A vignette is a form of toll on road vehicles, used in several non-English speaking European countries. The term is of French origin, and is now used throughout Central Europe.
The definition of a vignette as a road toll rather than a tax is significant. Under international treaties, foreign vehicles entering a country for a short time are exempt from vehicle taxes, as such tax has already been paid in their home countries. A vignette is a toll calculated by time, instead of the more usual (but more complicated) method of charging tolls by distance. Such tolls are payable for all vehicles, in categories such as cars of up to 3.5 tons gross weight, motorcycles, and travel trailers.
Vignettes are used in Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, while other types of road toll are imposed on drivers in several other European countries. A small, colored toll sticker is to be affixed to all vehicles using motorways and expressways, to indicate that the toll has been paid. Vignettes are often valid for one year, and can usually be obtained at border crossings, gas stations and other places where signposted. It is usually impossible to detach and reattach them without damaging them, ensuring that drivers cannot use the same vignette on more than one vehicle. Improperly used, torn or lost vignettes are usually not refunded. Road traffic is often monitored by roadside cameras, and vignettes are verified by state officials, such as border guards and national police. Hefty cash fines are often charged to travellers using public roads without a valid and properly affixed vignette. Additional tolls are usually levied for certain motorway tunnels and bridges.
Eurovignette is a road toll for trucks over 12 tons. The system was adopted in 1999, and is now used in Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden.