Probably some of you is familiar with vignette system for Austrian highway’s network. As recently, I have visited Austria, I have learnt that you can purchase it online. Quite convenient. You do not need to stop a car at boarder or near boarder shop or gas station. However, there is a certain feature in Austrian vignette app, which makes it harder to finalize the purchase.
For those who are not familiar with highway payment systems
In most of Europe you have ‘buy ticket’ for using the highway. The exception is Germany, but there is a separate story. There are different types of systems. However, mostly it can be classified into two categories. First is related to tolls where you pay per ride. Second is vignette system, where you purchase the permit to use highways for certain period of the time.
During my previous trips to Czechia or Austria, I bought the vignette at the gas station. Often, due to certain business creativity, you paid more than it should actual cost. How come? It was due to multiple currency exchange transactions and a fee for these transactions. Even if you paid in currency of the country that issued the vignette.
Additional inconvenience with ‘physical’ vignette is that you must stick it to your windshield. This part is quite easy. Where trouble starts is when you want to remove it. Quite demanding process. Therefore, while learning of possibility of online option, I have decided to try it.
Asfinag – Austrian vignette app
Austrian vignette app is accessible both from web (https://www.asfinag.at/en/toll/vignette/ ) and mobile devices. There you can find information about the current vignette rates, location of physical points of sale, route planner or current traffic info.
When you pick vignette of your choice, you just click on button ‘buy now’:
Then you are redirected to the shop, where first you need to select, whether you are a consumer or you represent a company.
After choosing the right option for you, in my case it was consumer, you are asked to fill in a short form with all necessary details. Such as type of vehicle, license plate and start of validation.
What is the pro-consumer feature in Austrian vignette app?
This is related to European Union law, allowing online consumer to withdrawn from the purchase within 14 days from the date of buying it. Just to mention, this law for online shopping is great. However, in this case, it creates more issues than benefits. I have learnt about online possibility to purchase the vignette just one week into a travel. For Chechia highway system, buying the vignette was fast and straightforward.
The problems started when I tried to buy Austrian one. It prevented me from entering the proper start date. After a failed attempt of manually entering the date, I checked ‘info icon’ to determine why I cannot purchase the vignette with a future date. Then, I found out that you must set the date for minimum 18 days in advance. Why 18 days? I was curious as well. So, you are able to resign online, but also via traditional mail, and here is the extra 4 days for the mail to reach the destination.
Nowhere in the system I found the possibility to consent the resignation from my privilege to withdraw my vignette. Of course, this feature in Austrian vignette app is applicable only for individual consumers. If you are business consumer, then this law does not apply.
So at last
Eventually, I have bought the vignette at the border and sticked it on my windshield. Just waiting for the peel-off fun it. So if you are planning last minute car trip to Austria, be aware that as individual you can buy vignette minimum 18 days in advance. Otherwise, stickers are the only viable option. Not the end of the world of course, but less convenient.
