The Ministry of Transport decided to remove physical vignettes from the toll system as from 1 January 2008. However, the channels through which authorisation for road use can be obtained has remained the same under the new e-system. Tickets can be purchased at SMMC’s customer service offices and points of sale; retailers; petrol stations; via text message; online; and via landline and mobile phones. After the transaction has been made, customers will receive a control coupon or a confirmation message that should be kept for one year from the last day of the validity period, as the excess charge payment obligation expires a year after issue. As before the changes, SMMC has to send excess charge notices by post within a 60-day period.
 
The new system offers a more convenient and faster service, and eliminates the costs of printing and distributing physical vignettes (windscreen stickers). These expenses amounted to around 250 million HUF in 2007. The Coordination Centre for Transport Development has been using these extra resources for road development and operation.
 
The methods of checking road use authorisation continue to be based on vehicle registration numbers. The SMMC calls attention to the relevant legal regulation, according to which all motorway sections (as well as highways and main roads) subject to tolls can be used only with a valid and (in terms of items such as. registration number and validity period) properly validated vignette for the proper vehicle category, purchased prior to entering the motorway (or any other toll road). It is also important to bear in mind that the signature of motorists purchasing vignettes in person – and the reply message of those buying vignettes via text messages – confirms the validity of the indicated data (registration number, toll category, start and end date of validity), and so checking these details before signing the receipt or sending a reply message is strongly recommended.