ASFINAG'S right to collect tolls

Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft (ASFINAG) was founded in 1982 and its shares are wholly owned by the Republic of Austria. The legal basis is provided by the ASFINAG Act of 8 October 1982 (BGBI. No. 591/1982 idgF).

In 1997, the company was vested with comprehensive responsibility for the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Austrian motorway and expressway network, and the collection of tolls for the use of this network. Pursuant to the Act on the Authorization of ASFINAG (ASFINAG-Ermächtigungsgesetz) of 1997 (BGBI. I No. 113/1997 idgF), in conjunction with the Contract on Usufruct Rights concluded with the Republic of Austria, ASFINAG now enjoys the right of usufruct in all Austrian motorways and expressways.

The most important financing basis for ASFINAG is the company's right to collect tolls for the use of the motorways and expressways, which was granted to ASFINAG by the Republic of Austria.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Road Toll Act of 2002, ASFINAG is entitled to collect tolls from the users of all motorways and expressways, based on the maximum permitted gross weight of the vehicle used. The tolls are divided into a time-related toll (for vehicles up to and including 3.5t maximum gross weight) and a distance-related toll (for vehicles with a maximum gross weight of over 3.5t).

For certain sections of the motorway and expressway network (special toll routes), no time-related toll (toll sticker) is required for motor vehicles up to (and including) 3.5t maximum gross weight; instead a distance-related toll is collected for these sections. These sections have a total length of 141 km and are located on the A9 Pyhrn Motorway, the A10 Tauern Motorway, the A11 Karawanken Motorway, the S16 Arlberg Expressway and the entire length of the A13 Brenner Motorway. Collection of tolls for these routes is carried out at six main toll sites. Vehicles over 3.5t maximum gross weight are also required to pay the distance-related tolls when using these special toll routes, in accordance with the provisions of the Austrian Federal Road Toll Act (idgF).

The Federal Ministry for Transportation, Innovation and Technology is vested with the authority to determine categories and toll rates, and the revenues are applied exclusively for road construction, financing and maintenance.