European driving costs and regulationsBefore setting off on your European road trip, it’s important to be aware of the costs and regulations that might apply when using the roads. Many countries require payment for motorway use, either through tolls or vignettes, while others have introduced Low Emissions zones (LEZ) and Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in an effort to improve air quality.
We’ve put together a handy guide to countries that you might expect to pay motorway tolls and where low emission zones apply.
Some European countries operate on a pay-as-you-go toll system, where payments can be made by cash, or debit/credit cards or electronic payment systems.
Other countries use vignettes - a prepaid road tax sticker or digital permit which must be purchased before using the roads/motorways. Failing to display a valid sticker where required may result in hefty fines.
To improve air quality, several European countries - including Germany, Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, France and Portugal have introduced Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in various cities. In these areas high emission vehicles may be restricted, required to pay a fee, or need to be registered before entering.
Similarly, Clean Air Zone (CAZ) aims to improve air quality by imposing charges based on vehicle type and emissions rating. Typically, older cars and higher polluting vehicles face higher costs or stricter entry restrictions.
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Freeflow tolls are becoming increasingly more popular. Already present in many countries (Norway, France, Spain and Portugal), the free flow motorway replaces toll barriers with vehicle detection gates. No need to stop at the toll booth to pay: it's a new and faster way to travel!
Once you pass a freeflow sign (Flux Libre) your vehicle will be detected by reading the number plate (ANPR).There are three ways to pay:
You will find all the details you require for payments or where to find the toll tag at autoroutes.sanef.com.
Motorway tolls
Stickers or Digital Vignettes are required for vehicles up to 3.5t (caravan/trailer weight is not taken into account and a second vignette is not required) and a Go-Box is required for vehicles over 3.5t to use motorways and expressways.
Further information: asfinag.at
Low emission zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
There are no motorway tolls in Belgium.
Low Emission Zones
Low emission zones are in operation in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. Foreign vehicles must be registered, which is free of charge.
Further information: Low Emission Zone | Visit Brussels
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit the Urban Access Regulations in Europe website.
Motorway Tolls
Pay as you go tolls to use the motorways.
Further information: hac.hr
Low Emission Zones
There are no nationwide low emission zones (LEZ) restrictions in Croatia that apply to cars, caravans or motorhomes.
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Vignettes are electronic and are mandatory toll payment for using the motorways and expressways. You need to register your car number plate when buying and cameras on the highways will check if your vehicle has a valid vignette. These can be purchased at petrol stations, border crossings or on their official website.
Further information: edalnice.cz
Vehicles over 3.5 t are subject to an electronic toll. The vehicle owner must register it with the toll-collection service to obtain an on-board device to be fixed in the vehicle.
Low Emission Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Although there are no road tolls in Denmark, there are toll-charged bridges.
These bridges are Crown Princess Mary’s Bridge, Storebaelt bridge and the Øresund Bridge.
Further information: vintrica.com
Low Emission Zones
Low emission zones in Denmark have been introduced in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg.
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Motorway tolls are pay-as-you-go. Toll roads are marked with a blue sign labeled ‘Peage’.
These can be paid by:
Low Emission Zones
The Crit Air Certificate is an environmental sticker required for vehicles in certain low emission zones in France. It categorises vehicles based on their emissions, with six colour coded levels.
The Air quality certificates allow local and regional authorities to modify their parking and traffic policies in order to encourage the use of the least polluting vehicles and to improve air quality. In Paris* Grenoble, Lyon, Lille, Strasbourg, Le Havre (Caen) and other towns and cities the use of the Crit'Air sticker is now compulsory. It could also be compulsory in other French cities and towns in the event of a pollution peak.
Find out which cities are currently under the LEZ scheme by visiting the Crit'Air anti-pollution vehicle sticker webpage.
*Please note that for Paris the emissions zone only applies from the Boulevard de la Périphérique to the centre of Paris. The outer suburbs of Paris are not affected by this scheme.
Key points
Order from the official website: certificat-air.gouv.fr (It has been noted that some websites completely unrelated to the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development are offering the Crit’Air sticker at a price well above the real one).
Required for all vehicles both French and foreign.
Costs 3.70€ plus postage. Without it, you may face a fine of 68€ -135€ if driving in a restricted area.
Make sure you leave at least 30 days before you depart on your journey for the sticker to arrive.
Low Emissions Stickers are valid for the lifetime of the vehicle and as long as they remain legible on the screen of your vehicle.
Motorway Tolls
While German motorways are toll-free for private cars, caravans, and motorhomes, charges apply at the Warnow and Herren Tunnels.
Low Emission Zones
In Germany, there is a national framework of low emissions zones that affects all vehicles (except motorcycles). The framework means that there are restrictions across the whole country, but you can comply by registering your vehicle and buying a sticker before you drive in the zone.
Alternatively, you can purchase your low emission stickers at any service station in Germany, as most service stations will have a TÜV (Technischer Überwachungsverein, or Technical Inspection Association) station attached to them. You will also need your V5C log at the TÜV station.
Find your nearest TÜV station for northern Germany and southern Germany.
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Transit bans
Alongside the national framework of low emissions zones, a number of cities in Germany also have transit bans on heavy duty vehicle through-traffic. For the transit bans the exact definition of vehicle varies, but all transit bans are for heavy duty vehicles only.
Motorway Tolls
Pay as you go tolls to use the motorways.
Further information: autostrade.it
Low Emission Zones
Italy has several Low Emission Zones with differing rules and time periods which are determined by the local authorities and monitored by cameras and vehicle number plate recognition systems.
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Pay as you go tolls are in use on some motorways and roads.
The M50 toll is automatic payment only.
Further information: eflow.ie
Low Emission Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
The Montenegrin vignette applies exclusively to the A1 highway (42km long), which connects the towns of Smokovac and Mateševo. There is a toll booth where you will need to stop and pay. There are a few ways to pay, cash, bank card, travel smart card or through the automatic electronic system. It is important to note that payment is made in euros.
A toll is required to use the 4km Sozina Tunnel, the main link between Podgorica and the Adriatic coast. Rates depend on your vehicle type.
Further information: vintrica.com
Low Emission Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
There are no tolls in Luxembourg.
Low Emission Zones
Luxembourg has not introduced environmental zones as of yet.
Motorway Tolls
Pay as you go tolls and freeflow tolls are in use on the motorways.
Some toll roads are electronic payment only. Please see ctt.pt for details on how to pay. Members can also purchase an electronic tag and pay no application fee, save €10 + local VAT from Emovis Tag.
Low Emission Zones
In Portugal, low emission zones, called Zona de Emissões Reduzidas (ZER). You do not need a sticker, but your car must comply with the Euro standard. You will be able to find this information in your V5 logbook.
There are two ZERs in Lisbon, with stricter restrictions in a smaller inner zone (ZER ABC) requiring at least Euro 3 standard, and a larger outer zone (Lisbon 2) requiring Euro 2 standard.
Further information: visitportugal.com or tollcard.pt or ctt.pt
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
If your car/motorhome weighs under 3.5t you need to purchase a sticker If your car/motorhome weighs over 3.5t you will need to sign up for a Darsgo electronic tag. You can register for these in Slovenia at dedicated service centres or online.
Further information: darsgo.si and dars.si.
Caravans/trailers do not need additional stickers.
Low Emission Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Further information: autopistas.com or emovis-tag.co.uk
Members save €10 on the VIA-T tag from Emovis Tag and receive a free Galp fuel discount card.
Low Emission Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Vehicles up to 3.5t need a vignette (caravans and trailers will need a second vignette) Over 3.5t you will need to pay a daily road tax.
Vignettes should be purchased on the border or from the Swiss Tourist board to avoid extra charges. The daily road tax can only be organised at the border.
Further information: ezv.admin.ch
Low Emission Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Sweden does not charge motorway tolls. However, there is a city toll and a bridge toll. The city toll is limited to certain roads in the cities of Gothenburg and Stockholm. There is also a bridge toll, which is charged for the Öresund, Sundvall, Motala and Skuru bridges.
Low Emission Zones
Sweden has a national framework with Low Emission Zones in 8 cities. These LEZs only apply to lorries and buses. The only exception to this national framework is Stockholm, whose LEZ has also been affecting cars since 1 January 2020.
From 2024 there will also be a zero emission zone in Stockholm in place. The Swedish national framework categorises it under low emission zone class 3.
Sweden also has various Access Regulations such as studded tyre bans, lorry regulations and a car & coach free zone.
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Motorway Tolls
Currently, there are no general tolls for driving on country roads and motorways in the Netherlands. This means you can travel around the country without paying any additional road tolls. However, there are two tunnels that are subject to tolls: the Kiltunnel and the Westerschelde Tunnel.
Low Emissions Zones
To find out more about low emission zones and traffic regulations in Europe visit Urban Access Regulations in Europe.
Emovis (formerly Sanef), the French motorway operator is offering its Liber-t automatic French toll payment service to UK motorists. Members can benefit from a free Liber-t tag application (normally 10€).
Offer valid all year
How do I book an overseas site?
Overseas campsite bookings can easily be made on the Club website and "combined deals" are common when you book a campsite at the same time as your ferry crossing. Booking online means you save the £20 Contact Centre booking fee.
This is my first visit abroad with my caravan/motorhome. How can the Club help?
The Club's first time abroad section explains everything you need to know about going on your first overseas touring holiday.
