Travelling by car around Europe and Vignettes (road taxes)

[JOC469]

I'm part way through a European holiday which included leasing a new Peugeot (owned by me for the period and registered in France) to get around between countries. I thought I had everything covered except it seems the vigenettes or road taxes that are charged on some of the motorways in Switzerland and Czech Republic. I'm pretty sure I have driven on some of the roads that I should have had a valid vignette for. I didn't see any signs advertising their use, or advertising their sale. Looking online, there appear to be some pretty steep fines for not having one on the vehicle.

I'm just wondering how the relevant road agencies go about collecting their fines. Should I wait for a letter to arrive in the mail for me back in Australia and see what my options are? If something arrives should I pay the fine? Does anybody know what happens if you don't?

TIA.

 

[albatross710]

Hope you are having a great holiday. I'm not sure how they track you down but I have a feeling that Swiss efficiency will find you.

From memory I think the service stations on the motorway have details of what you need to pay. Consider making enquiries at those places where they would be dealing with the out of country traffic.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

We also leased a car and travelled through Europe last year. I did purchase a vignette for Austria but not for Switzerland and Czech Republic as I didn't know they were required there at the time. Never got pulled up and have not heard anything since so maybe was just lucky but my understanding is that it is not electronic. You would actually have to be given a fine on the spot

If you are still in either of those countries then I think you can purchase at any service station, if you have already gone through then there is probably nothing to worry about so enjoy the rest of your trip

 

[JOC469]

Sweet, thanks for the replies.

When I drove through England there were toll booths you could pay at. Italy had these enormous tolling booths too, with enough signs to work out where to go. Getting a ticket on one end and handing it in on the other end seems to Italian. I didn't get picked up when I drove throught he Czech Republic and Switzerland, although I may have been flashed by a speed camera driving down a back street in Zurich. I was pretty sure i was under the speed limit, but I've been through that many areas it is hard to keep track of the proper speed limit.

Only France to go, and they seem to have the ability to pay tolls when you need to, so happy travels.