A vignette (a road tax sticker or digital registration) is mandatory for driving on motorways in several European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. In 2026, you have two main options: physical or digital. Physical stickers can be purchased at gas stations near the border, at post offices, or at automobile club offices (like ADAC in Germany). However, digital vignettes are now the standard; they can be bought online through official government portals like ASFINAG (Austria) or Dars (Slovenia) by simply registering your license plate number. It is critical to buy the vignette before you enter the country's motorway system to avoid heavy fines, which are often enforced by high-tech automated cameras. For travelers renting a car, always check if the vignette is already included; if you are picking up a car in Germany and driving into Austria, you will almost certainly need to purchase your own at the first gas station you see after crossing the border.