Cost of Summer Vacation in Europe: A Look at Tolls
In Europe, the costs of using highways and motorways vary significantly from country to country. Here's a breakdown of the toll systems and cost characteristics for cars up to 3.5 tonnes (t) gross vehicle weight (GVW) in some popular destinations for 2025.
Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia primarily use vignette systems, which are time-based flat fees for motorway use. The cost of a vignette in Austria ranges from 10.30 € for a one-day pass to 103.80 € for an annual vignette, depending on the vehicle type and the duration of the vignette. In Switzerland, the annual vignette costs roughly CHF 40 (€38), while in Slovenia, vignette prices range from 16 € for a week to 117.50 € for a year.
On the other hand, countries like France, Italy, Croatia, Poland, and Denmark predominantly use distance-based tolls on motorways. In these countries, you pay according to the kilometers traveled, with standard car motorway tolls ranging roughly from €0.07 to €0.15 per km depending on the road and region. Denmark is mostly free for cars on roads but charges tolls on key fixed links like bridges, with the Øresund Bridge toll costing approximately 62 € for a one-way trip.
Croatia's toll system is based on the distance traveled, with cars paying around €0.04 to €0.08 per km, depending on the route. In Poland, the toll cost varies depending on the distance traveled and the operator, with state highways usually being free of charge. Example toll costs include Berlin - Warsaw at approximately 30 € and Krakow - Poznan at approximately 8 €.
Italy has a kilometer-based toll on almost all highways, with motorways being free of charge in 2025. The Czech Republic's toll system is based on the length of travel, with toll costs ranging from approximately 9 € for a 1-day vignette to 99 € for a 1-year vignette.
For a more accurate calculation of toll costs for a specific journey, toll calculators such as the ADAC toll calculator can be used by entering the starting and destination points. It's important to note that specific toll costs can depend heavily on vehicle type, time period, route, and sometimes time of day.
For detailed vignette prices or exact toll route costs for any specific country, please consult official national toll websites or toll system portals. Additionally, the Pan-European toll box (DKV BOX EUROPE) supports toll payment for many countries, simplifying cross-border payments.
A traveler considering a road trip in Europe might find the lifestyle costs for motorway use in Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia more predictable with vignette systems, where prices range from 10.30€ for a one-day pass in Austria to 117.50€ for a year in Slovenia. On the other hand, France, Italy, Croatia, Poland, and Denmark predominantly use distance-based tolls, with the cost per kilometer varying from €0.07 to €0.15 depending on the road and region.
