For road trips across mainland Europe

Your European road trip, minus the red tape.

Tell us the countries on your route. You'll see the vignettes, zone stickers, tolls and winter rules that apply, where to get each one at the official price, and when to do it. Then all that's left to plan is the fun part.

  • One checklist for 14 countries, from Portugal to Poland
  • Official prices and links, no middlemen
  • Reminders in your calendar, so you can just drive

Your route

  1. France
  2. Germany
  3. Austria

See my checklist
FranceGermanyAustria

Before you cross: France → Germany → Austria

  • FranceCrit'Air stickerNeeded in every ZFE, foreign plates included. €5.11 posted outside France, about 10 working days by post, only from certificat-air.gouv.fr.Buy before you go
  • FranceMotorway tollsBarriers, charged by distance: take the ticket, pick a lane with a card symbol. On the A13, A14, A79 and the Boulay interchange there is no barrier, and you pay online within 72 hours.Pay as you go
  • FranceWinter kit1 November to 31 March in designated mountain communes: four snowflake tyres, or chains or snow socks in the boot.Check in winter
  • GermanyGreen UmweltplaketteValid in every Umweltzone, tied to the plate, never expires. €5–€10 at a test centre or registration office in Germany; by post from €6 at Berlin's registration office, 7–14 days.Buy before you go
  • GermanyWinter tyresNo dates: the rule applies on any ice, snow or slush. Since 1 October 2024 only the Alpine snowflake counts, not M+S.Check in winter
  • AustriaMotorway vignette€9.60 a day, €12.80 for ten days, €106.80 a year. Valid at once at a petrol station counter; a two-month or annual one bought online starts only after 18 days.Buy before the motorway
  • AustriaWinter tyres1 November to 15 April, in wintry conditions: M+S or snowflake, and at least 4 mm of tread.Check in winter

Every line comes from the page it links to, where the sources and the date each rule was checked are listed. Rules last checked 30 September 2026.

Country briefings

The rules, topic by topic