Speed limits and fines: How to drive in Hungary!

2024. 10. 18. 11:40

Before embarking on a road trip, it's important to be aware of toll roads, speed limits, and penalties in your destination country. Hungary, with its well-developed road network, has numerous toll sections, so you’ll need a highway vignette. Not only can you be fined for not having the vignette, but speeding can also result in hefty fines.

Speed Limits in Hungary

For passenger cars, motorcycles, and vehicles with a maximum permitted total weight of up to 3.5 tons, the following speed limits apply in Hungary:

  • Highway: 130 km/h
  • Main road: 110 km/h
  • Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h
  • Within built-up areas: 50 km/h

However, it is advisable to drive carefully, as speed limits may be lower on certain sections of the road or depending on weather conditions. These reduced speed limits are always indicated by speed limit signs.

Speeding Penalties in Hungary

Speeding in Hungary is strictly punished, and fines have been increasing over time. Speed is measured by cameras placed throughout the country, and roadside speed checks are also common, so it's always advisable to follow speed limits for your safety and the safety of others.

Speed limitAmount exceeding the speed limitFine Amount (HUF)

50 km/h

15-25km/h50 000 HUF
26-35km/h70 000 HUF
36-45km/h100 000 HUF
46-55km/h140 000 HUF
56-65km/h210 000 HUF
66-75km/h312 000 HUF
75 km/h above468 000 HUF

Above 50 km/h up to 100 km/h

15-30km/h50 000 HUF
31-45km/h70 000 HUF
46-60km/h100 000 HUF
61-75km/h140 000 HUF
76-90km/h210 000 HUF
91-105km/h312 000 HUF
105 km/h above468 000 HUF
100km/h above20-35km/h50 000 HUF
36-50km/h70 000 HUF
51-65km/h100 000 HUF
66-80km/h140 000 HUF
81-95km/h210 000 HUF
96-110km/h312 000 HUF
110km/h above468 000 HUF

The Importance of the Hungarian Highway Vignette

The list of toll roads changes every year, so for a hassle-free journey, it's recommended to purchase your Hungarian highway vignette online before departure. Hungarian highway vignettes are available in four categories (D1, D1m, D2, and U), and there are both short-term and long-term validity options.

If you are traveling to Hungary for a short period or just passing through, the daily (1-day), weekly (10-day), or monthly highway vignettes are excellent choices. For longer stays or frequent travel, it's worth planning ahead and purchasing either an annual county or a national highway vignette.

Highway Vignette Penalties

The cost of a highway vignette is significantly lower than the fines, so it’s definitely not worth driving without one. You can easily purchase a Hungarian highway vignette online before your trip, even for a future date, via the hungary-vignette.eu website.

If you accidentally enter a toll road without a vignette, it's important to know that you have a 60-minute grace period. This means that if you buy the highway vignette within 60 minutes of entering the toll section, you can avoid the fine.

However, if you miss this grace period, forget to buy the highway vignette, or drive on a toll road with an expired e-vignette, the following fines apply:

Fee categoryBase Fine (if paid within 60 days)Increased Fine (if paid after 60 days)
D1, D1m, D2, U25 770 HUF88 750 HUF
Speed limits and fines: How to drive in Hungary!