Travelling through Austria

[two]

We’re planning a trip to Ljubljana and are wondering about the need for Vignettes or Go-Boxes through Austria.

What are the consequences of being in a 3.5T vehicle, uprated to 3.85T (might you get by with a Vignette)?

We’ve not bothered with the Austrian motorways when visiting before but we will be passing through this time, rather than visiting. So are there any good routes that avoid the motorways?

 

[lou020]

If i were you id risk buying a vignette, as long as you dont stand out and look like your over 3,5t ie.. tag axle.

it cost us a bloody fortune to get through austria to hungary last easter using the go box....even got fined 240euros for buying the go box 30 mins too late,,,,,,,,even though i couldn't get one at the first few services.

we got stopped at the border with hungary and the little adolfs had it all on camera. We are giving austria a wide berth until we down size.

 

[Lenny HB]

In Slovenia over 3.5t motorways are pay as you go at the toll boths, when we went didn't bother using them but did get diverted onto one due to road works.. Easy to get across Austria without using toll roads.

 

[webby1]

We are also 3500 upplated to 3850 and have so far managed to pass off as 3500.................that's what we look like and that's what the Fiat plate says under the bonnet.

BUT I have been shocked to see on another thread (on another site far far away) that it is very easy to log onto the DVLA site,put in the reg and see various details about the vehicle including the registered weight.

So any cop having a bad day,concerned about his relatives having a bad time in UK or just annoyed about foreign drivers flouting the rules (seems a common thread here sometimes) might just look you up and then I guess all hell breaks loose.

 

[two]

In Slovenia over 3.5t motorways are pay as you go at the toll boths, when we went didn't bother using them but did get diverted onto one due to road works.. Easy to get across Austria without using toll roads.

I can see that there are other roads across Austria, but had just wondered if they were a practical alternative. More important, if there were any that ought to be avoided (ended-up ascending a difficult 25% road two years ago).

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[TerryL]

We crossed Austria last year in our 3850kg Bolero without touching a motorway with no problem.

I know it's of no help but I've got a copy of the route I used - but it's on the main machine at home......... Sorry.

 

[two]

We are also 3500 upplated to 3850 and have so far managed to pass off as 3500.................that's what we look like and that's what the Fiat plate says under the bonnet.

BUT I have been shocked to see on another thread (on another site far far away) that it is very easy to log onto the DVLA site,put in the reg and see various details about the vehicle including the registered weight.

So any cop having a bad day,concerned about his relatives having a bad time in UK or just annoyed about foreign drivers flouting the rules (seems a common thread here sometimes) might just look you up and then I guess all hell breaks loose.

I wouldn't object if they mistakenly assumed my original plated weight but would feel awkward about pretending otherwise.
If practical, in terms of extra time and ability to navigate alternative roads, I'm happy not to put it to the test.

 

[BreweryDave]

Quid a few threads on this, and I’m firmly in the camp of buy what you need!
If you need a go box, buy one and pay what you need to! It’ll be less painful in the long run, you won’t have to worry, and you might be surprised at how easy it is........if you follow the instructions on the box and buy it before you get into Austria
A beautiful country and way cheaper than its neighbour Switzerland. Watch out for signs about not wild camping, obey their rules, and enjoy it. I love it and will go back.
( previous visit was in a 5T tag, next time will buy a new box for current 5.3 T van.)
All the problems folk have is by trying to wing it and save a few quid. Do it properly and enjoy it stress free. Lots of the alternate roads have sneaky 3.5t limits apparently, albeit ignored by many........That’s my two penneth anyway
Good luck

Ps. If you intend to avoid motorways, ignore the above

 

[webby1]

All the problems folk have is by trying to wing it and save a few quid. Do it properly and enjoy it stress free.

Dave you are absolutely right

 

[Lenny HB]

B

I can see that there are other roads across Austria, but had just wondered if they were a practical alternative. More important, if there were any that ought to be avoided (ended-up ascending a difficult 25% road two years ago).

A very easy route is from Fussen taking the Fernpass to Innsbruck you skirt around Innsbruck then take the Brenner pass (Brenna) pass to guess where - Brenner. Be careful you don't get on the Autobahn at Fussen Blue signs are normal roads, Green Autobahn. A good stopover just before Brenner is Gusthouse Wolf at Wolf, buy a meal and stay for free, watch the landlady as soon as your beer is empty she grabs the glass for a refill.

Another good route and much more scenic from south east of Munich, Kufstein, Mittersill, Leinz then onto the Plockenpass, easy drive over the pass and no lorries, over 7.5t are banned. From there the roads in Italy are very good way above the standard of normal Italian roads. My preferred route.

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[two]

That’s not as far East as I was planning, Lenny, but would work for me. I was thinking of heading towards Saltzberg, then going South. Pretty though Austria is, my mission is to get further afield this time so I don’t want to be delayed too much. I may simply get a Go-box, but it seems such a faff for one trip.

 

[mikebeaches]

That’s not as far East as I was planning, Lenny, but would work for me. I was thinking of heading towards Saltzberg, then going South. Pretty though Austria is, my mission is to get further afield this time so I don’t want to be delayed too much. I may simply get a Go-box, but it seems such a faff for one trip.

We have a similar mission this year - to get further south into Slovenia and possibly Croatia or Hungary, or both. We meant to do it last summer, but so enjoyed touring in Austria in the sunshine, we didn't get any further south.

But we don't have the problem with using the motorway, because we're plated at 3,500kg, so a cheap and cheerful vignette does the trick. Thought it was a bargain... about 8 quid for 10 days if I remember rightly.

 

[two]

Indeed, it's a big difference (even only two axles) using a GoBox.
€9 for a vignette (for ten days) would be a no-brainer.

 

[nicholsong]

I have seen posts on other forums saying that vehicles have been weighed at borders, and elsewhere with portable weigh plates.

This may have been for vehicles that looked more than 3500kg and it may not be a problem for those which look like a 3500kg.

But does one not have to produce one's V5C to get the Vignette? If so and there is max. weight on it then one needs a Go Box, surely.

Geoff

 

[SMB]

We are also 3500 upplated to 3850 and have so far managed to pass off as 3500.................that's what we look like and that's what the Fiat plate says under the bonnet.

BUT I have been shocked to see on another thread (on another site far far away) that it is very easy to log onto the DVLA site,put in the reg and see various details about the vehicle including the registered weight.

So any cop having a bad day,concerned about his relatives having a bad time in UK or just annoyed about foreign drivers flouting the rules (seems a common thread here sometimes) might just look you up and then I guess all hell breaks loose.

Yep, just tried it and all the details are available (taxed, MOT, weight etc)

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[nicholsong]

Yep, just tried it and all the details are available (taxed, MOT, weight etc)

What weight did the records quote for your vehicle? In which section on your V5C does tat weight appear?


For my MH DVLA records only give 'Revenue Weight' which on a V5C is in section [Y] which does not exist in most other countries equivalent documents, and my Section [F.1 Max, Permissible Mass] is blank.

So where do the Austrian or any other authorities legally stand then?

Geoff

 

[Dorset Diver]

We’re planning a trip to Ljubljana and are wondering about the need for Vignettes or Go-Boxes through Austria.

What are the consequences of being in a 3.5T vehicle, uprated to 3.85T (might you get by with a Vignette)?

We’ve not bothered with the Austrian motorways when visiting before but we will be passing through this time, rather than visiting. So are there any good routes that avoid the motorways?

Easy to get across Austria not using m/ways. We just tell the sat nag to avoid them. Are you heading for Bled in September?

 

[two]

My £1K SatNag has already let me down a number of times (but that could be due to user error) so I tend to be more cautious now.
Yes I'll be at Bled (SatNag permitting).

 

[Lenny HB]

For Austria I leave our satnag set to avoid pre paid tolls but switch on per use tolls, that way it doesn't try to do a 150 mile detour to avoid a €5 toll tunnel but still keeps us off the Autobahn.

 

[Dorset Diver]

For Austria I leave our satnag set to avoid pre paid tolls but switch on per use tolls, that way it doesn't try to do a 150 mile detour to avoid a €5 toll tunnel but still keeps us off the Autobahn.

I like what you are suggesting @Lenny HB but I'm not sure if my SatNag is able to be set that way; it's a blaupunkt 530. Must look at it carefully .

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[Lenny HB]

I like what you are suggesting @Lenny HB but I'm not sure if my SatNag is able to be set that way; it's a blaupunkt 530. Must look at it carefully .

Just looked your unit up it uses IGO software for satnav same as my Clarion so should be ok.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Just looked your unit up it uses IGO software for satnav same as my Clarion so should be ok.

Looking at it now. It seems to have three related settings. Motorway, Period Charge, and Per-use Toll. At present Motorway is selected and the others not. That results in routes that include m/ways but not any form of toll road. I guess if I select Per-use Toll that will do the trick. Would you agree?

 

[Lenny HB]

Should do works on mine but don't blame me if you end up on the Autobahn.

I only found out about doing that way for Austria when mine kept trying to do a 150 mile trip round the mountains, when I looked at the route I wanted to take I saw there was a tunnel.

Don't forget to change it back when you come out of Austria if you want to avoid toll roads.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Should do works on mine but don't blame me if you end up on the Autobahn.

I only found out about doing that way for Austria when mine kept trying to do a 150 mile trip round the mountains, when I looked at the route I wanted to take I saw there was a tunnel.

Don't forget to change it back when you come out of Austria if you want to avoid toll roads.

Just had fiddle with our route for tomorrow. With per use selected it did use the toll road. Not sure if it would have not used a period charge as there is not one around

 

[Lenny HB]

Period charge is mainly Austria and Switzerland, although a lot of the eastern Europe countries have them not tried it.

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[webby1]

For my MH DVLA records only give 'Revenue Weight' which on a V5C is in section [Y] which does not exist in most other countries equivalent documents, and my Section [F.1 Max, Permissible Mass] is blank.

Geoff as I said .......IF they decide to pursue it through that DVLA link they will see weight and 3850 in the same line and I would not want to have that argument above by the side of the motorway in a foreign language. In any case, I know I am wrong, as no matter where/how it is written I know my "weight" is indeed 3850 so I can't push it too far.
I am coming round to @BreweryDave argument that it creates just too much stress. I believe that in Poland the Box itself is £25 and a minimum top up of £25 is required. Perhaps that is just the cost to drive through Poland(if over 3500) and theoretically the deposit and all unused is returned at the border.

As he said ........................do it ...................pay for it...........................and don't think about it again.

 

[nicholsong]

Webby

For Poland it depends which route you are taking. For example the A4 which only has tolls from Wraclaw going East has toll booths for paying, at least as far as Krakow, and I have never been challenged on weight.

Poland has gantry sensors for the Via-Toll boxes on main roads which are not Motorways - see ViaToll website map. We go from Katowice to Slowakia often and there is a ViaToll road but also an alternative running parallel which is non-toll.

Geoff

 

[webby1]

Geoff thanks for this and your particular info about Poland...................I guess similar thoughts apply to Austria.
Thought about trying to wing it as a 3500 but what if,what if. Then avoiding the toll roads and finally decided just get the box..................suddenly all the weight was lifted as @BreweryDave said.

 

[mitzimad]

we crossed austria to italy without motorways was in a smaller van but the roads were fine

 

[Mr B]

We came from lido de Jesolo last September, traveling up through Italy and towards the Austrian border. Like people on here advised us, buy a go box and forget about it.
Well, the border came up fast, and we stopped on both sides trying to buy one...no chance. Over the Grossknocker pass we went (amazing) and stopped at sport camp wolfengut, Zell am see for three nights.
When it was time to leave, looked at the map and thought we can get to Germany without using the autobahn. Set the Sat Nav and had a great drive through fantastic country side.
I think we were lucky. Next time we are buying one well before we leave

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