Pickerl for Austria - do we need one

[Burble234]

We're off to Austria in 10 days for a 3 week Alpine/big hills/countryside tour in our 06 Honda S2000 and have just realised we may need an Austrian Environmental Sticker (Pickerl). The sites I've looked at are a bit hard to understand - we will try and avoid any large towns (eg Innsbruck) but will be in smaller ones (eg Gmunden). Can anyone help pleeeease.
Many thanks in anticipation

[SapperD]

I dont know the answer but im also there in 10 days too and would be keen to see responses from those in the know.

We've 5 days in Zell am See as a base. Avoid motoways will be switched on as soon as we get to Berchtesgaden en route. Couple of days in the Dolomites and back through austria (soelden) to fussen.

Edit. Ive got a german emissions sticker already. Not sure if that's similar. Do you mean a vignette?

Following for interest

Edited by SapperD on Saturday 24th May 18:08

[Burble234]

We know we need a vignette for Motorways - sadly we'll being doing a bit just for ease. From what I understand the Pickerl is similar to the German emisions sticker - out of curiosity why have you got one of them - I am wondering if we need one for the area on the Saar River near Merzig where we are staying for one night on our way down - I've written to that accommodation to ask.
Your trip sounds as wonderful as ours - I guess you're planning to do the GrossGlockner (we're there for a couple of nights) and Timmelsjoch (we're in Oetz for 3 or 4 nights) - the Passo Giovo/Jaufenpass is also worth doing if you can squeeze it in

[SapperD]

Yes, we are. Both. Plus many more. Looking forward to it too. Will be in a black 981 Cayman GTS and a blue V10 R8.

Ive had the emissions sticker for germany for a few years now As well as the French equivalent. Past road trips and german cities. Sub 10 euro each.

https://www.berlin.de/labo/mobilitaet/kfz-zulassun...

German one ^^.

[Burble234]

We'll look out for you - as long as it's not raining we'll have the roof down (it's THE law) but I think you'll be ahead of us - we're not getting to the Grossglockner unti Sunday, June 15 - although we are by the Traunsee for three nights from Jun 6 (we're then heading east for 4 nights and then south to Slovenia for 2)

[supercarthrills.com]

Burble234 said:

We're off to Austria in 10 days for a 3 week Alpine/big hills/countryside tour in our 06 Honda S2000 and have just realised we may need an Austrian Environmental Sticker (Pickerl). The sites I've looked at are a bit hard to understand - we will try and avoid any large towns (eg Innsbruck) but will be in smaller ones (eg Gmunden). Can anyone help pleeeease.
Many thanks in anticipation

Hi Burble,

Yes, absolutely, you do need a Pickerl (vignette) for Austria if you're planning to use their motorways or expressways. It's not a toll booth system where you pay as you go, but rather a pre-paid sticker or digital vignette that covers a certain period of use. If you don't have one and get caught, the fines are pretty hefty, and they're very good at enforcing it. It's not worth the risk.

You can buy them at any of the following locations:
- At border crossings just before you enter Austria.
- At most petrol stations near the Austrian border in neighbouring countries (e.g., Germany, Italy, Switzerland).
- Online via the official ASFINAG website (though make sure you buy the digital vignette well in advance, as there can be a cooling-off period before it becomes valid).


They come in different durations (10 days, 2 months, 1 year). Just get the one that suits your trip.

Safe travels!

[SapperD]

Is a Pickerl and the Vignette not two different things?

One is for emissions and the other for motorways I think.

[Burble234]

You're right - the Pickerl and Vignette are two different things - Pickerl for emissions (even tho' our car complies it's hard to understand whether you need to show one or not...- I've asked the accommodation where we are staying but am still awaiting a reply) And the Vignette is needed for the motorways - they are quite easy to obtain - as was rightly said there are a for variety of days. On top of the Vignettes some of the passes (eg GrossGlockner) also charge to go on them

[Burble234]

I've had a couple of replies from my hosts - one near Innsbruck, but on the south side of the Inn, and the other in Oetz - both saying an emission sticker is not needed. Rather, in some sections (e.g. between Kufstein and Innsbruck) environmental guidelines (IGL- Immisionsschutzgesetz Land) apply, which limit the maximum permitted speed to 100 km/h. This is also monitored with radar. Only electric vehicles do not have to comply.
Lets hope we all have fun and no fines

[Burble234]

And now a reply from our host where we staying on the Gross Glocker - who also says not needed, just in the larger cities such as Vienna or Graz

[MDL111]

yeah you do not need the emissions sticker unless you go into the inner zones of big cities (for example I live in the centre of Munich and I can't own a car that does not have a "green" one unless it is an oldtimer, otherwise would not be allowed to drive to my home).

you definitely need a Vignette, they check via cameras as well as at key exits (usually the ones directly after the border). Fines are quite high (more than the annual Vignette). You can get 10 days, I think 1 month and a year and overall it is not that expensive (annual one is about 100 Euros, 10 days is about 20ish from memory / maybe 30ish nowadays)

[MDL111]

oh and funny anecdote about the 100 km/h ILG zones on the highways. Electric cars do not have to stick to it because a lawyer went to court and argued it is classified as a limit due to emissions and as he has an electric car that should not apply to him (that is the story I heard anyway)

[Burble234]

[SapperD]

Get the vignette digitally. 10 days is €12.40. Did it yesterday. Easy. Otherwise, plenty of services nearby sell the sticker. Same price.

https://www.asfinag.at/maut-vignette/vignette/

[NSNO]

MDL111 said:

oh and funny anecdote about the 100 km/h ILG zones on the highways. Electric cars do not have to stick to it because a lawyer went to court and argued it is classified as a limit due to emissions and as he has an electric car that should not apply to him (that is the story I heard anyway)

So, did he win the case and does the sign now differentiate between ICE cars and electric cars. There is a daytime speed limit of 100km/h on all motorways in the Netherlands and this is because of emissions, outside of this, the speed limit is up to 130km/h and I've often wondered if you were pulled over in an electric car, if you could argue that it doesn't apply to you and you were still not breaking the speed limit that the road is designed for.