Videomaut

Videomaut (Video Toll) is a toll collection system used by the Austrian financing provider for motorways (Autobahnen) and expressways (Schnellstraßen), ASFINAG (Autobahnen-und-Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft) on some motorways in Austria.

Overview of Tolls in Austria

General Duty to pay Toll

All users of Austrian motorways and expressways are obliged to pay toll.

Road-Tax Disc and Go-Box

Vehicles with a total weight of no more than 3.5 metric tonnes require a road-tax disc (Vignette), which was introduced in 1997, vehicles in excess of 3.5 metric tonnes require an OBU for the Go-Box electronic toll collection system. The road-tax disc and the Go-Box cover most of the Austrian motorways and expressways.

Special Tolls

For certain parts of the Austrian motorways and expressways, no road-tax disc is required. These parts are subject to special tolls (Sondermaut) because they are particularly costly to build and maintain. Special tolls were first collected in Austria on 03 June 1964 when the privately operated carrier Brennerautobahn AG commenced operations on the Brenner motorway. Special tolls can either be paid in cash or with a credit card, or, if that system is available for the given route, using the Videomaut system.

The Videomaut System

Availability

Videomaut is available on the following routes:

:* A9 Pyhrn Motorway (Pyhrnautobahn), between Spital/Pyhrn and Ardning and between St. Michael and Übelbach, toll plaza of Bosruck

:* A10 Tauern Motorway (Tauernautobahn), between Flachau and Rennweg, toll plaza of St. Michael i.L.

:* A13 Brenner Motorway (Brennerautobahn), between Brenner Pass and Schönberg, toll plaza of Schönberg

Use

To use Videomaut, the user must buy a Videomaut ticket, either online or in person at an ASFINAG customer service centre or authorised point of sale. The route, number of travels, and the number plate of the car to be used must be specified. A Videomaut ticket is valid for one year from the date it is issued.

When approaching a toll plaza, the user must select the lane marked Videomaut and travel no faster than 15 km/h while in the Videomaut lane. The car's number plate is read and identified automatically, and the vehicle is allowed to pass. If the number plate cannot be read, or no valid Videomaut ticket is associated with the number plate, the user is directed into a regular toll lane and must show a copy of the receipt for the Videomaut ticket as proof of purchase to the toll cashier.

The toll cashier verifies the validity of the ticket and allows the vehicle to continue or directs the driver to pay the special toll incurred if the ticket is invalid or has expired.

Limitations

Videomaut is available only to cars which do not exceed a width of 2.3 metres and a total weight of 3.5 metric tonnes, and which do not pull a trailer.

Fees and Discounts

Videomaut tickets can be bought for a single or multiple passages or an unlimited number of passages for one year from the date the ticket is issued. Discounts are available to

:* drivers holding road-tax discs that are valid for one year,

:* commuters,

:* military and alternative civilian service members, and

:* drivers with disabilities.

See also