Slovakia: New Traffic Rules and Significantly Higher Fines from September 2026

In Slovakia, numerous new traffic rules will apply starting September 1, 2026: stricter requirements at pedestrian crossings, new turning and parking rules, as well as significantly higher fines for speeding, phone use, and insufficient safety distance.

The changes affect all road users in Slovakia, including holidaymakers and travelers passing through on their way to the High Tatras, Bratislava, or further towards Poland and Hungary. Anyone who regularly drives to Slovakia should be aware of the most important updates.

What's changing for drivers

At pedestrian crossings, vehicles must now stop as soon as a pedestrian is visibly about to enter the crossing, rather than only once they are already on the road. At traffic-light-controlled intersections, U-turns are now generally permitted, provided it can be done safely and no traffic sign explicitly prohibits it; the previous general U-turn ban no longer applies. Reversing at such intersections remains prohibited.

Outside built-up areas, the parking ban now also applies on main roads, not just on classified national roads. In pedestrian zones, the speed limit for authorized vehicles drops from the previous 20 to 10 km/h, while it remains at 20 km/h in purely residential zones.

Significantly higher fines

Anyone exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h within built-up areas or by more than 60 km/h outside them now pays 800 to 1,300 euros instead of the previous 500 to 1,000 euros, with an additional risk of a driving ban ranging from six months to three years. Other new fines include: insufficient safety distance 99 euros, phone use while driving 249 euros, and failure to wear a seatbelt 78 euros. These violations can now also be penalized under "objective liability," meaning without the police having to stop the vehicle directly.

Tolls in Slovakia

The Slovak toll system remains unaffected by the new traffic rules: for cars, vehicles with trailers, and motorhomes up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the vignette requirement continues to apply, while motorcycles are exempt. For vehicles over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the distance-based toll applies instead, via the satellite-based eMYTO system using an on-board unit. Slovakia does not have a separate special toll.

For those who regularly travel through several countries, rather than buying a vignette for each country individually, it is often cheaper to use the Europamaut flat rate: for 12.80 euros per month, it includes vignettes for all eight supported countries, with no minimum term and the option to cancel at any time.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

For more information, visit our overview page Slovakia Vignette as well as the page Tolls in Slovakia. Currently also relevant for travel through Slovakia: the full closures on the D1 in the Tatra foothills and on the D3 near Svrcinovec. If you have any questions, feel free to reach us anytime by email.