With summer approaching, our holidays are also near, so we have to decide what kind of transport we choose for our trip. However, it is important to check the rules of the destination country before each trip and if you are travelling by car to check road regulations, motorway usage and restrictions!
With summer approaching, our holidays are also near, so we have to decide what kind of transport we choose for our trip. However, it is important to check the rules of the destination country before each trip and if you are travelling by car to check road regulations, motorway usage and restrictions!
“It’s gone by so fast and we’ve only just got here” is a sad phrase that comes from at least one of us at the end of family holidays. However, the summer holidays have not yet begun, so it is time to gather the most important information if you want to plan your car holiday as early and as accurately as possible.
Highways and roads
In most European countries, motorway use is mostly toll-based, either through a toll-gate system or through time-based vignette purchases. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, as you don’t have to worry about possible fines at the tollgate, but there can easily be traffic jams. The advantage of buying a toll sticker is that you don’t have to stand in lines at the gates, as you can get a valid sticker at the roadside or even online, but the disadvantage is that you can easily forget to buy one and get fined.
Sticker system in Hungary
Hungary has a vignette toll system. You can buy your Hungarian motorway stickers offline at border crossings before and during your journey, but to avoid queuing, we recommend that you buy them quickly and easily online.
What happens if you forget to buy a motorway sticker? There are so many things to be aware of when travelling that you may be informed while using the motorway that a particular section of the road is tolled. In Hungary, you have 60 minutes to buy a motorway vignette and if you exceed this time, you will be liable to pay a surcharge.
Do not include a fine among the souvenirs!
After a holiday, no one wants to have to tell a story about bringing a fine back from the holiday alongside their experience, so it’s important to always comply with the rules of the destination country. Unfortunately, even if you have a sticker, certain carelessness or omissions can still result in a penalty. Here are some things to look out for if you want to avoid a fine:
Fee category
Perhaps one of the most common mistakes is to buy a D1 sticker for a minibus carrying more than seven people (in which case you will need a D2 sticker). So, make sure you enter the right category!
Correct registration number
In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easy to miss a character, but in the case of motorway stickers it means you don’t have a valid sticker. We can check the correctness of the number plate on the confirmation of purchase.Fortunately, if there is only a discrepancy of up to 3 characters, it is possible to have the correct number plate fixed at the offices of NÚSZ Zrt. within 60 days of the start of the validity period of the sticker or of receipt of the surcharge notice. The fee is only HUF 1470, which is much lower than the fine. In this case, no fee is payable for the substitution of the characters 0 (zero) and O.
Validity period
Incorrect entry of the validity period will also lead to a penalty. If you feel that the system has made a mistake, check the date on the penalty or the expiry date on the purchase confirmation (probably not, but if it is, you can prove you are right).
Enter correctly the country of registration
If the registration number on the confirmation of purchase or on the ticket does not match the actual registration number on the vehicle registration number, you are also not entitled to use the road.
A few more tips before you go:
- Plan your route before you set off and follow any road closures to avoid traffic jams
- Find out about the toll system in your destination country and buy your vignette online for ease of use.
- Always check the technical condition of your car and the validity of your documents
- Find out what personal documents are required to enter the country
- Check the speed limits on the roads in your destination country, to ensure your safety and avoid fines