Asfinag toll fine grrrr

[jongood]

NOTHING would stop me going to Austria it’s the most beautiful country on earth!! I’ve been pulled by the Austrian police who were nothing but friendly and polite

So what did they pull you for?

 

[Hoovie]

This thread interests me as I would love to take my MH to Austria ... Looks like there is a major difference in the cost of driving a >3.5T Motorhome compared to a light one?
Under 3.5t, €10 for a 10 days and that is it baring some very specific toll routes.
Over 3.5t and 20 cents a mile on all Major roads? Is that right?

Makes me thing it could be worthwhile downplating just for the touring period on the continent (France has higher tolls as well?) .

 

[jongood]

This thread interests me as I would love to take my MH to Austria ... Looks like there is a major difference in the cost of driving a >3.5T Motorhome compared to a light one?
Under 3.5t, €10 for a 10 days and that is it baring some very specific toll routes.
Over 3.5t and 20 cents a mile on all Major roads? Is that right?

Makes me thing it could be worthwhile downplating just for the touring period on the continent (France has higher tolls as well?) .

If you re on 4 wheels and under 3m tall you will get away with classe 2 on most French Tolls. Austria is best avoided, you can get more or less the same experience in Bavaria, Swiss and Italy without the hassle; You can transit Austria without either a go box or a vignette - and yes, I did it year before last but people have been caught out even when they paid.

 

[WESTY66]

So what did they pull you for?

Spot check on Harley
Yes even with the customary Harley exhausts they were nothing but polite and pleasant, they checked frame and engine numbers, V5, MOT and insurance.
The Austrian guy on the custom chopper behind me wasn’t so lucky
Forgot to add on a separate occasion when I got knocked off the Harley near the Großglockner they were in attendance too, again they were fantastic, supplying an European accident form and helping me fill it in

 

[royandsharont]

This thread interests me as I would love to take my MH to Austria ... Looks like there is a major difference in the cost of driving a >3.5T Motorhome compared to a light one?
Under 3.5t, €10 for a 10 days and that is it baring some very specific toll routes.
Over 3.5t and 20 cents a mile on all Major roads? Is that right?

Makes me thing it could be worthwhile downplating just for the touring period on the continent (France has higher tolls as well?) .

Not sure on the correct current price but it was more than 20c and that was per kilometre not mile last time I visited in 2019, so very expensive by comparison.

If you could payg with an account and keep the GoBox replacing the battery yourself I think I would have persevered with it and dipped on and off the motorway but unfortunately as a Brit you cannot do either

In France we were a class 3 but I have never, to my knowledge, been charged anything but class 2 as jongood said above

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[Hoovie]

Not sure on the correct current price but it was more than 20c and that was per kilometre not mile last time I visited in 2019, so very expensive by comparison.

If you could payg with an account and keep the GoBox replacing the battery yourself I think I would have persevered with it and dipped on and off the motorway but unfortunately as a Brit you cannot do either

In France we were a class 3 but I have never, to my knowledge, been charged anything but class 2 as jongood said above

I think the rate I saw was something like 0.20 or 0.21 - but as you rightly point out, per KM and NOT per mile (silly mistake there I made )

If you re on 4 wheels and under 3m tall you will get away with classe 2 on most French Tolls. Austria is best avoided, you can get more or less the same experience in Bavaria, Swiss and Italy without the hassle; You can transit Austria without either a go box or a vignette - and yes, I did it year before last but people have been caught out even when they paid.

I do really like Austria though

I think the last time I drove through Austria (2010) and was on a motorway, either never had to pay or paid at a booth (I remember big queues at a booth but could have been tolls or customs (my memory is bad ))

 

[David and Sally]

We are thinking of going to Lake Bled next year. It seems that, as beautiful Austria is, the whole fuss of the GO Box is not worth it.

We are over 3.5t so going via Switzerland is going to be a nuisance too.

Looks like a trip down through France, across the top of Italy and up into Slovenia is more likely.

I would like to go across Germany but it looks like avoiding Austria is a long way around.

Never easy is it?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

We are thinking of going to Lake Bled next year. It seems that, as beautiful Austria is, the whole fuss of the GO Box is not worth it.

We are over 3.5t so going via Switzerland is going to be a nuisance too.

Looks like a trip down through France, across the top of Italy and up into Slovenia is more likely.

I would like to go across Germany but it looks like avoiding Austria is a long way around.

Never easy is it?

Just came down through Switzerland and then back through for a bit with no issues, think it was about £30 or £40 for the sticker from the border control office, that last a year.
Obviously I could be wrong and get a big nasty bill in a few months

 

[David and Sally]

Just came down through Switzerland and then back through for a bit with no issues, think it was about £30 or £40 for the sticker from the border control office, that last a year.
Obviously I could be wrong and get a big nasty bill in a few months

What weight is your van please?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

What weight is your van please?

7.5t
The chap never asked for any paperwork!

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[Itsmcb]

This thread explains all the Swiss rules quite well.

Driving in Switzerland

I have read that you need to buy a ticket to go on National roads and motorways, is it possible to avoid these roads or is it best to buy one , advice needed please

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Itsmcb]

7.5t
The chap never asked for any paperwork!

The sticker is only for vehicles less than 3500kgs. You were lucky not to get spotted and fined in a big van with just a vignette. Lots of police on the Swiss motorways too.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

The sticker is only for vehicles less than 3500kgs. You were lucky not to get spotted and fined in a big van with just a vignette. Lots of police on the Swiss motorways too.

He see me drive in and park up as I was the only vehicle there.
Strange as I don’t think I could blag 3.5t.
Anyway hopefully will get nothing through the post and Switzerland was ok but don’t think I would rush back.

 

[Riverbankannie]

We are thinking of going to Lake Bled next year. It seems that, as beautiful Austria is, the whole fuss of the GO Box is not worth it.

We are over 3.5t so going via Switzerland is going to be a nuisance too.

Looks like a trip down through France, across the top of Italy and up into Slovenia is more likely.

I would like to go across Germany but it looks like avoiding Austria is a long way around.

Never easy is it?

Northernraider has just transited Austria on non-toll roads.
Post in thread 'Tam & co the great winter escape'
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/tam-co-the-great-winter-escape.251858/post-4764469

 

[royandsharont]

We are thinking of going to Lake Bled next year. It seems that, as beautiful Austria is, the whole fuss of the GO Box is not worth it.

We are over 3.5t so going via Switzerland is going to be a nuisance too.

Looks like a trip down through France, across the top of Italy and up into Slovenia is more likely.

I would like to go across Germany but it looks like avoiding Austria is a long way around.

Never easy is it?

David and Sally Just give me a bit of time next week and I will go through my maps etc & give you a route I have personally done in a 4005kg 8m Motorhome from Lake Bled through Austria completely off toll motorway, but you have to cross a high pass road which has a toll, beautiful views and our 130 bhp manual Ducato did it just fine fully loaded. You even pass close to a glacier at the top I’ll give you our stops too. I can post it back here or PM you.

If you had any specific places you wanted to visit in Austria let me know and I’ll see if we’ve been & done them off motorway too.

Please let me know if you want it before I start the digging as it will take me a bit of time. Roy

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[Itsmcb]

He see me drive in and park up as I was the only vehicle there.
Strange as I don’t think I could blag 3.5t.
Anyway hopefully will get nothing through the post and Switzerland was ok but don’t think I would rush back.

If you didn't get stopped and fined on the spot you won't hear anything as they don't have toll booths or gantries over the motorway like some countries. The guy that issued your sticker must have been an apprentice

 

[David and Sally]

David and Sally Just give me a bit of time next week and I will go through my maps etc & give you a route I have personally done in a 4005kg 8m Motorhome from Lake Bled through Austria completely off toll motorway, but you have to cross a high pass road which has a toll, beautiful views and our 130 bhp manual Ducato did it just fine fully loaded. You even pass close to a glacier at the top I’ll give you our stops too. I can post it back here or PM you.

If you had any specific places you wanted to visit in Austria let me know and I’ll see if we’ve been & done them off motorway too.

Please let me know if you want it before I start the digging as it will take me a bit of time. Roy

royandsharont . That is very kind of you. At the moment we are just in the early stages of planning but I may call on your services soon. Really appreciated

 

[royandsharont]

David and Sally Thats fine, just PM me if you need help. We like travelling on different routes where possible for a change of scenery and have crossed Austria North to South and back on 5 different off motorway routes but there are tolls on the tunnels or some passes. Slovenia now has changed its toll roads & last time there the had just started a GoBox system and I couldn’t even find one to get so had to miss out Ljubljana

 

[David and Sally]

Didn't even think of Slovenia having tolls. All in all getting to Bled is going to be all about managing tolls. Makes the trip a bit less appealing.

Might just stick to Bavaria

 

[royandsharont]

Getting to Bled is very easy via Austria and into a short bit of Italy

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[David and Sally]

Getting to Bled is very easy via Austria and into a short bit of Italy

Might take you up on your offer.

 

[RubyOptics]

I'm going to go wildly off-topic for a second, but I do love this story and hope you all feel the diversion is a worthwhile one. 2 years ago we were travelling through Austria on our way to Italy from Poland. We had been driving most of the day and were getting to the "we need to stop for the night" point. As I continued to drive my partner, Dominika, got out her laptop and looked through booking.com to find somewhere close and reasonably priced. There weren't many options less than an hours drive away, and the one closest looked reasonable in terms of both price and facilities and so was booked for the night with no delay. Before describing the hotel, I swear that what follows is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God
Upon arriving at the hotel, we naturally walked into reception. This reception seemed to double as a small gift shop selling ONLY soft jelly sweets and an assortment of lavander bath salts, bath oils, bath foam, shower gels etc etc. There was also a small florists although this was sadly closed due to the late hour of our arrival (approximately 10 pm).
The receptionist greeted us warmly, confirmed our booking and advised us of two salient points. The first was that the music we could hear was in fact and old-timers (his words) disco which would be finishing shortly and to not worry about any noise. The second was that the restaurant was shut due to the time. We were fine to go out to eat elsewhere as there was a 24 hour reception even if the door was locked for the guests safety.
Passing the "ballroom" to the elevator, we were greeted by the sight of approximately 40-50 pensioners, every single one of them dressed as Elvis Presley, gyrating to the strains and warbles of "blue Suede Shoes". A sight I personally have forever etched into my memory.
We arrived in our room to be met with several framed photographs hanging on the room walls. On closer inspection these photos were of the hotel reception area, the hotel ballroom and the hotel dining area. Each was framed in a plastic Ikea photo frame which was the nailed into the wall. Over each bed was a small piece of fabric, which when we look at it was also an Ikea tea-towel. These weren't covering anything at all and were simply nailed to the wall as well, presumably for decoration! The curtains in the room left a foot wide gap in the middle when you tried to draw them, however by this point this wasn't in any way suprising.
We left the hotel and had a very agreeable meal in a local Inn, complete with ashtrays on the tables and a cigarette vending machine in the corner! Fantastic food which was demolished rather too quickly i fear! Back to the hotel and we were greeted by a darkened reception with nobody in sight. There was no night-bell and nobody in sight. our room key didn't open the front door and we were starting to consider our options when my son spotted a half-hidden sign pointing to a "night entrance". with sighs of relief, we headed towards this, however quickly realised that the path to this led through what can only be described as a Christmas tree cemetary. There were quite literally hundreds of the things, in various states of skeletisation! It was like walking through an explosion of dead pine needles. After what seemed like hours (but was in reality closer to ten minutes or so) we arrived at the night entrance liberally doused in dead pine needles and cobwebs.
I would love to say that we had a good nights sleep and that everything was much better in the morning, but it really wasn't at all!! We still remind Dominika of this night whenever she says "I've found somewhere nice to stay" and threaten our children we will go back there if they start moaning on holiday! Good times!

Oh, and we still love Austria though!

 

[jongood]

Didn't even think of Slovenia having tolls. All in all getting to Bled is going to be all about managing tolls. Makes the trip a bit less appealing.

Might just stick to Bavaria

I would use the opportunity to go over Grossglockner ( which I imagine is the road royandsharont meant) Its has a toll but no go box required if you approach from Berchtesgarten - eagles nest. Its fabulous but careful with the brakes on the way down. Its then pretty easy to go via Trieste into Slovenia, where if you're only on 4 wheels I would wing it with a vignette to Bled.

There are several routes through Austria without going on motorways even for heavier motorhomes but it does need a bit of planning.

If you want to get there faster you could use the 10 day Switzerland pass both ways as they last a year, much easier and cheaper than a gobox. Just be careful which tunnel you leave through, Gotthard and the one further along are the 'free' ones.

 

[David and Sally]

We have been to Austria in the Moho before but it was under 3.5t. It is a beautiful country but very expensive as we found out. Mind you, northern Italy was even worse.
I’m pretty certain we will go there next year and we will take up the kind offer of a route from royandsharont . We love Bavaria too so it makes sense to travel back through there from Bled.

For me, Germany is way more inviting as it’s far easier to travel without navigating money-grabbing toll schemes. Back in 2018 when we last went it was also a lot cheaper for food and drink.

I guess post-pandemic the pressure will be on all governments to milk travellers and costs are going up for all purchases like hotels, food, energy, travel and so on. Hey ho, c’est la vie. !

Sorry for a thread hijack.

 

[WESTY66]

One of the easy routes I use to bled is from mittersill through the felbertauern tunnel or the grossglockner to Lienz then down towards arnoldstein via hermagor, then take the wurzenpass (surface not very good though) then to podkoren turn left to kranjska gora, past jesenice then onto bled.

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[sallys]

How is your appeal going?

They are still insisting we pay a full fine …apparently out of 50 toll gantries, our toll box didn’t register on 6 of them. This is despite the box being in the same position throughout the journey. How is this our fault?? I have offered to pay the 8€ we owe but they want over 200€…. thieves!

 

[GAVLAD]

They are still insisting we pay a full fine …apparently out of 50 toll gantries, our toll box didn’t register on 6 of them. This is despite the box being in the same position throughout the journey. How is this our fault?? I have offered to pay the 8€ we owe but they want over 200€…. thieves!

Out of interest, have they confirmed which 6 gantries didn’t register and out of those 6, did your go box have sufficient funds on it at the time?
You mentioned that you topped it up, can you recall if this was during these 6 gantries part of your itinerary?
I think that’s the key to your claim being successful with them, that if you had sufficient funds preloaded, then the issue is with the go box which ultimately they own.
You could go on the Asfinag website and go on the live chat and ask them to calculate your itinerary for each stage. You get an emailed copy of the chat afterwards. It may help with your claim.
I did this prior to our trip and then preloaded the go box with about £80 more funds than what they advised.
I bought mine at the Italian services prior to Brenner and they were very good.
I returned it to the first services in Germany enroute to Fussen and they were awful to deal with (rude).

I agree with what most have said, the Austrian system for over 3.5t is sh!t#
How can they get away with fining someone if it’s there software that’s not working?

 

[steve69]

3 years ago I entered Portugal on the A25/A23 which was called an "Easy Toll " road. You just paid by the mile via overhead cameras clocking your number plate. BEWARE! Unknown to me, the toll ends when you join the E1 to Lisbon and a different toll system begins. Somehow I drove through a non-barriered section and continued thinking it was still Easy Toll. When I came to a barrier at the end of my trip I found out i should have picked up a ticket when I joined the E1 and was hit with a 88 Euro fine(would have been 20 Euros with ticket).

it was not obvious to me about this changeover of Tolls and i am sure others have been caught by it, so when you get to Portugal, keep an eye out for these changes.

 

[wp1234]

Note to self - avoid Austria

 

[altomos]

Can you please help me. I have a Pilote 700 normally a 3500 van but I have upgraded it to 3650. It looks like a normal coach build. How does the Austrian system know it’s been upgraded to 3650? Is there a weigh machine below the gantries? I am confused as to the way that they check the vehicle especially now we are out of the EU. Thanks

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