If you run international trips, sooner or later you will come across the term eurovinieta (in English, Eurovignette). It is a common road user charge for heavy goods vehicles, purchased once and recognized in several countries that have joined the Eurovignette Agreement.
In 2026, the Eurovignette is valid only in Luxembourg and Sweden. The Netherlands left the system on July 1, 2026, and switched to a per-kilometer charge (Vrachtwagenheffing), while Denmark had already left the system on January 1, 2025, also moving to distance-based charging. This article is the pillar guide to the Eurovignette concept; for each individual country you will find dedicated guides, linked at the end.
What is the Eurovignette?
The Eurovignette is a common time-based road user charge that allows heavy goods vehicles to travel on the motorway network of the participating countries.
Unlike per-kilometer toll systems (where you pay in proportion to the distance traveled), the Eurovignette is a time-based charge: you buy the right to travel for a day, a week, a month or a year, regardless of how many kilometers you drive during that period.
What is the Eurovignette based on?
The Eurovignette operates under the Eurovignette Agreement, an agreement originally concluded in 1994 between several European countries, which created a common vignette recognized across all members. The legal framework at the European level is provided by the Eurovignette Directive (revised by EU Directive 2022/362), which sets the charging principles for heavy vehicles, including differentiation based on CO₂ emissions.
The basic idea is simple: instead of each country issuing its own separate vignette, the member states agreed on a common document. A haulier who buys a Eurovignette can travel, for the paid period, on the motorways of all countries still in the system.
In which countries is the Eurovignette valid in 2026?
The Eurovignette system has shrunk significantly in recent years. Historically, the members were the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark, but two of them have left and switched to per-kilometer charging. Here is the updated situation for 2026:
| Country | Eurovignette status 2026 | Vehicles covered |
| Luxembourg | Active member – the Eurovignette applies | Freight vehicles with a maximum authorized weight of 12 tons or more |
| Sweden | Active member – the Eurovignette applies | Freight vehicles with a maximum authorized weight of 12 tons or more |
| Netherlands | Left on July 1, 2026 – switched to a per-km charge (Vrachtwagenheffing) | Heavy goods vehicles, distance-based charging |
| Denmark | Left on January 1, 2025 – switched to a per-km charge based on CO₂ emissions | Trucks of 12 tons or more (extension to 3.5 tons announced) |
So, in 2026 the Eurovignette itself is relevant only for Luxembourg and Sweden. If you transit the Netherlands or Denmark, you no longer buy a Eurovignette; instead, you register with the national per-kilometer toll systems.
Keep in mind: even though many hauliers still search for “Eurovignette Netherlands”, since July 1, 2026, the Netherlands has used Vrachtwagenheffing, a per-kilometer charge managed through authorized EETS providers. For step-by-step details, see our dedicated guide to the Netherlands vignette. The similar situation for the Denmark vignette is described in the corresponding guide.
Which vehicles pay the Eurovignette?
The Eurovignette applies to heavy goods vehicles with a maximum authorized weight of 12 tons or more, used for commercial freight transport.
This is the system's traditional threshold. The revision of the Eurovignette Directive (EU Directive 2022/362) paved the way for extending charging to some vehicles over 3.5 tons, but how this is actually applied depends on each country's decisions and national implementation. Therefore, for the exact status of the weight threshold, we recommend always checking the official portal and the national authority of the country you are driving in.
Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are not subject to the Eurovignette. For these, each country applies its own passenger car vignettes or charges no fee, depending on the network.
How is the Eurovignette rate calculated?
The Eurovignette rate is not a single fixed amount; it is set based on several factors. Since March 25, 2025, the rate structure has been updated to also reflect the vehicle's CO₂ emissions, in line with the revised Eurovignette Directive.
The price of a Eurovignette depends mainly on:
- CO₂ emission class – the system uses several CO₂ classes (the most favorable being reserved for zero-emission vehicles). The class is determined according to the European methodology (the VECTO system) and must be declared at purchase.
- Euro emission class – older vehicles (Euro 0–III) pay more than modern ones (Euro VI).
- Number of axles – vehicles with more axles generally fall into a higher rate category.
- Duration – you can buy the Eurovignette by the day, week, month or year. The longer the period, the lower the average cost per day.
We do not publish a fixed price list here, because rates are updated periodically (there are separate rate lists for each year). For exact amounts, always check the current rate list on the official portal and our country-specific guides: Luxembourg vignette and Sweden vignette. You can also find an overview of transit costs in the article on road tolls for trucks in Europe.
How to buy and book the Eurovignette online
The easiest way to buy the Eurovignette is online, on the official portal eurovignettes.eu. Booking takes just a few steps and does not necessarily require creating an account.
- Official online portal – you enter the license plate number, country of registration, emission/CO₂ class and number of axles, then choose the duration. Payment is usually made by credit card or fuel/fleet card.
- Authorized points of sale – the Eurovignette can also be purchased in person at designated points along the routes.
- Toll service provider – for fleets that travel frequently, an authorized toll service provider can handle Eurovignette booking and payment, sometimes integrated with other European road tolls.
When booking, it is essential to enter the vehicle's license plate number and technical data correctly, because the Eurovignette is electronically linked to the license plate. A mistake when entering the number can make the vignette invalid during inspections. A Eurovignette can usually be booked for a period of up to one year.
For broader context on paying vignettes in multiple countries, see also our article on paying vignettes in 8 countries.
How to check Eurovignette validity
Since October 2008, the Eurovignette has been stored electronically, linked to the vehicle's license plate number. This means you no longer need to carry a physical document on board: checks are done automatically, based on the license plate.
For validity check (Eurovignette check), you can use the check function available on the official portal, where, based on the license plate number and country, you can confirm the period for which the vignette is active. It is good practice to check validity:
- right after booking, to confirm that the data entered is correct;
- before it expires, to avoid driving without a valid vignette;
- after any change to the vehicle data (for example, new license plates).
Driving without a valid Eurovignette in the participating countries is punishable by a fine, with checks carried out electronically and through roadside inspections.
Eurovignette refunds
In certain situations (for example, if the vehicle is scrapped or changes owner), you can request a refund for the remaining period of a valid Eurovignette. Since January 1, 2026, refunds have been administered by the Swedish Tax Agency, and processing usually takes a few days after the required documents are received. The exact conditions should be checked on the official portal at the time of the request.
The Eurovignette remains a useful tool for hauliers transiting Luxembourg and Sweden, but the clear trend at the European level is the shift from time-based to per-kilometer charging, which is fairer and tied to actual emissions. For a modern fleet, GPS vehicle tracking helps you calculate kilometers accurately and manage road tolls across multiple countries. If you want a fleet tracking solution or have questions about road tolls, Contact us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Eurovignette?
The Eurovignette is a common road user charge for heavy goods vehicles, paid for a set period (day, week, month or year), under the Eurovignette Agreement.
In which countries is the Eurovignette valid in 2026?
In 2026, the Eurovignette is valid only in Luxembourg and Sweden. The Netherlands left the system on July 1, 2026, and Denmark on January 1, 2025, both switching to per-kilometer charging.
Do I still need a Eurovignette for the Netherlands?
No. Since July 1, 2026, the Netherlands has replaced the Eurovignette with Vrachtwagenheffing, a per-kilometer charge for heavy vehicles managed through authorized EETS providers.
Which vehicles pay the Eurovignette?
The Eurovignette applies to heavy goods vehicles with a maximum authorized weight of 12 tons or more. The revision of the directive paved the way for extending it to some vehicles over 3.5 tons, depending on national implementation.
How is the Eurovignette rate calculated?
The rate depends on the CO₂ emission class, the Euro emission class, the number of axles and the chosen duration (day, week, month, year). Since March 25, 2025, the structure also includes the vehicle's CO₂ class.
How do I buy or book the Eurovignette online?
The easiest way is on the official portal eurovignettes.eu: enter the license plate number, country, emission/CO₂ class and number of axles, choose the duration and pay. Alternatively, you can buy it at authorized points of sale or through a toll service provider.
How do I check Eurovignette validity?
The Eurovignette is stored electronically and linked to the license plate number (since October 2008, no physical document is needed on board). Validity can be checked on the official portal, based on the license plate number and country.
Can the Eurovignette be refunded?
Yes, in certain situations (for example, if the vehicle is scrapped) you can request a refund for the remaining period. Since January 1, 2026, refunds have been administered by the Swedish Tax Agency, and the exact conditions should be checked on the official portal.
