Slovakia Hungary
Slovakia 
HungaryLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
The main crossing links Bratislava and Budapest via the M1/D2.
Driving rules in Hungary
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Motorway e-vignette required.
- Headlights on outside built-up areas.
- Reflective vest required when leaving a broken-down car.
What to see when you arrive in Hungary
- the Hungarian Parliament and Buda Castle in Budapest
- the thermal baths of Budapest
- Lake Balaton
- the Danube Bend
- the historic spa town of Eger
Once you're driving in Hungary
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 valid for the visit; other foreign visitors may drive on a home licence for up to one year, and an International Driving Permit is required if the licence is not in the Latin alphabet.
Tolls & road charges
Motorways use an electronic e-vignette (e-matrica) bought online or at petrol stations for 10-day, monthly or annual periods; with no physical sticker, your plate is registered, and a mispurchase grace of 60 minutes applies before fines.
Parking in the cities
Budapest charges by zone, payable at machines or by SMS (often needing a Hungarian number); wheel clamps are used and illegally parked cars are towed, so garages in districts VII/VIII are recommended.
Fines & camera enforcement
On-the-spot fines run up to about 300,000 HUF; drink-driving is zero-tolerance (0.00%), and driving without a valid e-matrica brings automatic penalties of roughly 75,000-150,000 HUF passed on by rental firms.
If you have an accident
Call 112; police must be called for injuries or notable damage, all occupants leaving the car must wear a hi-vis vest, and a European accident statement should be completed.
Driving in the capital
Central Budapest has bus/tram lanes and restricted-traffic zones, plus the bridges over the Danube funnel traffic into congested, camera-monitored junctions.
Sources: rac.co.uk · tollguru.com · tolls.eu