Karavanke tunnel connects the Austrian A11 motorway with the Slovenian A2 motorway towards Ljubljana between Jesenice and Rosenbach. It is a special road where vignettes do not apply since the tunnel is excluded from the toll collection system. Instead, a separate toll must be paid.
Karavanke tunnel toll differs between four categories of vehicles: R1, R2, R3, and R4. While drivers using the R1 vehicles must pay the toll at the Hrušica toll booth, those on R2, R3, and R4 vehicles are able to cover the Karavanke tunnel Toll online.
Tolls are not charged for transport exempt by the regulations governing tolling published on the website of the toll roads operator.
Karavanke tunnel toll price list
The Karavanke tunnel toll depends on the vehicle category. There are four categories:
- R1: Vehicles with a maximum permissible weight under 3.5 t. This category includes motor vehicles whose maximum permissible weight does not exceed 3.5 t., with or without a trailer. The price without VAT is 6.72 EUR.
- R2: It applies to motor vehicles with two axles whose weight is over 3.5 t. The price in EUR without VAT is 4.22.
- R3: Motor vehicles with three axles and whose weight exceeds 3.5 t., and groups of vehicles with three axles more than 3.5 t. belong to this category. The toll price without VAT is 4.69 EUR.
- R4: This toll-rate category includes motor vehicles and vehicle groups with more than three axles whose maximum permissible towing vehicle mass exceeds 3.5 t. The fee without VAT is 9.38 EUR
Where do I pay the toll for the Karavanke tunnel?
The Karavanke tunnel Toll for the R1 category can be paid at the Hrušica toll booth through cash, credit/debit cards, or by purchasing a point card. With a point card, the customer gets 14 passages through the Karavanke tunnel at a discount price of 30.08 EUR, excluding VAT. The point card stays valid for 30 days from the date of issue and cannot be transferred.
Drivers of vehicles belonging to the R2, R3, and R4 categories can pay the Karavanke tunnel toll online using such payment options, as credit and debit cards, PayPal, Klarna, or bank transfer.
Note that if you have a round trip, you will have to cover the Karavanke tunnel toll there and back.
Will the Karavanke tunnel toll be valid immediately?
You can pay the Karavanke tunnel toll within several minutes, and it will become valid immediately. There is a waiting time only if you cover the fee via the ASFINAG website. In this case, you will have to wait 18 days before using it to go to Slovenia, Ljubljana, or further to Zagreb.
Karavanke tunnel information
The Karavanke tunnel, built from 1986 to 1991, passes through the Karwanken, an extension of the southern Limestone Alps. The construction of a second tube began in 2018 and is to be completed in 2025.
Because of the mountain geology, the Karavanke tunnel was a very challenging construction project. The tunnel reduced the travel time from Villach to Ljubljana by more than an hour. Moreover, it allowed trucks to cross the border, which was impossible before.
FAQ
Which vehicles must have a Karavanke tunnel fee covered?
The Karavanke tunnel toll applies to four vehicle categories: R1 for vehicles under 3.5 t and R2, R3, and R4 for vehicles with a maximum permissible weight over 3.5 t.
How to pay the Karavanke tunnel toll?
The method of covering the Karavanke tunnel toll is based on the vehicle category. The fees for vehicles under 3.5 t (R1 category) must be paid at the Hrušica toll booth. The online payment procedure applies to customers with R2, R3, and R4 vehicles.
Do you need a vignette to use the Karavanke tunnel?
No. The Karavanke tunnel is excluded from the Austrian digital vignette system, so drivers using this road are not subject to the vignette obligation. However, depending on the vehicle’s category, it is mandatory to pay a separate toll at the Hrušica toll booth or online.
Are there traffic jams in the Karavanke tunnel?
Yes, traffic jams often occur in the Karavanke tunnel, especially on public holidays and weekends. For that reason, it is highly recommended that you check the information about the current traffic jams before your trip.