Increasing prices but easing rigour on Hungarian motorways

According to a law amendment that was approved by Parliament during the summer, increase in road toll prices depends on inflation. The price of the Hungarian national motorway toll vignettes has not changed since 2012, so the increase was only a matter of time.

According to the new decree, from 2021, the price of the motorway toll vignettes will be increased by the rate of inflation. As Autó Pult reported based on KSH’s data, the consumer price index in August this year increased by 3.9%.

The categories, however, are still the same. Passenger cars with a maximum of seven seats can be included in category D1. Passenger cars with eight or nine seats fall into category D2, even if they qualify as passenger cars. Trucks weighing less than 3.5 tons and motor caravans also need category D2 vignettes.

The yearly vignette prices are similar to both D1 and D2 category vehicles, but in the case of weekly, monthly, and regional passes, category D2 vignettes cost twice as much as category D1 vignettes.

Here are the increased prices of the most popular toll vignettes to be expected from next year:

• Passenger cars (category D1) and motorcycles – 44,660 forints (from 42,980)
• Regional vignettes – 5,200 forints (from 5,000)
• Weekly vignettes (which are actually valid for 10 days) for cars – 3,640 forints (from 3,500)
• Weekly motorcycle vignettes increase by 60 forints – 1,530 forints (from 1,470)
• Monthly vignettes for vehicles included in category D1 – 4,970 forints (from 4,780)
• Monthly vignettes for motorcycles – 2,600 forints (from 2,500)

Easing rigour

Rules on fines, on the other hand, changed in favour of drivers from the 1^st of December. Fines imposed as a result of unauthorised use of roads will be cancelled if one purchases a yearly vignette after receiving the payment reminder.

Another good news: maximisation of fines could be requested after two cases of unauthorised road usage. Fine maximisation can be requested if one falsely believed to have a valid vignette and only realised the mistake after receiving the fine. In the time between the unauthorised road use and receiving the payment reminder, the road user could receive more than one fine – maximisation could be requested in the case of two. This means that correction within 75 days could cost 29,750 forints.

Read alsoThis Hungarian region is among the deadliest in Europe in terms of road accidents

Read alsoHungarian police now use drones to detect violations on the road

Source: Autó Pult