Driving, Toll System, Former Border Crossings and Border Crossings to Ukraine, Road Distances

• Speed Limits
  4-lane highway: 130 kph (70 mph)
  open roads: 90 kph (55 mph)
  build-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
• Speeding fines (over 30 kilometers): up to 650 EUR
• Seat belts: Compulsory
• Alcohol limit for driving: 0.0
• Lighting: Whole day

When you travel around Slovakia by car don't forget to drive cautiously. Take special notice of the traffic signs. In many causes they are not as obvious as you are used to in other countries. Pay the attention to the other drivers as well.

Children under 12 years can't sit in the front.

Usage of mobile phones (handsets) while driving is forbidden, unless the driver uses handsfree set.

The driver can not limit a pedestrian on the zebra crossing.

Slovakia started to collect tolls from trucks over 3.5 tons on over 2,400 kilometres of roads on 2010, January 1. The electronic tolling system in the Slovak Republic in addition to highways and expressways covers large sections of first-class roads by technology using satellite technology for toll collection. Through On Board Units (OBU) the system monitors the position of a vehicle and calculates automatically the number of driven kilometres on Specified Road Sections.

Information in English, German, Russian, Polish and Hungarian:

- Toll calculator
- Toll tariffs (.pdf)
- Map of toll road sections and customer centers (.pdf)
- On board unit service manual (31MB) (.pdf)
- Tolling system portal www.emyto.sk.

Vehicles up to 3.5 tons use a vignette system

You can buy a vignette on border crossing, filling stations, post offices.

Prices of Slovak vignettes for 2012

ONE YEAR VIGNETTES

Vehicles up to 3,5 tons including trailed vehicle 50 EUR

ONE MONTH VIGNETTES

Vehicles up to 3,5 tons including trailed vehicle 14 EUR

TEN DAYS VIGNETTES

Vehicles up to 3,5 tons including trailed vehicle 10 EUR

Map of highways, speedways and motorways in Slovakia - subject to user fees for vehicles up to 3.5 tons

Useful information

The map with information on traffic conditions in Slovakia. Service is provided by the Slovak Autoroutes Authority. In Slovak only. Slovak word "Pocasie" means weather.

The information below is outdated regarding fines which are much higher, now, but still useful.

Traffic police can ask you to pay a fine up to 2000,- Sk on the spot if you are caught speeding. Police can even take away your driving licence if you are 30 km above speed limit... Speeding is often measured by radar without warning, it is not uncommon that the radar is placed few meters in front of "End of city" sign. Sometimes your speed is measured from a car driving behind you. Always remember, car with foreign ID is more probable target than local driver.

From 1997, the police uses automatic photo-radar units, which automatically take pictures of cars exceeding the speed limit.

In cities we recommend using car parks especially at night. Do not leave any valuables or briefcases lying around in your car at any time. It is always useful to have car secured with immobilizer, gear lock, alarm or even Lo-Jack tracer. The number of stolen cars is very high, especially in Bratislava. Therefore do not come to Slovakia with a car without valid insurance.

If you park illegally, your car will be towed away or it will be immobilized with a tire-lock. Should the latter occur, call the number written on the tire-lock. The parking service will charge you a minimum of 100,- Sk to remove the lock.

In cities like Bratislava, parking cards are used throughout the center of the city. They are valid in the center from Mon till Fri, from 7am till 4pm. One card costs 10 Sk and it is valid for 1 hour.

The cards are available at every newsagents or in your hotel. It is necessary to fill in the card correctly. This is done by crossing out the present hour minute, day and month. A card which is filled it this way is valid for 1 hour. If you need more time, you can fill in more cards it 1 hour intervals. Do not forget to put the card in the visible place - the best one would be under the windshield.

On the other hand pay attention to 'inconspicious' looking cars (mostly Skoda Felicia) parked at the side of the road. On the higways, for pacing they use stronger cars (Fords etc.) with cameras filming the speedometer and your car.

Drinking and driving is not tolerated in Slovakia. The limit is 0.00.

If something happens to you in spite of our advice call 158 - this is a number of the state police. The number is valid throughout Slovakia and you can call from any public phone for free.

In a case of emergency

In case of troubles with your car you can call emergency numbers of Automobile Club of Slovakia (NAMK) - 18 123 or 18 154.

Gas

Gas stations have self-service in Slovakia. The name of unleaded gas is Natural or N (bezolovnany, unleaded, bleifrei etc.).

Typical gas prices (February 2012): 95 unleaded - around 1.50 EUR/liter.

As of 21st December 2007, the Slovak republic together with Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Slovenia have become part of the Schengen area. Controls at internal land and sea borders between these countries and the current 15 member states were lifted. The checks on external borders remain the same as new Member States to the EU have been applying the Schengen external border acquis since accession. The Slovak Republic has external border with Ukraine.

Here is a list of former border crossings and border crossings to Ukraine:

To Austria

Railway

Devínska Nová Ves – Marchegg: Link between Bratislava-Hlavná stanica (Main Station) and Wien-Südbanhof (Southern Station).

Bratislava-Petržalka – Kittsee: Newer southern rail link between Bratislava-Hlavná stanica (Main Station) and Wien-Südbanhof (Southern Station). Nevertheless, most trains start from Bratislava-Petržalka station.

Road

Moravský Sväty Ján - Hohenau: Access from D2 (E65) motorway and road No 2, at Sekule.

Záhorská Ves – Angern: Link by a ferry through the Morava River, 6 to 22 h. In case of high water out of service.

Bratislava – Berg: The former busiest crossing between Slovakia and Austria, closest to downtown Bratislava.

Bratislava-Jarovce – Kittsee: Access to highway A6 Bratislava - Wien.

To Hungary

Railway

Bratislava-Rusovce – Rajka: Rail link between Bratislava and Budapest through NW Hungary.

Komárno – Komárom

Štúrovo – Szob: The former busiest international border crossing in Slovakia between Central Europe and the Balkans.

Fiľakovo – Somoskőújfalu: Rail link between central parts of Slovakia and Hungary.

Lenartovce –Bánréve

Čaňa – Hidasnémeti: Rail link between E Slovakia and Budapest area through NE Hungary.

Slovenské Nové Mesto – Sátoraljaújhely

Road

Bratislava-Rusovce – Rajka: On E 65/E 75 route, former important tourist crossing on the way between Germany/Czechia and Balkans regions.

Medveďov – Vámosszabadi: Link between SW Slovakia and Győr area through a Danube bridge, access by route No 63 (E575).

Komárno – Komárom: Link between SW Slovakia and Budapest area through a Danube bridge. Access from Bratislava and Nové Zámky by routes No 63 and 64, respectively.

Štúrovo – Esztergom: Link between neighboring regions on both sides of Danube, through the reconstructed Mária Valéria bridge. Access by routes No 63 and 76 from Komárno and Želiezovce, respectively, and by a number of lower-class roads.

Šahy – Parassapuszta: A busy link between C. Slovakia a the Budapest area. Access by route No. 66 (E 77) from Zvolen and No 75 from Levice.

Slovenské Ďarmoty – Balassagyarmat: Access by lower-class roads through the Veľký Krtíš region.

Šiatorská Bukovinka – Somoskőújfalu: A link between the Lučenec and Salgótarján areras, access from Lučenec by route No 71.

Kráľ – Bánréve: A link between the Gemer region in SE part of Slovakia and Miskolc area. Access from Tornaľa by route No. 71.

Milhosť – Tornyosnémeti: Direct link between Košice and Miskolc areas by route No 68 (E71).

Slovenské Nové Mesto – Sátoraljaújhely: The easternmost international road crossing between Slovakia and Hungary. Access by a lower-class road from Trebišov or Čierna nad Tisou.

To Poland

Railway

Skalité-Serafínov – Zwardoń: Direct link between Bratislava and Cracow.

b>Medzilaborce – Lupków: Easternmost railway link between Slovakia and Poland.

Road

Skalité – Zwardoń-Myto: To be expanded to an expressway between NW Slovakia and Cracow area.

Trstená – Chyżne: The North-South link between Poland and the Balkans, access from Dolný Kubín by route No. 59 (E77).

Suchá Hora – Chochołów: A link between tourist areas of Orava (Slovakia) and Podhale (Poland). Acess from Trstená, by a branch road of No 59 (E77) route, continuation to Zakopane and Nowy Targ.

Lysá nad Dunajcom – Niedzica: Access from Stará Ľubovňa and Kežmarok by lower-class roads.

Mníšek nad Popradom – Piwniczna: A link between NE Slovakia and Cracow area, access from Stará Ľubovňa by route No 68 with continuation to Nowy Sącz.

To Czechia

Railway

Kúty – Lanžhot: On the main railway line Prague – Brno – Bratislava.

Skalica na Slovensku – Sudoměřice nad Moravou: Local railway link.

Vrbovce – Velká nad Veličkou: Local rail link.

Nemšová – Vlárský Průsmyk: Direct link between Brno and Trenčín areas.

Lúky pod Makytou – Horní Lideč: A link between Moravia and NW Slovakia.

Road

Brodské – Lanžhot

Kúty – Břeclav: (Motorway D2/E65). Main road link between Prague and Bratislava.

Holíč – Hodonín: A link between W Slovakia and S Moravia. Access from Senica and Kúty by routes No 51 and 2, respectively.

Vrbovce – Velká nad Veličkou: Access by lower-class roads through the Myjava region.

Moravské Lieskové – Strání: Access from Nové Mesto n. Váhom by route No 54 with continuation to Uherské Hradiště area (S Moravia).

Drietoma – Starý Hrozenkov: Important link between Slovakia and Moravia along route no 50 (E50).

Horné Srnie – Brumov-Bylnice: Crossing at Vlársky priesmyk pass, connecting NW Slovakia and NE Moravia, access by route No 57 (from D1 motorway, at Nemšová).

Červený Kameň – Nedašova Lhota: Accessible by lower-class branch roads of the E50/E75 route from Trenčín area.

Lysá pod Makytou – Střelná: Crossing at Lyský priesmyk pass, accessible by route No 49 from Púchov.

Klokočov (Turzovka) – Bílá: A link between tourist areas of Kysuce (Slovakia) and Moravian-Silesian Bezkydy mountains. Accessible by lower-class roads from Čadca.

Čadca-Milošová – Šance: Local crossing.

Svrčinovec – Mosty u Jablunkova: The former busy international border crossing at Jablunkovský priesmyk pass, accessible by route No 11 (E75) between Žilina and Český Těšín.Plaveč – Muszyna. Crossing serving also through traffic between Cracow, Košice and Budapest.

Border crossings to Ukraine

Railway

Čierna nad Tisou – Čop: Formerly an important international crossing, at present with little passenger transport.

Road

Vyšné Nemecké – Užhorod: The busiest international passenger border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine. Access by route No 50 (E50) from Michalovce continuing to Užhorod and Mukačevo.

Ubľa – Malyj Bereznyj: (For citizens of Slovakia and Ukraine). Access from Humenné by route No. 74.

More in a story Za nákupmi na Ukrajinu (Slovak only)

Amsterdam 1273 km, 12h
Athens 1886 km
Belgrade 652 km
Bern 873 km
Bonn 991 km, 9h30m
Budapest 200 km, 2h30m
Bucharest 1138 km
Helsinki 1724 km
Kiev 1288 km
Lisbon 3039 km
London 1602 km, 17h
Luxembourg 1060 km
Madrid 2507 km
Moscow 2104 km
Oslo 1705 km
Paris 1359 km, 13h
Prague 321 km, 4h30m
Rome 1314 km
Sophia 1029 km
Stockholm 1735 km
St. Petersburg 2829 km
Warsaw 616 km
Vienna 65 km, 42 min

Road Distances in Slovakia

Bratislava - (Sered - Nitra - Zvolen-) Banska Bystrica 212 km, 2h51m
Bratislava - (Nove Mesto - Trencin - Povazska Bystrica) - Zilina 206 km, 2h34m
Zilina - (Kralovany - Ruzomberok - Liptovsky Mikulas) - Poprad 142 km, 1h46m
Poprad - (Presov) - Kosice 122 km, 1h29m
Bratislava - (Sered - Nitra - Zvolen - Rimavska Sobota - Roznava) - Kosice 396 km, 5h14m

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