Poland Slovakia
Poland 
SlovakiaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Poland and Slovakia share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in Slovakia
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Motorway e-vignette required.
- Headlights on at all times.
- Winter tyres mandatory in snow.
What to see when you arrive in Slovakia
- the old town and castle of Bratislava
- the High Tatras mountains
- the Spiš Castle
- the caves of Slovak Karst
- the medieval town of Banská Štiavnica
Once you're driving in Slovakia
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
EU/EEA licences are fully valid; visitors from outside the EU should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, which rental companies typically require for non-EU/non-Latin-script licences.
Tolls & road charges
Cars under 3.5 t need an electronic vignette (no stickers, no booths) bought online, via the eznamka app, or at border fuel stations; a 1-day vignette costs about EUR 8.10, with 10-day and annual options, enforced by plate-reading cameras.
Parking in the cities
Bratislava's PAAS residential zones charge for street parking (typically 08:00-16:00 in the centre); pay via the ParkDots app or machines, as unpaid or non-resident parking risks a roughly EUR 100 fine, clamping or towing.
Fines & camera enforcement
On-the-spot fines apply for speeding, no seatbelt and handheld phone use, and driving with zero blood alcohol is required; missing a vignette draws a reduced on-the-spot fine of EUR 150 (up to EUR 800 administratively), and rental firms pass camera fines on with a fee.
If you have an accident
Call 158 for police or 112 general emergency; police must be called for injuries or damage over EUR 4,000, otherwise complete the European Accident Statement, and do not move vehicles before documenting an injury scene.
Driving in the capital
Bratislava's Old Town is largely pedestrianised with restricted PAAS zones, and the SNP Bridge and D1/D2 junctions around the city are the usual congestion points.
Sources: tollguru.com · easypark.com · vignetim.com