Fine for driving without a vignette in Slovakia: amount, objection and prevention
Last checked: 2 November 2026
Driving on a toll section in Slovakia without a valid vignette can lead to a fine of €150. If you pay it within 15 days of delivery of the payment order, two thirds of the amount, i.e. €100, is sufficient. If you disagree with the fine, you can lodge an objection (odpor) within 15 days of delivery. For comparison: the 10-day vignette costs €10.80.
How checks are carried out
Checks under Sections 8 to 16b of the Slovak Motorway Vignette Act No. 488/2013 Z. z. are carried out by the National Motorway Company (NDS) as the toll collection administrator, or by persons it has authorised, in cooperation with the Slovak police. The camera system records the licence plates of vehicles on toll sections and compares them with the central payment register. Every vehicle without a paid vignette to which no exemption applies is flagged by the system as a potential offender.
There is no sticker and no printout – all that matters is whether a valid vignette is stored in the system for your vehicle’s licence plate and country of registration. In addition to the cameras, the motorway police can stop and check vehicles directly on the motorway.
Who imposes the fine
NDS neither imposes nor collects fines. It passes the data from the control system to the Slovak Ministry of Transport and the district offices. Offences are dealt with by the competent district office (okresný úrad), department of road transport and roads, and in on-the-spot proceedings by the police. Fines are revenue of the state budget. Information about a fine can be obtained from the competent district office in person, by telephone or by e-mail at [email protected].
What to do if you receive a fine
| Situation | What to do | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| the fine is justified | pay two thirds of the amount, i.e. €100 | within 15 days of delivery |
| you missed the deadline | pay the full amount of €150 | – |
| you consider the fine unjustified | lodge an objection with the district office that issued the order | within 15 days of delivery |
In the objection, set out the facts explaining why the fine is unjustified and name or submit evidence – in particular the payment confirmation of a vignette valid on the day in question for the licence plate in question.
Foreign drivers
The obligation to pay applies equally to all vehicles on toll sections, regardless of the country of registration. The camera system also records foreign licence plates. When buying, it is therefore important to choose the correct country of registration – a vignette entered with a different country will not be found during a check.
On a toll section by mistake
The vignette must be paid for before entering a toll section. If you only realise when you see the toll sign that you have no vignette, NDS states that you can still buy it afterwards – but you must do so by midnight of that calendar day. Do not delay, as the police can stop and check you on the motorway as well. Do not use your phone while driving; stop in a safe place. You can also leave the toll section at the next exit and continue on a toll-free road.
The most common causes of fines
- Wrong licence plate or country: the vignette exists, but for a different plate. How to correct this is explained in the guide Wrong licence plate and correcting data.
- Failed payment: if you did not receive a payment confirmation after buying, you do not have a valid vignette and must repeat the purchase.
- 1-day vignette after midnight: it is valid only until 23:59:59 on the chosen day. See Slovakia vignette validity.
- Wrong start date: a vignette starting one day later is not yet valid on the day of travel.
- Trailer in a combination over 3.5 t: if the combination exceeds 3.5 tonnes, the trailer also needs its own vignette.
How to avoid a fine
- Buy the vignette before your journey – you can set the start date up to 60 days in advance.
- Check the confirmation immediately after purchase: licence plate, country, type and start date.
- If no confirmation arrives, repeat the purchase. If you were charged twice, the money is usually returned within 2 to 4 working days; if not within 10 working days, apply for a refund.
- Check the validity on eznamka.sk (Kontrola platnosti diaľničnej známky).
Sorting out an error only after the fine has been delivered is too late: NDS can no longer help, because the offence is dealt with by the district office.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the fine for no vignette in Slovakia?
€150. If you pay within 15 days of delivery of the payment order, €100 is sufficient.
Can I challenge the fine?
Yes. Within 15 days of delivery you can lodge an objection with reasons and evidence at the district office that issued the order.
Does this also apply to cars with foreign plates?
The obligation to pay applies to all vehicles regardless of the country of registration, and the cameras also record foreign plates.
Will a vignette bought after the fine help?
No. Once the fine has been delivered, NDS can no longer help, because the offence is dealt with by the district office. Always buy the vignette before your journey.
You can order the electronic Slovakia vignette online with us: choose the validity and start day, enter the licence plate and pay. You will receive the confirmation by e-mail.