According to business daily Világgazdaság, the long-running renovation and expansion of the M1 motorway between Budapest and the Austrian border has led to the introduction of a special regional M1 vignette, designed to reduce costs for frequent users of the route.

However, data from specialist website Autopálya Matrica suggests that a lack of awareness is causing many drivers to waste thousands of forints every year.

A cheaper option for the M1 corridor

Due to the ongoing construction works, the price of using the M1 has been reduced. The new regional M1 vignette costs 15,000 forints (around €39) — roughly half the price drivers were paying previously for full coverage.

The problem is that many motorists do not understand how broad the new permit’s validity is.

Statistics show that around 10% of buyers still purchase separate county vignettes for two or more of the affected regions. Some drivers have even bought individual passes for all four counties involved — paying far more than necessary.

* Buying three separate county vignettes costs 6,000 forints (€15.50) more
* Buying all four separately costs 14,000 forints (€36) more than the M1 regional permit

In practice, the regional M1 vignette acts as an “all-in-one” pass for north-west Hungary.

It is valid not only on the M1 motorway, but on all toll roads in the following counties:

* Pest
* Fejér
* Komárom-Esztergom
* Győr-Moson-Sopron

This includes major routes such as the entire M0 Budapest ring road, plus the M15, M19, M85, M2, M51 and M31.

New payment option for annual nationwide passes

Another major change arriving in 2026 is the long-awaited instalment payment option for the nationwide annual vignette.

The current price of the national pass is 61,700 forints (about €160), which until now had to be paid in one lump sum. From next year, drivers will be able to spread the cost over instalments — a move expected to make the nationwide vignette more attractive to regular motorway users.

New toll sections in 2026

Drivers should also be aware that several new motorway sections have become subject to tolls this year:

* The M6 motorway between Bátaszék and the Croatian border (Ivándárda)
* The M44 motorway between the Kecskemét North–Lajosmizse junction and the Szentkirály–Tiszaug–Tiszakürt junction
* There is some good news for drivers near Miskolc: following the reopening of the M30 motorway after a long closure, the annual county vignette for Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén currently costs just 2,500 forints (€6.50) as compensation.

Check before you buy

With 2025 annual vignettes still valid until 31 January 2026, experts expect a surge in purchases in the coming weeks.

They strongly recommend using an online vignette calculator before buying.

“Many drivers simply buy the same pass as last year out of habit,” specialists warn. “But the new M1 regional vignette or the instalment payment option could save you a significant amount of money in 2026.”

Large families and drivers with reduced mobility should also note that they may be eligible to use the cheaper D1 category instead of D2 — another often-overlooked saving.

For expats living in Hungary who regularly drive on the M1 or around Budapest, these changes could make a noticeable difference to annual motoring costs.

More: 
hu-vignette.com/en
 

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