Hungary to raise motorway vignette prices: but there’s a silver lining

It’s all but certain that motorway vignette prices will increase again in 2026: the only question is by how much.

Motorway vignettes to become more expensive again

Toll rates are adjusted annually based on inflation figures from the previous August, as stipulated by government regulation 45/2020. Since the official data won’t be published by Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH) until 9 September, only estimates are available for now—but they point to motorists having to dig deeper into their wallets.

In recent years, the rate of price hikes has varied significantly: tolls jumped more than 16 percent in 2024, while this year saw a more modest 3.4 percent increase. The latest inflation report from Hungary’s central bank forecasts an August inflation rate of 4.3–4.4 percent, and market expectations align closely with these figures. Based on this, next year’s motorway sticker prices are projected to rise between 4.2 and 4.5 percent.

Inflation was too high to keep vignette prices low

In practical terms, this means the annual sticker for passenger cars will almost certainly exceed the HUF 60,000 (EUR 151) mark. To keep it under HUF 60,000, the August inflation would have needed to be just 1.3 percent: an entirely unrealistic scenario. According to calculations by Buksza, HVG’s editorial blog, the D1 category annual sticker is expected to cost around HUF 61,700–61,870.

Rates for short-term passes are also expected to climb. The weekly (10-day) motorway sticker will likely be priced between HUF 6,900 and 6,920 (around EUR 17), while the monthly pass is estimated at HUF 11,160 to 11,190 (around EUR 28). County passes won’t escape the hike either, with next year’s prices projected to fall between HUF 7,180 and 7,200 (around EUR 18).

Daily vignettes have a price cap

It’s worth noting that daily stickers are subject to a price cap: they can cost no more than 9 percent of the annual fee. This limit was nearly maxed out this year: with the annual sticker priced at HUF 59,210, the daily ticket cost HUF 5,320 (EUR 13), or 8.98 percent. If the cap is again pushed to its limit, next year’s daily sticker may cost between HUF 5,550 and 5,570 (around EUR 14).

Although the system is designed to follow inflation, there have been exceptions. For example, in 2023, annual stickers rose only 5 percent, while 10-day passes jumped 44 percent and monthly passes saw a 71 percent increase. The rationale at the time was that short-term tickets were disproportionately cheap by EU standards.

The official 2026 rates will be announced after September 9 by the National Toll Payment Services Co., but it’s increasingly clear that Hungarian drivers will have to pay more than 60,000 forints annually starting next year.

At least the convenience fee is being eliminated for online purchases

Starting 1 September, drivers will no longer have to pay a convenience fee when buying motorway stickers online, according to the Ministry of Energy, as announced by State Secretary for Infocommunications Károly Balázs Solymár on the ministry’s Facebook page on Saturday. In a video, Solymár noted, “This year, 1 September won’t just mark the start of the school year—we’ve eliminated the convenience fee on motorway vignettes, so starting Monday, everyone will pay less for e-vignettes.”

He explained that six out of ten motorway stickers were already purchased electronically, but these transactions were subject to varying convenience fees, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand forints. “That ends on 1 September.” He also stated that the move will leave an additional HUF 2 billion (EUR 5 million) in Hungarians’ pockets annually.

Read also:

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• More than 500 km upgraded: Greatest motorway upgrade in Hungary’s history resumes

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