by Florian König, maut1.de - 02 January 2024
Several changes were made to the Hungarian e-vignette system on 1 January 2024. These include the collection and payment of tolls for motorhomes and buses over 3.5 t via the HU-GO system previously only used for trucks, the expansion of the toll sections on motorways and motorways as well as the price of e-vignettes and the additional charges incurred in the event of a missing or incorrect e-vignette. You can find out more details in this blog article...
Changes for travellers with motorhomes over 3.5 t
According to Hungarian Act LXVII of 2013, all motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes will be considered heavy goods vehicles from 1 January 2024. These vehicles must pay a toll in Hungary's e-toll system, which is levied in proportion to the distance travelled for the use of the roads.
The following options are available for this:
- Registration in the HU-GO system with a separately available on-board unit or
- Purchase an ad-hoc route ticket on the hu-go.hu website
Further information about the HU-GO e-toll system for Hungary and the current changes for travellers with motorhomes over 3.5 t can be found on the hu-go.hu website.
Note: For all motorhomes with a maximum permissible weight of 3.5 t, the obligation to purchase e-vignettes will continue to apply after 1 January 2024. Classification is based on the data in the official vehicle documents in the fee category D1 or D2.
Changes for tour operators with buses over 3.5 tonnes
Hungarian Act No. LXVII of 2013 also has an impact on buses. From 1 February 2024, all buses with a gross vehicle weight over 3.5 tonnes will be considered heavy commercial vehicles and will have to pay a fee for using the roads in the e-toll system that is proportional to the distance travelled. This means that from this date, an e-vignette will no longer be valid for these vehicles.
You can find more information about the HU-GO e-toll system for Hungary and the current changes for tour operators with buses over 3.5 tonnes on the website hu-go.hu.
Note: In the e-vignette system, the previous fee category B2 will be abolished from 1 February 2024, at which point motor vehicles in category M2 with a maximum permissible gross weight of 3.5 t will be classified in fee category D2.
The validity of all annual e-vignettes purchased in fee category B2 for 2023 expires on 31 January 2024 and in future there will no longer be any annual vignettes for category B2.
Weekly (10-day) and monthly vignettes can still be purchased for all vehicles in fee category B2 until 31 January 2024, but their validity will expire on 31 January 2024 in any case due to the new legal regulation!
Extension of toll sections in Hungary
As of 1 January 2024, the number of road sections subject to charges in the e-vignette system in Hungary was further extended, meaning that the following road sections, which could previously be used free of charge without an e-vignette, are now also subject to charges:
- the Motorway M0,
- the Motorway M31,
- the M4 motorway to Törökszentmiklós-West,
- the M44 motorway,
- the bypass section of the M30 around Miskolc,
- the M76 motorway to Keszthely-Fenékpuszta.
Prices valid from 1 January 2024 for e-vignettes in Hungary
The following prices including VAT are valid with immediate effect according to the Hungarian Fees Ordinance:
| E-vignette Fee category |
For 10 days | For 1 Month | For 1 Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1M* | 3.200 HUF (8,43 €) | 5.180 HUF (13,64 €) | 57.260 HUF (150,80 €) | |
| D1 | 6.400 HUF (18,86 €) | 10.360 HUF (27,28 €) | 57.260 HUF (150,80 €) | |
| D2 | 9.310 HUF (24,52 €) | 14.6770 HUF (38,63 €) | 81.280 HUF (214,06 €) | |
| U | 6.400 HUF (16,86 €) | 10.360 HUF (27,28 €) | 57.260 HUF (150,80 €) |
Updating the additional charges for missing/incorrect e-vignette
The obligation to pay an additional fee in the absence of an e-vignette will now only expire after 3 years instead of the previous 2 years. The following table lists the amounts valid from 1 January 2024 for the use of toll roads in Hungary:
| Fee category | If payment is made within 60 days (normal additional fee) | If payment is made within 60 days (increased additional fee) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1, D2, U | 21.830 HUF (57,49 €) | 87.270 HUF (229,83 €) | |
| B2 | 98.160 HUF (258,51 €) | 392.610 HUF (1.033,98 €) |
If the wrong fee category is purchased for the e-vignette, e.g. D2 instead of B2 for buses, the following additional fees will be due from 1 January 2024:
| Purchased fee category | Charge category required for the vehicle | Additional fee for the difference (if paid within 60 days) | Additional fee for the difference (for payment after more than 60 days) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1, U | D2 | 10.990 HUF (28,94 €) | 44.000 HUF (115,88 €) | |
| D1, D2, U | B | 76.340 HUF (201,05 €) | 305.340 HUF (804,14 €) |
The changes in the systems of the Hungarian toll operators have not yet been fully completed, so please check again before travelling to Hungary for any further changes that may have been made in the meantime!
