Truck Toll Austria: GO-Box, ASFINAG and Section Tolls Explained
Austria is one of the most toll-intensive countries in Europe. For freight forwarders and drivers it is important to understand the ASFINAG system – from the GO-Box to the toll-liable roads and the special tariffs at tunnels and mountain passes.
The Toll System in Austria
The truck toll in Austria is operated by ASFINAG (Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-AG) and is called GO-Maut. It is a distance-based free-flow system: charges are recorded automatically via microwave gantries distributed across the entire toll network. There are no barriers and no waiting times – the toll is continuously deducted in the background.
The system is mandatory for vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of 3.5 tonnes or more. Light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes require a vignette instead.
Which Roads Are Subject to Toll?
Only motorways and expressways in the Austrian federal road network are subject to toll. Federal roads, regional roads and other minor roads are free of charge. Drivers who take detours via lower-category roads on their route avoid the GO-Maut – but at the cost of time and fuel.
An up-to-date map of the toll network and a route calculator are provided by ASFINAG at mautkalkulator.asfinag.at.
The GO-Box: Austria's Toll Device
The central element of the Austrian truck toll is the GO-Box – an on-board unit that communicates with the recording gantries via microwave. The GO-Box is configured using vehicle data (number of axles, emission class, CO₂ class) and must be registered before the first journey.
As an alternative to the GO-Box, certified EETS (European Electronic Toll Service) providers can also be used. With an EETS device, freight forwarders can cover several countries with a single box – provided the provider includes Austria in its portfolio. Telepass does not cover Austria; there are specialised EETS providers such as Axxès or DKV for this purpose.
Which Vehicle Data Determine the Tariff?
The toll rate in Austria depends on three factors:
- Number of axles – Vehicles are divided into three classes: 2 axles, 3 axles and 4+ axles. More axles generally mean a higher per-kilometre rate.
- Euro emission class – From Euro 0 to Euro 6. Cleaner vehicles benefit from lower tariffs.
- CO₂ class – Since the introduction of a CO₂ component, vehicles are divided into five classes that reflect actual CO₂ emissions.
Current tariffs can be found in the toll rules for Austria.
Section Tolls: Special Tariffs for Tunnels and Passes
In addition to the distance-based GO-Maut, ASFINAG levies additional section toll charges on certain high-performance routes. These are charged as a flat rate for passing through a section and are added on top of the regular GO-Maut:
- Tauerntunnel (A10) – One of the most heavily used alpine tunnels in Austria between Salzburg and Carinthia.
- Gleinalmtunnel (A9) – Route on the Pyhrn Autobahn in Styria.
- Karawankentunnel (A11) – Border crossing between Austria and Slovenia.
The amount of the section toll varies by vehicle category. Anyone planning to use these tunnels must factor in both charges: GO-Maut for the total route plus section toll for the tunnel section.
Special Features for Electric Trucks
Purely electric heavy goods vehicles (CO₂ class 5 / BEV) are not fully exempt from the toll in Austria. They pay a reduced rate that covers infrastructure costs but without a CO₂ or emission component. This model differs from Germany, where CO₂ class 5 vehicles are exempt from the CO₂ component until 2031.