Road tolls - with a caravan around Europe

The use of most European motorways and expressways is (unfortunately) subject to tolls. Despite the ubiquitous bureaucracy, so far the European Union member states have not managed to create a uniform toll collection system that would allow travel without formalities, regardless of the weight category of the vehicle or vehicle team. As in the case of campers, owners of trailers in many countries are subject to different classifications depending on whether their set is within the GVM limit of 3.5 t or whether it exceeds this value.

Road tolls in Europe

As it turns out, the permissible total weight is sometimes not the only parameter, or – paradoxically – even not taken into account. In some countries, simply... the height of the vehicle or vehicle combination may be important. In today's material, we will look at the rules for settling journeys in key transit countries and the most popular destinations visited by caravanning fans from Poland.

Road tolls - Slovenia 2024

Cars up to 3.5t are divided into two categories:
2A - height above the front axle not exceeding 1.30 m (also sets with trailers), including campers
2B - height above the front axle above 1.30 m (with or without trailer) excluding campers
From the beginning of 2022, vignettes are available only in electronic form and can be purchased on the Wizax Vignette website, which has a 24-hour hotline in Polish. Vignettes can be purchased at the link: https://winiety-wizax.pl/winiety/slowenia/

Road tolls - Hungary 2024

Vehicles in this country are subject to classification - category D1 are passenger cars up to 3.5 t and 7 seats. When using a D1 category vehicle as a tow vehicle, trailers are not subject to fees.

If the tow vehicle is a B2 (7-9 seater) or D2 (delivery vehicle), an additional vignette for the trailer is required.
Wine can be purchased on the Wizax Winiety website: https://winiety-wizax.pl/winiety/wegry/

Road tolls in Austria 2024

This country is considered to be very restrictive in terms of fiscal policy. The main reason is that Asfinag - the Austrian road authority - does not receive significant subsidies from the state budget, and must cover all renovations and construction of new roads (with minor exceptions) from its own budget.

The system of vignettes placed on the vehicle's windshield, which existed until last year, has been supplemented with an electronic system where payments can be made online. Importantly, when traveling through Austria with a caravan, we do not have to declare or pay any fees for it. If the GVM of our tow truck does not exceed 3.5 tons, it is enough to purchase a vignette for a passenger car. Sutria vignettes can be purchased at https://winiety-wizax.pl/winiety/austria/

Road tolls - Germany, Belgium, Netherlands

Among our western neighbors, when towing a caravan with a passenger car up to 3.5 tons, we drive free of charge (exceptions may be tunnels, e.g. Liefkenshoek in Belgium).

Road tolls in southern Europe

Road tolls in Albania

We travel in Albania without tolls or vignettes. However, there are a few exceptions - e.g. the Kalimash tunnel (5.65 km long). Depending on the size, the fare will range from EUR 5 to EUR 17. Since autumn 2019, the A1 motorway leading from the Adriatic coast towards Kosovo has also been tolled. The trip may cost between EUR 5 and 22.50.

Road tolls in Bulgaria

All national roads and motorways are tolled for passenger cars, vehicle combinations and trucks. Additional tolls are charged for some bridges over the Danube River. The electronic vignette is purchased for 7 days (EUR 8-45), 30 days (EUR 15-89) or for a year (from EUR 50). Vignettes can be purchased via the bgtoll.bg website. If the GVM of the set does not exceed 3.5 t, one vignette is enough. If we travel with a trailer and the total GVM of the set exceeds 3.5 tons, we are obliged to pay an additional vignette for the trailer. Before you set off, it's worth knowing the road traffic regulations in Bulgaria .

Road tolls in Croatia

The country is covered with a network of toll roads with toll collection points, and some tunnels and viaducts are similarly subject to tolls. They are calculated based on the vehicle's height, weight and number of axles. Details at https://www.hac.hr/en/toll/toll-rates

Road tolls in Greece

In Greece, the toll road network is managed by as many as 6 different entities, and vehicle classification is (usually) based on the number of axles and vehicle height. The system is far from perfect, the categorization is often done by eye, which in practice leads to situations in which we can pay an amount of on goal. The same applies to key crossings/bridges.

Road tolls - Italy, Portugal, Spain and France

In most cases, toll collection for toll roads takes place at toll collection points. These countries operate separate electronic toll collection systems called Telepass, Télépéage, Telepeaje, Libert-T-Box, ViaCard and EASYtoll, respectively. The systems are complicated and not very transparent. There is a solution that allows passenger cars and caravanning vehicles to pay electronically in all three countries - it is Bip&Go. Purchasing such an electronic vignette allows us to travel using "fast lanes with telemetry support" at all road toll gates and settle accounts with one entity based on the total number of journeys after the trip. More details at https://www.bipandgo.com/ (the cost of the device itself is EUR 20, and maintenance is EUR 1.70/month plus tolls).

It should be emphasized that the use of this type of box makes life significantly easier, especially in France. Due to different managers, the fee collection system is extremely opaque and complicated. France is a country where the basis for charging fees is the height of the vehicle. Importantly, the height includes alcoves, sleeping roofs and roof air conditioners, but not antennas or trunks).

Road tolls from our neighbors

How to pay for toll roads with our neighbors?

Road tolls - Czech Republic

In these countries, it is enough to purchase a vignette for the tow vehicle and there is no need to pay additional fees for the trailer.

Road tolls - Lithuania/Latvia/Estonia

The road toll system applies only to trucks with a GVM exceeding 3.5t. Passenger cars, caravans and campers are excluded.

Road tolls - Slovakia

In Slovakia, remember to purchase an additional vignette for the trailer if the GVM of the set exceeds 3.5 tons. Vignettes can be purchased for 10/30 days or a year.

In a separate material, we will focus on traveling in Scandinavia/Nordic countries.