Austrian Ersatzmaut letter: EUR 200 in 2026, the 4-week rule and what follows
Last checked 14 November 2026. General information, not legal advice. Also in: Deutsch Polski
What it is
If ASFINAG finds no valid vignette for your plate, it offers you to settle with the Ersatzmaut instead of a penalty. For cars it is EUR 200 since 1 January 2026 (before: EUR 120). It must be paid within 4 weeks of the date the letter was issued – not from delivery.
If you do not pay
The case goes to the district authority: an Anonymverfügung of up to EUR 365 (no appeal), then a Strafverfügung of EUR 300–3,000 (objection within 2 weeks). Austria can enforce in Germany from EUR 25 and at roadside checks on later trips.
Common traps
- Typos in the plate or country (AT instead of DE, hyphen in the wrong place) count as no vignette.
- Online-bought 2-month and annual digital vignettes are valid only from the 18th day after purchase.
What to do
If you had no valid vignette, paying the EUR 200 within 4 weeks is usually the cheapest outcome. If you had one (keep the confirmation), ask ASFINAG to review. Fake e-mails asking for card details "within 24 hours" are scams.
Sources
- EVZ – Vignettenverstoß Österreich (31 Mar 2026):
https://www.evz.de/reisen-verkehr/auto/bussgelder-aus-ausland/vignettenverstoss-oesterreich.html - oesterreich.gv.at – Vignette:
https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/mobilitaet/kfz/10/Vignette-und-Maut/Vignette-fuer-Fahrzeuge-bis-3,5-t