Munich  – Travellers planning a trip across the European continent should be aware of huge disparities on motorway fees in some countries that can be very confusing, Germany’s motorists association ADAC has warned.

Generally there are two tariff systems on European motorways. Either motorists have to buy a sticker that is valid for a year or fees are calculated in a toll system according to the number of kilometres travelled.

The sticker system applies to all motorways in Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. The toll system applies to Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Poland.

Some countries, such as Slovakia, impose heavy fines on motorists without the sticker that can amount to up to ten times the price of the sticker (365 euros/493 dollars). If the case goes to court in the Czech Republic the fine can amount to as much as 19,000 euros (25,700 dollars), the ADAC warns. (dpa)