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] Europe
[edit] European Union
Eurovignette is the EU road charge for trucks.
[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 (e.g., foil in between the windscreen and the vignette). This substitute toll allows use of 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 must be paid. Tollgates are installed on these roads. Heavy vehicles are subject to a milage dependent motorway toll.
[edit] In Belgium
Belgium has announced the introduction of a vignette starting January 2008 despite fierce opposition from surrounding nations, most notably the Netherlands. Several border regions of the Netherlands such as Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and Limburg have complained about isolation and demolishing the ideal of an open and free Europe, arguing their regions are culturally intertwined with their Belgian neighbours and will suffer in various ways such as socially and economically. The governors of Zeeland, North-Brabant and Limburg have requested different measures from the Belgian federal government, which is now considering a system of different prices for different target groups.
[edit] In France
The French vignette was originally created in the 1950s to help elderly people. All car owners had to buy it in December each year from any tobacconist. The price depended on the number of "chevaux" of the car's engine, and in which département the car was registered. In 2001 it was abolished for private individuals, but companies still have to pay it.
[edit] In Bulgaria
Bulgaria requires a vignette for all types of roads, not only motorways, except streets inside cities, towns and villages, as well as city ring-roads. Three types of vignettes are available:
- K1 - for buses
- K2 - for trucks
- K3 - for vehicles lighter than 3.5 t
Weekly, monthly and yearly vignettes are sold. Starting 2007, dayly K1 and K2 vignettes were introduced. Monthly and weekly vignettes are valid for a given period of time, which need not coinside with calendar weeks and months; a yearly vignette is valid from Feb 1 till Jan 31 the next year no matter when the vignette was bought.
Prices change every year. For 2007, a yearly K3 vignette costs 67 BGN (34 EUR), a monthly vignette costs 25 BGN (13 EUR) and a weekly vignette costs 10 BGN (5 EUR).
[edit] In Switzerland
All cars which want to go on motorways in Switzerland must buy an annual vignette, even those cars that will be using them for a few hours only. 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 camping cars have to pay the so called LSVA (Leistungsabhängige Schwerverkehrsabgabe - mileage dependent heavy vehicle tax) which is nothing but a mileage dependent road toll. This tax is payable whatever the type of road travelled. The rate is calculated between departure and arrival point using the most convenient route.
