We’ve driven in Austria over several trips are are well aware of the vignettes. Typically we are arriving on the freeway and see plenty of signs reminding us, and have plenty of opportunity to stop at a gas station.
Wellllll, last summer we drove from Munich to Ortesei, via Mittenwald. This route takes you along the Austrian freeway for about 15km or less. Coming from Mittenwald, we saw no signs for vignettes, and before we knew it, we were on the freeway. “Oh no! We need to exit and get the vignette!!!!” I’m shouting at my husband. Of course, exits are not so frequent, but we exit, pay our 9€ (maybe 15?) for one day pass, and put it on the windshield.
Months and months later, I see the $35 charge from the rental car company. I know this is the fee for them giving our info to law enforcement so we can be given a ticket. Don’t ask me how I know!
My husband gets pretty excited to add another ticket to his wall along with the postcards he collects. So we wait, and wait.
A couple months later, it arrives in the mail. Not a speeding ticket this time. It’s a fine for not having the vignette. A very hefty fine of 300€. Ouch! I tried to appeal, showing them photos of the vignette in our windshield, explaining we exited asap and bought the vignette. But they respond with a photo of the bare windshield. Ugh. That’s an expensive souvenir.