or under the seat.
Winter period from 1 November to 15 April
In that period Austria requires winter tyres or chains on the driven wheels when weather conditions demand them. From mid-November to mid-April, winter tyres are not advice but law. If you drive summer or all-season tyres, carry chains as a backup. Slovenia has similar rules.
Fines and enforcement - what happens if you do not have a vignette
Fine for driving without a vignette in Austria
ASFINAG uses cameras that read licence plates and automatically detect whether the vehicle has a valid vignette. If you do not, you receive an Ersatzmaut on the spot, a substitute toll of around EUR 120 for a passenger vehicle. If you do not pay, the fine climbs above EUR 240 and can reach you by post in BiH via a collection agency, with additional costs.
Slovenia has a similar system. The DARS camera catches a vehicle without a valid e-vignette, and fines start from around EUR 300 upward. Slovenian police actively enforce at motorway exits and at the borders.
Practical takeaway: do not risk it. A vignette of EUR 12.80 (10-day AUT) or EUR 16 (weekly SLO) is dramatically cheaper than the fine. Buy it before you enter the country, check your email that it is activated, and only then enter the motorway.
Beware of unofficial vignette sellers at the border. Buy only at petrol stations, on official websites (evinjeta.dars.si, shop.asfinag.at) or via authorised apps. A counterfeit vignette is a criminal offence.
Green card, documents and insurance for a BiH driver
Slovenia and Austria are EU members. For BiH drivers that means:
- A Green Card insurance certificate is NOT required if your BiH compulsory motor third-party liability policy explicitly covers EU territory (all newer policies do).
- The BiH driving licence is recognised without an international document.
- The vehicle registration document must be in the car, in the driver's name or with a notarised power of attorney if you are driving someone else's car.
- ID card or passport - an ID card is sufficient to enter Slovenia and Austria, since both are in Schengen.
The most common mistake is to check the policy at the last minute. Look for wording such as "valid for EU member states" or "valid for Green Card zone countries". If you are not sure, contact your insurer five days before the trip.
For entering Italy from Austria the rules are similar, since Italy is also in the EU and Schengen. Our separate guide for driving from BiH to Italy covers Italian tolls and ZTL zones in city centres.
Practical AGG advice - what to check on the car before departure
With hundreds of pre-trip inspections done at the workshop in Banja Luka, here is what most often catches people out on the motorway toward Slovenia and Austria:
- Tyres. Pressure as per the door-jamb sticker, tread depth at least 3 mm for a longer trip. Spare too.
- Air conditioning. A test at 35 degrees is not done for the first time when you set off. Check that the AC cools two weeks before the trip.
- Battery. If the car is hard to start in the morning, an Alpine trip will catch you out.
- Fluids. Coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, washer fluid. Each one checked properly.
- Brakes. A descent from the Tauern or Karawanken takes about ten kilometres. If your pads are worn, you only notice it when you actually need to brake on the way down.
A more detailed pre-trip list is in our advice on the pre-trip check, and a step-by-step seasonal summer prep is in the 2026 summer check-list.
If you would rather have someone else check it, book a pre-trip inspection. We do it in a single visit, with a written report on what needs attention before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a vignette if I only transit through Slovenia?
Yes. As soon as you use a Slovenian motorway, even just 20 kilometres from border to border, you need a valid e-vignette. A weekly at around EUR 16 covers both outbound and return if they fall within 7 days.
Can I use an Austrian vignette bought last year?
A paper sticker from the previous year is not valid. The annual vignette for 2026 is valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027, that is the 14-month system. For 1-day, 10-day and 2-month vignettes, the validity is counted from the moment of activation.
What if I only enter Austria briefly, for example through Karawanken into Italy?
If you use the Austrian motorway, even for 30 minutes, you need a vignette. That is exactly why ASFINAG introduced the 1-day vignette at EUR 9.60.
Do children need a high-visibility vest?
In Austria, anyone leaving the car on the motorway because of a breakdown or accident must put on a vest, including children. Best practice is to carry a vest for every passenger, not just the driver.
Can I buy the Slovenian e-vignette at the border?
Not at the border itself, but yes at a petrol station before or after the border. It is best to buy it online before the trip at evinjeta.dars.si, since activation can take a few minutes.
Do I need summer tyres in Austria during summer?
There is no obligation to fit summer tyres as such, but the winter tyre obligation runs from 1 November to 15 April. In the summer period, all-season or summer tyres with adequate tread depth are fine.