Vignette (road tax)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vignettes are small, coloured stickers affixed to motor vehicles passing through motorways and motorroads in some European nations, such as Switzerland and Austria. The affixing of a vignette on a motor vehicle indicates that the respective road toll has been paid. Vignettes are often valid for a year. It may also be a form of tax on the vehicles, even if the driver doesn't drive on motorways.
Vignettes are usually constructed in such a way that detaching and reattaching is impossible without destruction, ensuring that people can't use the same vignette on more than one car.
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[edit] In Austria
Vignettes are needed for all motorways and expressways under federal administration which can be recognized by the prefixes A or S in front of the number. Toll stickers are available for the durations of 10 days, 2 months, or one year. The prices for cars (weighing less than 3.5 tonnes) are EUR 7.60 (10 days), EUR 21.80 (2 months), and EUR 72.60 (one year). Motorcyclists have to pay EUR 4.30, EUR 10.90, and EUR 29.00 respectively. On motorways and motorroads, the vignettes are controlled by both the police and so-called "Mautsheriffs", employees of the federal motorway administration "ASFINAG" which acts as a corporation due to economic aspects. It is important to use the original adhesive of the vignette, because there is a self-destruction mechanism in it, to prevent multiple use of the same vignette on more than one car. If you do not have a vignette or if it was manipulated, one is subject to heavy fines. First you are offered to pay a substitute toll of EUR 110.00 if you do not have a vignette, or of EUR 220.00 if one has manipulated the vignette (foil in between the windscreen and the vignette,...). This substitute toll allows to use the A- and S-network on the day of payment and on the following day. If one refuses to pay the substitute toll, one is subject to a complaint at the administration authority of the county which will lead to a penalty fee between EUR 400.00 and EUR 4,000.00. Furthermore, valuables (from expensive watches ranging up to the car) can be confiscated from foreigners to guarantee the payment of the penalty. On some cost-intensive motorways and expressways in the alps, an additional toll per passage is to pay. On those roads, tollgates are installed. Heavy vehicles are subject to a milage dependent motorway toll.
[edit] In France
The French vignette was originally created in the[1950s to help elderly people. All car-owners had to buy it each year, in December, in any tobacconist. The price depended on the power of the car, and on the département. In 2001, it was abolished for private individuals, but companies still have to pay it.
[edit] In Switzerland
All cars which want to go on the motorways in Switzerland must buy an annual vignette, even cars that are only using it for a few hours. It costs CHF 40 for all cars with maximum admissible weight of 3.5 tonnes or less. You must obtain a separate vignette for a trailer or caravan. Heavier vehicles such as busses or trucks, but also heavy campmobliles have to pay the so called LSVA (Leistungsabhängige Schwerverkehrsabgabe - milage dependent heavy vehicle tax) which is nothing but a milage dependent road toll. This tax is to pay on all roads, the rate is calculated between departure and arrival point on the most convenient route.
