Slovenian motorways ensure fast and safe travel in the country's road transportation. These roads are divided into two categories: motorways and expressways. Motorways are signposted with green signs with white lettering, have at least two lanes in each direction, and the maximum allowed speed is 130 km/h. Expressways are marked with blue signs with white lettering, usually have two lanes in each direction, but differ from motorways as they do not have a hard shoulder, and the maximum allowed speed is 100 km/h.
The owner and operator of the Slovenian motorways is the Motorway Company of the Republic of Slovenia. Since January 2011, DARS manages 533.3 km of motorways, 73.3 km of expressways, 161 km of connecting roads, and 27 km of rest area roads. The e-vignette system has been introduced for cars and motorcycles in Slovenia. In addition to motorway tolls, the 8-kilometer-long Karavanke Tunnel connecting Slovenia with Austria has also become tolled.
Slovenia is part of the Schengen Area, so no additional checks are required at the Hungarian-Slovenian border. However, travelers should have travel documents, meaning a photo ID, which can be a valid passport, identity card, or temporary identity card. Those who cannot prove their identity may face a fine, which can amount to €500. Minors under 18 are also required to possess one of the mentioned documents. It's important to know that a driver's license in Slovenia is not suitable for proving identity.
With Croatia's accession to the Schengen area, border checks have ceased at the Slovenian-Croatian border. However, checks continue at the Austrian-Slovenian border, which can lead to congestion at the Karavanke Tunnel during busier periods.
The speed limits for passenger cars are: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h outside urban areas, 110 km/h on expressways, and 130 km/h on motorways. Slovenian police regularly monitor speed, and in tunnels, average speeds are measured in several places, where fines are imposed for even minor speed excesses.
In the Republic of Slovenia, daytime running lights are mandatory for all passenger vehicles, as well as the use of all available (front and rear) seat belts. According to Slovenian law, smoking is prohibited in vehicles with passengers under 18 years of age.
The A1 motorway is 241 km long, providing ease of passage between the Austrian border and the Adriatic Sea. The A2 is a north-south motorway, 175 km long. In 2005, 133.1 km of it was completed. It extends from the Austrian border (A11) to the Croatian border (A3), passing through Jesenice, Kranj, Ljubljana, Novo Mesto, and Brežice. The A3 motorway connects the A1 with the port city of Trieste at the Italian border. The motorway is 12 km long and is entirely managed by DARS. It is an important connection between the Balkans and Italy, linking the region with Venice and Milan. The A4 motorway was originally designed to be 33.7 km long, providing a connection between Maribor and the Croatian border. The motorway runs along several major cities, such as Maribor, Ptuj, and Hajdina. Construction began in 2009, and it is still ongoing. It will be an important route, as it will provide the shortest connection to Zagreb and several major European cities. The A5 motorway, often referred to as the Mur region motorway, directly connects Maribor with the Hungarian border. It connects to the M70 motorway at the Hungarian border. The first section, 11.3 km long, was opened in 2003, and it was fully completed in 2008. The total length of the motorway is 81 km. Together with the A1 motorway, it forms a NATO Corridor through Koper and Hungary to Ukraine.
Expressways include the H3 highway, 10.22 km long, which is the northern bypass of Ljubljana, the H4 highway: 42.1 km long leading towards the Italian border, and the H7 highway, 3.5 km long, which helps approach the Hungarian border.
In Slovenia, as in most countries, purchasing an e-vignette is mandatory. It is most convenient to buy it online, which is both quick and easy. The electronic vignette does not need to be affixed.
The Slovenian E-Vignette 2024 can be purchased here in the shop.
