Auto vig

Rental car and vignettes: what's included and what isn't

Swiss rental cars always include the vignette. Austrian ones usually do. Cars rented in Germany or France almost never do. Here is what to ask at the desk.

Swiss rental cars always include the vignette. Austrian ones usually do. Cars rented in Germany, France or the UK almost never include vignettes for neighbouring countries. Here's what to ask.

The rule of thumb

A rental car typically includes a vignette only for the country it is rented in — and even that is not guaranteed. If you're crossing a border into a vignette country, assume you need to arrange one yourself unless the rental company confirms otherwise in writing.

Country-by-country: what's usually included

Rental countryVignette included?Notes
SwitzerlandAlmost alwaysSwiss rentals come with the annual vignette (sticker or e-vignette). Confirm at pickup.
AustriaUsuallyMost Austrian rental companies include the annual ASFINAG vignette. Confirm at pickup.
GermanyNoGerman rentals never include vignettes for Austria, Switzerland, or Czech Republic. You are responsible.
FranceNoFrench rentals never include vignettes for Switzerland or other countries. You are responsible.
UKNoUK rentals never include any European vignettes. You are responsible for every country.
ItalyNoItalian rentals do not include vignettes for Austria or Slovenia. You are responsible.
NetherlandsNoDutch rentals do not include vignettes for any country. You are responsible.
BelgiumNoBelgian rentals do not include vignettes for any country. You are responsible.

What to ask at the rental desk

Before you drive away, ask these questions explicitly:

1 "Does this car have a valid vignette for [country]?" — name every vignette country on your route.
2 "Is it the e-vignette (plate-linked) or a sticker?" — if it's an e-vignette, the plate must be registered. If it's a sticker, check it's on the windscreen and current-year.
3 "Can I get written confirmation?" — if the desk says yes, ask for it in writing (email, printed note, or noted on the rental agreement). This protects you if a fine arrives later.
4 "If the vignette is missing and I get fined, who is liable?" — most rental agreements pass fine liability to the driver. Know this before you sign.

How to verify a rental car's vignette

If the rental company says the car has an e-vignette, you can verify it yourself in some countries:

Switzerland: use the BAZG public lookup at via.admin.ch (only if "publicly viewable" was selected at registration).
Hungary: use the NÚSZ public plate lookup.
Slovenia: use the DARS e-vinjeta verification tool.
Czech Republic: use the edalnice.cz plate verification.
Slovakia: use the eznamka.sk plate verification.

For Austria, there is no public plate lookup — you must rely on the rental company's confirmation or contact ASFINAG directly.

Who pays the fine if the rental car doesn't have a vignette?

The fine is issued to the registered plate owner — which is the rental company. However, almost all rental agreements include a clause that passes traffic fine liability to the driver. In practice:

1 The operator (e.g. ASFINAG) sends the fine to the rental company.
2 The rental company charges the fine to the credit card on file, plus an administrative fee (typically €20–50).
3 You pay the fine amount plus the admin fee — often totalling more than if you'd arranged the vignette yourself.

If the rental company explicitly told you the car had a vignette and it didn't, you may have grounds to dispute the admin fee — but you'll need written evidence of what was promised.

If you're crossing borders with a rental car

For a typical road trip from Germany through Austria to Italy:

1 Before departure: arrange an Austrian vignette online using the rental car's exact plate number. The 1-day (€9.60) or 10-day (€12.80) vignette is sufficient for transit.
2 At pickup: confirm the plate number matches what's on the rental agreement. One character wrong = invalid vignette.
3 If returning via Slovenia: arrange a Slovenian e-vinjeta as well (from €16 for 7 days).
4 Keep confirmations: save all registration or confirmation emails until after you return the car.

FAQ

Q: Does my rental car come with an Austrian vignette?

Usually yes if rented in Austria, but confirm at the desk and get it in writing. If rented in Germany, France or the UK, almost certainly not — arrange one before crossing the Austrian border.

Q: If the rental company said my car has a vignette and it didn't, who pays the fine?

The fine is issued to the registered plate owner, which is the rental company — but most rental agreements pass this liability to the driver. Check your rental agreement's terms before crossing any border.

Q: Can I arrange a vignette for a rental car?

Yes. You arrange it using the rental car's licence plate number, exactly as printed on the plate. The vignette is linked to the plate, not to the owner. Any person can arrange a vignette for any plate.

Q: What if I return the car and a fine arrives weeks later?

The rental company will charge the fine to your card on file, plus their admin fee. If you believe you had a valid vignette, contact the rental company with your confirmation email and dispute the charge.