Munich to Vienna 2026: 430 km and a EUR 12.80 Vignette

The A8 out of Munich becomes the Austrian A1 past Salzburg with barely a turn, covering 430 km in around 4.5 hours. Germany charges cars nothing for its motorways. Austria does: a digital vignette linked to your number plate, EUR 12.80 for ten days, and EUR 200 if you are caught without one.

The vignette, priced

ASFINAG sells the car vignette digitally, registered against the number plate, so nothing goes on the windscreen. Current prices are EUR 9.60 for one day, EUR 12.80 for ten days, EUR 32.00 for two months and EUR 106.80 for a year; motorbikes pay EUR 3.80, EUR 5.10, EUR 12.80 and EUR 42.70 respectively. From 2027 only the digital version will be sold.

Driving the Austrian motorway network without one triggers the substitute toll, Ersatzmaut, of EUR 200 for a car or camper van and EUR 100 for a motorbike. Note also that Austria’s alpine tunnels — Brenner, Tauern, Arlberg, Karawanken — carry separate charges on top of the vignette, though none of them is on this route.

Route Overview

The drive from Munich to Vienna covers approximately 430 km and takes around 4.5 hours under normal conditions, via Salzburg. The Austrian half of the trip is the same A1 covered stop by stop in Vienna to Salzburg.

🛣️ Plan your toll: Vignette Calculator — Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania pricing.

Key Facts at a Glance

Border Crossing: Germany to Austria

Both countries are in the Schengen area, so the crossing is normally seamless — but random checks happen, and the rules on either side are not identical.

What Changes at the Border

Two rows on that table are worth a second look. Germany’s autobahn has no general speed limit — 130 km/h is the recommended figure, not a maximum, and stretches with posted limits are common on the A8. Austria’s winter-tyre rule is not a blanket seasonal mandate either: between 1 November and 15 April, winter tyres with at least 4 mm of tread are required when there is snow, slush or ice on the road, and the fine starts at EUR 60.

Estimated Fuel Cost

Based on average consumption of 7 litres per 100 km and current fuel prices:

Use our Fuel Cost Calculator for a precise estimate based on your vehicle.

Required Equipment

Carry the correct equipment to avoid fines at roadside checks:

Germany:

• Required: Warning Triangle, Reflective Vest, First Aid Kit
• Recommended: Fire Extinguisher, Spare Bulbs

Austria:

• Required: Warning Triangle, Reflective Vest, First Aid Kit
• Recommended: Fire Extinguisher, Spare Bulbs

Use our Travel Checklist to make sure you have everything.

Seasonal Considerations

Winter (November — March)

The route itself stays low and open, but the Salzburg approach collects weather from the Alps. Fit winter tyres for the Austrian leg between November and mid-April, and expect the A8 near Chiemsee to slow sharply in snow.

Summer (June — August)

This corridor carries holiday traffic toward Salzburg and the Tauern. Saturday mornings in July and August are the worst window; a weekday or an early start saves more time than any route choice.

Rest Stops and Breaks

For a 430 km drive, plan 2 rest stops. Stop every 2 hours or 200 km to stay alert. Service areas on both sides accept card payment.

Driving Tips for This Route

• Buy the vignette before the border. It is digital and activates immediately, so there is no reason to leave it until the first Austrian service area.
• Keep right except when overtaking — lane discipline is enforced on both sides.
• Austrian police can issue on-the-spot fines. Carry a card that works locally.
• Download offline maps; the Salzburg basin has patchy signal in the tunnels.

Plan This Route

Use our Route Planner to get turn-by-turn directions, or calculate your Fuel Cost for this trip.

Country guides: Germany | Austria