E vignette in Hungary
We would like other readers to be aware of a discrepancy in information on purchasing the correct e vignette in Hungary. We had a very enjoyable trip through Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary in our Autosleeper Symbol in May 2019. At the end of August, we received two penalty notices from EPCplc, based in London (and infamous from what I can see on the internet), showing a photo of our campervan on two consecutive days with, they said, the incorrect vignette. I phoned immediately and was told how to appeal, which I did the same day, with copies of our vignette receipt and of our registration document proving that we were under 3.5 ton. I checked the website we had used and was certain that the information provided showed we needed a D1 vignette, not a D2 as claimed.
I phoned again in mid October, before the 60 day expiry of the original fine, and was told a supervisor would phone back. Someone left a message on the following Monday, which we were certain said: “we will cancel collection”. I phoned again a week later, and was under the impression that the matter was finalised.
Today we have received a letter stating our appeal has been turned down and that we now have an increased penalty charge (approximately £160). The justification is that our vehicle is a campervan. On checking the websites for purchasing e vignettes, I now find that some (BUT NOT ALL) show that D1 covers automobiles for fewer than 7 passengers, D2 covers those vehicles not included in D1, and Campers of a maximum permissible gross weight of not more than 3.5 ton. We are certain this information was not included in the site used to purchase our vignette. Reluctantly, we will pay the fine. We hope that our experience will save others suffering the same fate.
The link provided by the Club does show the full information: https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/planning-your-route/motorway-tolls-and-vignettes/