Allgemeine Bedingungen für die Zahlung

General Business Terms and Conditions of Vignette Payment of Vignette Payment Collection Administrator
The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator issues the following General Business Terms and Conditions of Vignette Payment which are valid and effective as from 01/03/2026:

Article I
Basic Provisions
1) Národná diaľničná spoločnosť, a.s. (National Motorway Company), with registered office at Dúbravská cesta 14, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovak Republic, company ID No: 35 919 001, registered in the Commercial Register of the City Court Bratislava III, Section: Sa, File No. 3518/B, is, based on the relevant provisions of Act no. 639/2004 Coll. on the National Motorway Company and on amendment of Act No. 135/1961 Coll. on Roads (Road Act), as amended, and provisions of Section 8 of Act No. 488/2013 Coll. on Vignette and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator (hereinafter referred to as the "Vignette Payment Collection Administrator").
2) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, in particular, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Act No. 488/2013 Coll. on Vignette and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended, (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”), the Regulation of the Slovak Government No. 232/2024 Coll., establishing the amount of payment for the electronic vignette for the use of specified sections of motorways, valid and effective as of 1 January 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulation”), issues these General Business Terms and Conditions of Vignette Payment of Vignette Payment Collection Administrator (hereinafter referred to as the “Terms and Conditions”), which regulate in particular the details regarding the rights and obligations of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, Vehicle Operators, Vehicle Drivers, and Operators of Vehicles or Combinations of Vehicles exempt from Vignette for the Use of Specified Motorway Sections of the Slovak Republic marked by the traffic signs “Motorway” and “End of Motorway” as defined in Decree No. 19/2016 Coll., implementing certain provisions of Act No. 488/2013 Coll, on Vignette and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, unless provided otherwise, and published on the website eznamka.sk (hereinafter referred to as the “Specified Motorway Sections”).
3) Unless the context of these Terms and Conditions indicates otherwise, in the Terms and Conditions:
a) words in singular include also the plural form and words in plural also include the singular form,
b) provisions containing the word “approve”, “approval” or “agreement” or words with similar meaning that express approval require the approval and the agreement to be executed in writing,
c) without undue delay or without delay means within a period no longer than one that is necessary, in the performance with due professional care, which can be fairly required from the data subject with respect to the nature of performance/duties, to fulfil the relevant obligation, and “written” or "in writing" means written by hand, machine, printed, or electronically produced and existing in the form of a permanent record.
4) The headings of the individual articles of the Terms and Conditions shall only be for the purpose of transparent orientation and they shall not be used in the interpretation of individual provisions of the Terms and Conditions.

Article II.
Definition of Basic Terms
The terms listed below have the following meanings and are capitalized throughout the Terms and Conditions:
a) “Vignette” means payment of a time charge for use of the specified motorway sections under the Act and is in electronic form only;
b) “Web Portal” means the website www.eznamka.sk, through which the services listed in Article XI(6) of these Terms and Conditions are provided to the User;
c) “Mobile Application” means the software application for mobile devices, through which the services listed in Article XI(5) of these Terms and Conditions are provided to the User;
d) “Call Centre” means a multilingual telephone line, through which the services listed in Article XI(4) of these Terms and Conditions are provided to the User;
e) “Point of Sale” means a staffed physical location where Users may obtain the services listed in Article XI(2) of these Terms and Conditions (or will be able to do so in the future) and make payment for the Vignette;
f) “User Support Location” means a staffed physical location with staff listed in the User Support Locations list published on the Web Portal where Users may obtain the services listed in Article XI(3) of these Terms and Conditions;
g) “Payment Card” is a payment tool issued by a financial institution that can be used to carry out a cash-free vignette payment. The list of payment cards accepted by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator for the purpose of vignette payment can be found on the Web Portal;
h) “Internet Banking” is a secure electronic banking service that enables the User to make a cashless payment of a vignette via an Internet connection to the Bank;
i) “Certificate of Registration of Vehicle/Vehicle Combinations Exempt from Vignette Payment” means a certificate issued to the User by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of these Terms and Conditions;
j) “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Simplified Invoice” and “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Invoice” are documents that include all the details specified by the relevant provisions of Act No. 222/2004 Coll. on Value Added Tax as amended for a simplified invoice/invoice and at the same time all the details specified by the relevant provisions of the Act for the Confirmation of Vignette Payment, which are issued to the User by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator on the basis of vignette payment carried out (hereinafter referred to as “Payment Confirmation”);
k) “Confirmation of Data Adjustment” is a confirmation issued to the User by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator following successful changes to the Vignette Payment Records relating to a change in the vehicle/trailer registration number and/or the country of registration of the vehicle/trailer;
l) “Confirmation of Data Correction” is a confirmation issued to the User by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator following a successful correction to the Vignette Payment Records, which relates to the correction and/or completion of incorrect and/or incomplete data provided to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator for payment of the vignette, in cases permitted by these Terms and Conditions;
m) “Vehicle Operator” (for a vehicle combination, “Vehicle Combination Operator”) is, pursuant to the provision of Section 2(5) of the Act, the operator of the vehicle or vehicle combination, who is registered in the vehicle registration certificate section 1 and 2 as the holder of the certificate, or a person registered in a vehicle registration certificate issued in a foreign country;
n) “Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment” is a Vehicle/Vehicle-Combination Operator pursuant to the provision of Section 7 of the Act;
o) “Authorisation” means a document accessible via the Web Portal, by which the Parking Pass Holder authorises another person to act on his or her behalf in signing the Request for Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections for owners of parking passes for persons with disabilities, the Request to Change the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections for owners of parking passes for persons with disabilities, and/or the Request to Cancel the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections for owners of parking passes for persons with disabilities. This document serves as proof to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator that the plenipotentiary is authorised to perform the specified actions on behalf of the Parking Pass Holder, for the duration indicated in the Authorisation, which shall not exceed one year from the date of issue. Any power of attorney with a notarised signature, granted in accordance with Sec. 31 et seq. of Act No. 40/1964 Coll., the Civil Code, shall be deemed an Authorisation for the purposes of this definition, provided that such power of attorney authorises the plenipotentiary to perform the acts specified in this provision;
p) “Vehicle Driver” (and, in the case of a vehicle combination, “Vehicle Combination Driver”) means a person as defined in Sec. 2(2)(w) of Act No. 8/2009 Coll., on Road Traffic and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended, who controls the vehicle or supervises a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system; this provision shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Vehicle Combination Driver;
q) “User” is a vehicle or vehicle combination driver who, pursuant to the Act, is obliged to pay for the Vignette, a Parking Pass Holder pursuant to Article VIII(1)(d) of these Terms and Conditions, Vehicle or vehicle combination operator who is obliged to provide for compliance with the vignette payment when using the Specified Motorway Sections by the vehicle or the vehicle combination. A User is also any other person who, using the Points of Sale, User Support Locations, the Call Centre or electronic channels (i.e. Web Portal and Mobile Application), is interested in issues related to vignette payment or intends to carry out or carries out a vignette payment for any vehicle/trailer regardless of his or her legal or other relationship to this vehicle/trailer;
r) “Order” is the form available on the Web Portal, through which the User can request the payment of the vignette on the Web Portal;
s) “Vignette Validity” means the period of time for which the vignette is paid and which is indicated in the vignette Payment Confirmation;
t) “Vignette Edition” is the identification of the prices of individual types of vignettes, i.e. vignette with 365-day validity, 30-day validity, 10-day validity and 1-day validity for the given calendar year, specified by the relevant valid and effective Regulation establishing the amount of payment for the electronic vignette for the use of Specified Motorway Sections.

Article III.
Obligation to Pay the Vignette
1) The specified motorway sections, marked with appropriate traffic signs, the list of which is available on the website of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, can be used only after payment of the vignette for their use by:
a) two-track motor vehicles or vehicle combinations up to 3,5 t and two-track motor vehicles of M1 category, irrespective of their maximum technically permissible total weight (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle”),
b) two-track combinations consisting of a vehicle of M1, N1 categories and a trailer of O1 and O2 categories if a sum of the maximum technically permissible total weight of the motor vehicle and the maximum technically permissible total weight of the trailer is over 3,5 t (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle combination”).
2) In case of a vehicle combination, the amount of payment for the vignette shall be determined from the technically permissible maximum laden mass of the motor vehicle and the technically permissible maximum laden mass of the trailer.
3) The obligation to pay for the electronic vignette lies with the vehicle driver or vehicle combination driver.
4) The vehicle operator and/or the vehicle combination operator is obliged to ensure that the obligation to pay the vignette is fulfilled when the specified motorway sections are used by the vehicle or the vehicle combination.
 

Article IV.
Vignette Payment Amount and Validity
1) The amount of the vignette payment, set by the Regulation, is determined based on the permissible maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle and a trailer, while it is possible to buy a vignette with 365-day, 30-day, 10-day or 1-day validity (in calendar days), regardless of the number of journeys made, whereby:
a) 365-day vignette is valid for 365 calendar days, including the day specified by the User;
b) 30-day vignette is valid for 30 calendar days, including the day specified by the User;
c) 10-day vignette is valid for 10 calendar days, including the day specified by the User;
d) 1-day vignette is valid until 11:59:59 PM of the day specified by the user.
2) The period of validity for a given Vignette Edition shall be one calendar year, running from 1 January to 31 December. The User may postpone the commencement of the Vignette Validity to the date of payment or a later date (up to a maximum of 60 days), or to such other date following payment as may be determined by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator. Any start date so selected must fall no later than the last day of the relevant Vignette Edition Validity period, namely 31 December of the given calendar year.
3) The user can always set the start date of validity of the new 365-day vignette only after the expiry of the currently valid Vignette.
4) The Vignette Validity for strict liability is calculated from the selected start date of the Vignette Validity, namely from 12:00:00 AM. The end of the Vignette Validity shall always occur on the last day of the Vignette Validity at 11:59:59 PM.
5) If the Vignette Validity is the same as the date of payment of the Vignette, the Vignette Validity shall only start when the Vignette payment is recorded by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, namely:
a) upon crediting of cash funds from the user by the Point of Sale staff;
b) for payments made by Payment Card or via internet banking, when the Payment Confirmation is issued by the electronic system for vignette payment and registration;
c) in case of Vignette payment in the form of an Order, the Vignette Validity is postponed to the date specified by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, which shall be the date on which the payment is collected.

Article V.
Vignette Payment
1) The Vignette can by paid:
a) at the Points of Sale, a list of which is published on the Web Portal, in cash and/or by a payment card,
b) via the Web Portal by a payment card and/or via Internet Banking,
c) via the Mobile Applications for mobile devices by a payment card.
2) In order to pay the Vignette, the User is obliged to provide the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator with the following data:
a) the country of vehicle registration,
b) the vehicle registration number or the trailer registration number in O1 and O2 categories,
c) the vehicle type and whether it is a vehicle or a trailer,
d) the period of the Vignette Validity and the start of its validity, and
e) contact details for delivering documents, e-mail messages, confirmations, documents and information, if available.
3) In case a User has decided to carry out/carries out a bulk payment of Vignettes using the Web Portal, besides the aforesaid details in point 2) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, the User is obliged to provide the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator with the following data:
a) business name, address of the place of business, if the Vehicle Operator is a natural person – entrepreneur; or name, surname, address of residence and nationality if the Vehicle Operator is another natural person,
b) name or business name and registered office address if the Vehicle Operator is a legal entity,
c) the company identification no. (ID No.),
d) the tax identification no. (Tax ID No.),
e) the value added tax identification number (VAT ID No.) and the country of the VAT ID No. registration.
4) Sole responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided under par. 2) and 3) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions lies with the User.
5) In accordance with the above par. 4) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, the User is responsible for carrying out of only one correct payment of the Vignette, registered in the Vignette Payment Records for one and unique registration number of the vehicle/trailer and for only one Vignette Validity payment.
6) On the basis of Vignette payment, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall issue a Payment Confirmation, which, in addition to the particulars set out in the relevant provisions of Act No. 222/2004 Coll. on Value Added Tax, as amended, shall include:
a) the place, date and time of Vignette purchase,
b) the country of vehicle registration,
c) the vehicle registration number or the trailer registration number in O1 and O2 categories,
d) the vehicle type and whether it is a vehicle or a trailer,
e) Vignette Validity – the start and end of its validity,
f) the business name and registered office of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator,
g) contact details for delivery of documents, emails, confirmations, documents and information, if the User has provided them to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator when paying the Vignette.
7) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall issue/generate a Payment Confirmation depending on the method of payment/reimbursement of the Vignette:
a) upon crediting of cash funds from the user by the Point of Sale operator (cash desk) or
b) in case of Vignette payment by a Payment Card, only after successful authorisation of the transaction or
c) in case of Vignette payment in the form of an Order, only after the funds have been credited to the bank account of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator,
8) In case of Vignette payment in cash or a Payment Card at a Point of Sale, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will issue a “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Simplified Invoice” in paper form.
9) In case of Vignette payment via the Web Portal by a Payment Card or via Internet Banking, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will generate a “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Simplified Invoice” in an electronic form, suitable for printing, which will be sent electronically to the User at the contact details for delivery of documents/confirmations.
10) In case of Vignette payment via the Mobile Application for mobile devices by a Payment Card, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will generate a “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Simplified Invoice” in an electronic form, suitable for printing, which will be sent electronically to the User at the contact details for delivery of documents/confirmations.
11) In case of bulk payment of Vignettes via the Web Portal by a Payment Card and/or via Internet Banking, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will generate a “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Invoice” in an electronic form, suitable for printing, which will be sent electronically to the User at the contact details for delivery of documents/confirmations.
12) If the user requests payment of the Vignette in the form of an Order via the Web Portal, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will generate a request for payment of the Order. After crediting the funds to the bank account of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will generate a “Confirmation of Vignette Payment, Invoice” in an electronic form, suitable for printing, which will be sent electronically to the User at the contact details for delivery of documents/confirmations.
13) The total amount of the Vignettes bulk payment by a Payment Card is not limited by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, but it depends solely on the limits agreed between the User and the User’s contracted commercial bank that holds the relevant bank account for the User and has issued the relevant payment card to the user. Only the number of vehicle registration numbers in one order is limited to 500.

Article VI.
Data Adjustment in Vignette Payment Records
1) A Vignette is non-transferable between vehicles or trailers; except in the cases defined in the provisions of Section 116(17) of Act No. 8/2009 Coll. on Road Traffic and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended.
2) If the vehicle or vehicle combination has a valid Vignette and by the act carried out by the authority of the Police Force of the Slovak Republic in the Register of Vehicles according to the provisions of Section 114 et seq. of Act No. 8/2009 Coll. on Road Traffic and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended, a registered vehicle registration number is assigned to such a vehicle or a vehicle combination which is not subject to the payment of the Vignette pursuant to provisions of Section 2(2) of the Act, the provisions of par. 1) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions after the semicolon shall not apply; the payment of the Vignette shall not be refunded to the User in such a case.
3) The data adjustment in the Vignette payment records can only be made if there is a change in the vehicle/trailer registration number and/or the country of registration of the vehicle/trailer (i.e. there is no change in the vehicle/trailer itself, nor in the type and Vignette Validity).
4) A request for data adjustment in the Vignette payment records according to par. 6) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions cannot be submitted in the cases defined in provisions of Section 116(17) of Act No. 8/2009 Coll. on Road Traffic and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended (i.e. if the User retains the plate with the vehicle/trailer registration number). In such a case, the Vignette remains valid for this vehicle/trailer registration number.
5) In order to adjust the registration of the vehicle/trailer, the User is obliged to submit documents proving a reason and authorisation for the requested adjustment to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, namely:
a) the original vehicle registration certificate, or an insurance policy referencing the original vehicle registration number, or a certificate of state vehicle inspection/emissions test issued in respect of the original vehicle registration number,
b) the new vehicle registration certificate,
c) the Payment Confirmation,
d) where the vehicle registration number has been changed from a Slovak registration number, the completed and signed written permission of the original Vehicle Operator, allowing the adjustment in the Vignette Payment Records.
6) A request for data adjustment in the Vignette Payment Records can be submitted:
a) via the Web Portal,
b) by a letter posted to the address of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator’s registered office, or
c) in person at the post room located at the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office, or
d) User Support Location.
7) If the User fails to submit all documents as required under Clause 5) of this Article, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall not make the requested adjustment, on the grounds of insufficient documentation to adjust the vehicle or trailer data provided by the User.
8) It is not possible to adjust the registration on the expired Vignette.
9) On the basis of the data adjustments in the Vignette Payment Records, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall issue the User with a Confirmation of Data Adjustment.

Article VII.
Cancellation of the Vignette Payment
1) The User may cancel the payment of the Vignette without giving any reason:
a) within 15 minutes of the payment at the Point of Sale where the payment was made, the Point of Sale shall refund the payment to the User, if the Vignette payment was made in cash,
b) via the Web Portal by submitting a cancellation request before the start of the Vignette Validity day or within 15 minutes of the payment of the Vignette if the payment was made on the day of the start of the Vignette Validity,
c) before the start of the Vignette Validity day or within 15 minutes of the payment of the Vignette if the payment was made on the day of the start of the Vignette Validity via the Call Centre that submits the request for cancellation.
2) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette payment pursuant to par. 1)(a) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions by a cashless transfer to the Payment Card if the Vignette payment was made by a Payment Card.
3) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette payment pursuant to par. 1)(b) and (c) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions by a cashless transfer to the bank account specified by the User when cancelling the Vignette payment.

Article VIII.
Exemption from Vignette Payment
1) The obligation to register vehicles/vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment in the Central Vignette Payment Records applies to vehicles/vehicle combinations according to the provisions of Section 7 of the Act:
a) basic rescue components of the integrated rescue system, municipal volunteer fire brigades, municipal police and the Slovak Red Cross,
b) rescue components of another state participating
1. in rescue work during emergencies, or participating in the preparation of civil protection inside the territory of the Slovak Republic on the basis of request by the Slovak authorities,
2. of another state in rescue work during emergencies, humanitarian aid or participating in the preparation of civil protection outside the territory of the Slovak Republic,
c) the administrators of state-owned motorways and roads, except the concessionaire,
d) vehicles, which are registered by a person who is a holder of a parking pass issued pursuant to Act No. 447/2008 Coll. on Monetary Contributions to Compensate for Severe Disability and on amendments and supplements to certain acts, as amended (hereinafter also referred to as the “Parking Pass Holder”),
e) the operator of which is a person who uses a vehicle for provision of social services pursuant to Act No. 448/2008 Coll. on Social Services and on amendments and supplements to Act No. 455/1991 Coll. on Trade Enterprise (Trade Licensing Act), as amended by Act No. 50/2012 Coll., as amended, and does not provide social services with the aim of making a profit and accounts for this vehicle pursuant to Act No. 431/2002 Coll. on Accounting, as amended,
f) the operator of which is a facility for social-legal protection of children and social guardianship pursuant to Act No. 305/2005 Coll. on Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Guardianship and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended,
g) foreign nationals exempt under an interstate agreement on the condition of reciprocity,
h) historical vehicles pursuant to Section 2(2)(i) of Act No. 106/2018 Coll. on Operation Vehicles in Road Traffic and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended,
i) vehicles of the Financial Administration.
2) A request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment may be submitted to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator by the vehicle/vehicle combination operator exempt from the Vignette payment; i.e.:
a) at selected User Support Locations, the list of which is published on the Web Portal or
b) directly via the Web Portal or
c) by a letter posted to the address of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office or
d) in person at the post room located at the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator’s registered office.
3) A request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment may be submitted to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator by the Parking Pass Holder or by a person authorised by the parking Pass Holder, according to par. (1)(d) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, namely:
a) at selected User Support Locations, the list of which is published on the Web Portal or
b) directly via the Web Portal or
c) by a letter posted to the address of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office or
d) in person at the post room located at the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office.
4) Within the request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment to the Central Vignette Payment Records, the Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment pursuant to Clause (1)(a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions shall submit documents evidencing the identity of the Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment and documents proving a reason for such exemption, namely:
a) a completed and signed request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from Vignette payment,
b) copies of documents substantiating the grounds for exemption (a list of documents is available on the Web Portal),
c) a copy of both sides of the Vehicle Registration Certificate or Vehicle Inspection Certificate.
5) For a request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment to the Central Vignette Payment Records submitted pursuant to Clause (1)(d) of these Terms and Conditions, the Parking Pass Holder shall provide the following documents to evidence the grounds for exemption:
a) a completed and signed Request for Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections for owners of parking passes for persons with disabilities,
b) a copy of both sides of a valid Parking Pass,
c) a copy of both sides of the Vehicle Registration Certificate or a copy of Vehicle Inspection Certificate, and
d) written authorisation, if the Parking Pass Holder has authorised another person to sign the request.
6) For a request to change the registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment to the Central Vignette Payment Records submitted pursuant to Clause (1)(d) of these Terms and Conditions due to a change in the parking pass vehicle registration number or the address, the Parking Pass Holder shall provide the following documents to evidence the grounds for exemption:
a) a completed and signed Request to Change the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections for owners of parking passes for persons with disabilities,
b) a copy of both sides of a valid Parking Pass,
c) a copy of both sides of the Vehicle Registration Certificate or a copy of Vehicle Inspection Certificate, and
d) written authorisation, if the Parking Pass Holder has authorised another person to sign the request.
7) For a request to cancel the registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from vignette payment in the Central Vignette Payment Records, the Parking Pass Holder, pursuant to Clause (1)(d) of these Terms and Conditions, shall submit a completed and signed Request to Cancel the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections for owners of parking passes for persons with disabilities, stating the reason for cancellation. The Parking Pass Holder shall attach the documents specified in the request, together with a written Authorisation where the request is signed by a natural person other than the Parking Pass Holder. No Authorisation shall be required where the request is submitted for the reason of the death of the Parking Pass Holder. A Vehicle Operator or Vehicle Combination Operator falling within Clause (1)(a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of these Terms and Conditions shall submit a completed Request to Cancel the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections, stating the reason for cancellation.
8) Where the Exemption from Vignette Payment for a vehicle or vehicle combination pertaining to a Parking Pass Holder under Clause (1)(d) of these Terms and Conditions is granted for a definite period, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall apply such exemption for the duration indicated on the parking pass submitted by the Parking Pass Holder to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator together with the request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment to the Central Vignette Payment Records.
9) Within the request for registration under par. 4) or 5) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, the Vehicle Operator, the Vehicle Combination Operator or the Parking Pass Holder exempt from Vignette payment shall submit in particular the following data:
a) name, surname, date of birth, residential address, nationality, ID card or passport number, if the Parking Pass Holder or the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator is a natural person,
b) name or business name, company ID and registered office address if the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator is a legal entity,
c) the vehicle registration number and the country in which the vehicle or vehicle combination is registered,
d) the contact details of the Parking Pass Holder or the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator, in particular a contact telephone no. and an email address, if available.
10) Accuracy of the data provided under par. 4) to 9) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions shall be the sole responsibility of the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator or the Parking Pass Holder exempt from the vignette payment. If the information provided is incorrect, incomplete or changed, the Parking Pass Holder or Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment is obliged to notify the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator of the correction, addition or change of such data immediately after becoming aware of this fact, in the manner specified in par. 2) or 3) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions.
11) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator is not responsible for the registration of vehicles/vehicle combinations exempt from the vignette payment if:
a) the registration/request for registration will not be carried out in accordance with the provisions of par. 2) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions; in the case of a parking pass holder under par. 3) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions,
b) The Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment fails to submit documents specified in par. 4) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions or the Parking Pass Holder fails to submit documents specified in par. 5) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions,
c) the Parking Pass Holder fails to submit the Request to Change the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections pursuant to par. 6) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions,
d) the Parking Pass Holder or the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator fails to submit the Request to Cancel the Exemption from Vignette Payment for Using the Specified Motorway Sections pursuant to par. 7) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions,
e) The Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment or the Parking Pass Holder does not provide the data referred to in par. 9) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions.
12) In case the registration/request for registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment is not carried out in accordance with the provisions of points (a) and (b) of the par. 2) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions; in case of a Parking Pass Holder according to points (a), (b), (c), (d) of par. 3) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions; and/or the documents by means of which the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator or the Parking Pass Holder proves the reason for the exemption from the Vignette payment contain data beyond the data specified in the relevant documents published on the Web Portal, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall immediately shred – permanently destroy all the documents received without any possibility of their renewal.
13) The Parking Pass Holder exempt from the Vignette payment may submit to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator only one request for registration of one vehicle and/or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment relating to one parking pass issued in accordance with the relevant provisions of Act No. 447/2008 Coll. on Monetary Contributions for the Compensation of Severe Disability and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended. In case that the Parking Pass Holder submits a new request for registration of a vehicle and/or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment relating to a parking pass already registered in the Vignette Payment Records, the original registration of the vehicle and/or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment shall cease to exist on the date of confirmation of registration of vehicle and/or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment on the basis of a new request. A Parking Pass Holder may only have one exempt vehicle per parking pass at a time.
14) The Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator/Parking Pass Holder/driver of the vehicle or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment may use the Specified Motorway Sections only on the basis of a document issued by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, namely a positive statement to the Request for registration of the vehicle and/or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment, or a confirmation of exemption which is generated and sent to the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator/Parking Pass Holder electronically to the email address specified in the request or by post to the address specified in the request, immediately after the vehicle/vehicle combination has been registered in the database of vehicles/vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment. In the event of any change in the registration of vehicles and/or vehicle combinations exempt from the Vignette payment, the generated documents are sent to the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator/Parking Pass Holder, electronically to the email address updated in the new application or by post to the postal address updated in the new application immediately after the change is made.
15) The Parking Pass Holder/Operator of a Vehicle or Vehicle Combination Exempt from Vignette Payment is not obliged to pay/reimburse the Vignette during the period of exemption. If the User has paid for the Vignette for a vehicle/vehicle combination before the exemption from registration under par. 1) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions has become valid and effective, i.e. before the positive statement to the Request for registration of the vehicle and/or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment or before the issuance of a confirmation of exemption, this payment shall not be refunded to the User. If the User has paid for the Vignette for a vehicle/vehicle combination after the exemption from registration under par. 1) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions has become valid and effective, this payment shall be refunded to the User in accordance with Article IX(3) of these Terms and Conditions.
16) The Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Ministry of Defence”) is obliged to register a vehicle or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(1)(d) of the Act in the Central Vignette Payment Records in sufficient time before the start of using the specified motorway sections, providing the following data:
a) the planned route,
b) the place and time of entry into the territory of the Slovak Republic and the place and time of leaving the territory of the Slovak Republic,
c) the vehicle registration number and the country in which the vehicle is registered.
17) In case that immediately prior to commencement of the use or during the use of the Specified Motorway Sections by a vehicle or vehicle combination exempt under the provisions of Section 7(1)(d) of the Act, any of the data is changed, the Ministry of Defence is obliged to provide the changed data to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator for registration within five days from the date of such change.
18) For the purposes of registration and control of registration of the vehicle or vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(1)(i) of the Act, the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family shall electronically provide to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator the data concerning a natural person with severe disability who is a Parking Pass Holder. The data shall be provided in the form of first and last name, date of birth, parking pass number and date of issue of the parking pass.
19) In case that the reason for exempting the vehicle/vehicle combination from the vignette payment is no longer applicable, the User is obliged to immediately notify the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator of this fact and to request the cancellation of exemption of the vehicle/vehicle combination from the vignette payment. A request for cancellation of the exemption of a vehicle/vehicle combination from the vignette payment may be submitted:
a) via the Web Portal,
b) at selected User Support Locations, the list of which is published on the Web Portal or
c) by a letter posted to the address of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office or
d) in person at the post room located at the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator’s registered office.
20) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall issue the Vehicle Operator/Vehicle Combination Operator/Parking Pass Holder a confirmation on cancellation of registration of the exemption of the vehicle/vehicle combination from the Vignette payment on the basis of cancelled registration of the exemption of the vehicle/vehicle combination from the vignette payment.
21) The exemption of the vehicle or vehicle combination from the Vignette payment, which is limited in time, shall expire on the date of the time limitation without generating a confirmation on cancellation of the exemption of the vehicle/vehicle combination from the Vignette payment.

Article IX.
Refund of Vignette Payment
1) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette on the basis of a request for Vignette refund in case of multiple Vignette payments for the same vehicle/vehicle combination, provided that there is at least a partial overlap of the validity period of the Vignettes. The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the payment(s) of the later paid Vignette(s). In order to effect a refund under par. 1) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, it is necessary to provide the following supporting documents:
a) request for refund of the Vignette payment,
b) vehicle/vehicle combination registration certificate – photocopy,
c) confirmation of both Vignette payments. For the avoidance of doubt, a User who has made a late payment for a Vignette is notified during the payment process for this Vignette, via Points of Sale, the Web Portal and the Mobile Application, that a valid Vignette already exists for the vehicle/vehicle combination in question.
2) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette payment on the basis of the request for refund of the Vignette payment in case the Vignette has been paid for a motor vehicle/vehicle combination exempt from the Vignette payment. In order to effect a refund under par. 2) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, it is necessary to provide the following supporting documents:
a) request for refund of the Vignette payment,
b) vehicle/vehicle combination registration certificate – photocopy,
c) the Payment Confirmation.
3) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette payment on the basis of the request for refund of the vignette payment in case the Vignette has been paid for a motor vehicle/vehicle combination already exempt from the Vignette payment. In case of vehicles/vehicle combinations exempt from the vignette payment which are subject to registration, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette payment which was made after registration of the exemption of the vehicle/vehicle combination from the Vignette payment with the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator. In order to effect a refund under par. 3) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, it is necessary to provide the following supporting documents:
a) request for refund of the Vignette payment,
b) vehicle/vehicle combination registration certificate – photocopy,
c) the Payment Confirmation,
d) certificate of registration exempting the vehicle/vehicle combination from the Vignette payment.
4) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette on the basis of the request for refund of the Vignette payment in case it has been paid for a vehicle/vehicle combination with a non-existent vehicle registration number. Provided that an adjustment of the Vignette paid for a non-existent vehicle registration number has been carried out and at the same time another Vignette has been paid for the same vehicle, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall refund the Vignette payment with a later validity. In order to effect a refund under par. 4) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, it is necessary to provide the following supporting documents:
a) request for refund of the Vignette payment,
b) the Payment Confirmation,
c) confirmation of non-existent vehicle/vehicle combination registration number issued by a competent national authority with access to the Register of Vehicles of the State concerned.
5) The request for refund of the vignette payment can be submitted:
a) via the Web Portal, or
b) via a User Support Location, or
c) by a letter posted to the address of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office or
d) in person at the post room located at the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator’s registered office.
6) In case of a failure to submit all the necessary documents according to points 1), 2), 3) and 4) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, the refund of the vignette payment will not be possible.
7) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall effect the refund of the vignette(s) payment by a cashless transfer to the bank account specified in the request for refund of the vignette(s) payment.

Article X.
Data Adjustment in Vignette Payment Records
1) Sole responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided under Article V(2) and (3) of the Terms and Conditions lies with the User. In the case that the provided data is inaccurate and/or incomplete, the User is obliged to notify the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator of corrections and/or amendments without submitting a written request for corrections and/or amendments of such data immediately after discovering the fact:
a) when making the Vignette payment via the Web Portal or the Mobile Application no later than the end of the calendar day following the Vignette payment or the day of beginning of the Vignette Validity,
b) through the Point of Sale operator where the Vignette has been paid within 15 minutes after Vignette payment.
2) After expiry of the time limit pursuant to par. 1) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator (except for the 1-day Vignette) shall correct, and/or change such data on the basis of a relevant written request only if the Vehicle Operator proves that the vehicle registration number, incorrectly provided to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator for the purpose of Vignette payment, has not been assigned to any vehicle in the period between the Vignette payment and submission of a request for correction, and/or amendment of the data. In order to make such a correction to the payment of the vignette, the user is obliged to submit the following documents together with the request for data correction:
a) the Payment Confirmation,
b) Vehicle registration certificate,
c) Confirmation of non-existence of the vehicle registration number, issued by a competent national authority with access to the Register of Vehicles of the State concerned.
3) The request for data correction in the Vignette Payment Records can be submitted:
a) via the web portal or
b) by a letter posted to the address of the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office or
c) in person at the post room located at the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator's registered office, or
d) User Support Location
during the vignette validity period. In case of failure to submit all necessary documents according to par. 2) of this article of the Terms and Conditions, the correction of the vignette data will not be possible.
4) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, based on the correction made in the Vignette payment records, which for the purposes of this Article also means the data adjustment, shall issue the User with a Vignette adjustment confirmation.
5) The adjustment of the Vignette data shall be valid and effective from the date specified in the confirmation of the Vignette correction.
6) The data may not be adjusted on an expired vignette.
7) Only up to 50% of the characters in the vehicle registration number may be adjusted.

Article XI.
User Support Services
1) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator provides support services to Users, which include in particular the provision of services to Vehicle Operators or vehicle drivers, generally through the Points of Sale, the User Support Locations, Call Centre, Mobile Applications and the Web Portal.
2) The staffed Points of Sale, a list of which is published on the Web Portal, provide in particular the following services:
a) payment of the Vignettes via cash or cashless payments and issuance of Payment Confirmations,
b) correction and/or completion of incorrect and/or incomplete information provided to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator when paying the Vignette – exclusively within the Point of Sale where the Vignette payment was made, within 15 minutes of the Vignette payment,
c) providing information on the obligation to pay the Vignette, on the amount of the Vignette payment and the procedure when submitting a complaint.
d) cancellation of the Vignette within 15 minutes of Vignette payment, if data adjustment in accordance with Article X of the Terms and Conditions is impossible.
3) The User Support Locations, a list of which is published on the Web Portal, provide in particular the following services:
a) receipt of requests for data adjustment in the Vignette Payment Records in case of a change in the registration number of the vehicle/trailer or the country of registration of the vehicle/trailer (i.e. neither the vehicle/trailer itself nor the type and validity of the Vignette are changed),
b) receipt of requests and documents for registration of the vehicle/vehicle combination on the list of vehicles exempt from the Vignette payment and the subsequent processing of the requests to adjust or cancel such registrations by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator,
c) receipt of requests for adjustment and/or amendment of incorrectly or incompletely entered data during the Vignette payment (after the expiry of the period specified in Article X(1) of the Terms and Conditions),
d) receipt of requests for Vignette cancellation/refunds pursuant to Article IX of these Terms and Conditions.
4) The Call Centre provides in particular the following services to Users:
a) verification of the validity period of the paid Vignette based on the vehicle/trailer registration number by sending a confirmation email with the unique transaction identification number, vehicle/trailer registration number and the validity period of the paid Vignette,
b) providing information on the obligation to pay the Vignette and the amount of the Vignette payment,
c) receiving complaints, claims, requests and suggestions from Users,
d) receipt of requests for cancellation of Vignette payment pursuant to Article VII(1)(c) of the Terms and Conditions,
e) receipt of requests for the Payment Confirmation duplicate,
f) receipt of requests for forms published on the Web Portal in the “Documents for Download” section, by post to the User’s address specified in the request.
5) Mobile Applications provide in particular the following services in a secured manner:
a) cashless payment of the Vignette by a Payment Card,
b) issuing the Payment Confirmation in an electronic form suitable for printing,
c) sending a confirmation email with the unique transaction identification number, vehicle/trailer registration number and the validity period of the paid Vignette,
d) verification of the validity period of the paid Vignette with sending a confirmation email with the unique transaction identification number, vehicle/trailer registration number and the validity period of the paid Vignette,
e) providing general information on the obligation to pay the Vignette and the amount of the Vignette payment,
f) correction and/or completion of incorrect and/or incomplete information provided to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator without a written request for correction and/or completion of such data when paying for the Vignette, by the end of the calendar day within which the Vignette was paid or by the beginning of the Vignette validity period,
g) receiving of complaints, claims, requests and suggestions from Users.
6) The Web Portal provides the mainly the following support services to Users in a secured manner:
a) cashless payment of the Vignette by a Payment Card and/or via Internet Banking,
b) bulk payment of Vignettes by a Payment Card and/or via Internet Banking,
c) issuing the Payment Confirmation in an electronic form suitable for printing,
d) sending a confirmation email with the unique transaction identification number, vehicle/trailer registration number and the validity period of the paid Vignette,
e) verification of the validity period of the paid Vignette,
f) providing general information on the obligation to pay the Vignette and the amount of the Vignette payment,
g) receiving complaints, claims, requests and suggestions from Users,
h) correction and/or completion of incorrect and/or incomplete information provided to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator without a written request for correction and/or completion of such data when paying for the Vignette, by the end of the calendar day within which the Vignette was paid or by the beginning of the Vignette validity period,
i) receipt of requests for data adjustment in the Vignette Payment Records,
j) receipt of requests and documents relating to the registration of vehicles exempt from the Vignette payment to the Register of vehicles exempt from the Vignette payment and the subsequent processing of requests by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator,
k) receipt of requests and documents for correction of data incorrectly provided to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator for the Vignette payment,
l) receipt of requests for Vignette refund,
m) receipt of requests for the Payment Confirmation duplicate.

Article XII.
Complaint Procedure
1) The complaint procedure regulates the legal relations between the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator and the User in the handling of complaints concerning the correctness and quality of the services indicated in Article XI of the Terms and Conditions, which are provided to the Users by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator.
2) The complaint procedure is governed by the applicable legislation of the Slovak Republic.
3) For the purposes of this complaint procedure, a complaint is a right asserted by the User, in particular by the Vehicle Operator and/or the vehicle driver and/or the Parking Pass Holder, on the grounds of liability for poor and/or defective provision of services to the Users by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, as a result of which the Vehicle Operator and/or the vehicle driver seeks rectification for defective performance (hereinafter referred to as the “Complaint”).
4) In accordance with this complaint procedure, the User may initiate a complaint proceedings in the following manner:
a) on the basis of a Complaint submitted on the Web Portal,
b) on the basis of a Complaint made by telephone, through the Call Centre and
c) on the basis of a Complaint submitted via the Mobile Application.
5) A written Complaint can be submitted in Slovak and/or English.
6) With the exception of the above par. 4)(b) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, a Complaint can be made by filling in and submitting the form on the Web Portal or via the Mobile Application for mobile devices.
7) The complaint proceedings shall be deemed as initiated by the proper filing of a Complaint by an eligible person in accordance with par. 3) and 4) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions. In case of a Complaint made via the Call Centre, the Complaint is deemed as filed at the moment of the end of the telephone call.
8) The User has the right to file a complaint within 30 days from the date on which he or she became first aware of the fact that is the subject of the Complaint.
9) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator reserves the right not to accept a Complaint if:
a) it has not been filed at the place and in the manner required by this complaint procedure and/or has not been filed within the time limit,
b) it is incomplete and/or vague/anonymous and the User does not complete the Complaint with the missing data and documents specified in the written request for completion even within 14 days after the receipt of the request for completion by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator, or
c) it relates to facts not covered by this complaint procedure and/or relating to the control of Vignette payment under the Act.
10) In case of non-acceptance of a Complaint under par. 9) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, the complaint proceedings shall not be initiated.
11) The complaint proceedings shall commence on the date of the proper filing of the Complaint in accordance with the provisions of this complaint procedure, which is part of the Terms and Conditions unless otherwise stated in Clause (9) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions. The commencement of the complaint proceedings under these Terms and Conditions, with the exception of the cases specified in Clause (9) of this Article of the Terms and Conditions, shall mean:
a) on the Web Portal: delivery of a fully completed complaint form to the Vignette Payment Collection 
b) in case of a proper telephone call: the date and time of the beginning of the call. In case of a Complaint by telephone, it is not a requirement that the Complaint is handled in writing,
c) on the Mobile Application: delivery of a fully completed complaint form to the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator.
12) After determining the method of handling the Complaint, the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator will handle the complaint immediately, and in justified cases will also handle the complaint later – however, the handling of the Complaint shall not take longer than 30 days from the date of the commencement of the complaint proceedings, unless otherwise provided by Clause (9) and/or (13) of this Article of Terms and Conditions.
13) In case that the Complaint was incomplete and/or ambiguous and/or anonymous, the time limit for processing the Complaint shall begin on the date of the complete completion of the missing information.
14) The complaint proceedings end on the date of the complaint settlement, which is also the end of the complaint proceedings.
15) The User shall be notified of the outcome of the complaint settlement by sending a written statement by post to the User’s address specified in the Complaint or by sending a written statement to the User’s email address specified in the Complaint. If the Complaint is made by telephone, it is not a requirement that the Complaint be handled in writing. When reporting a Complaint by telephone, the telephone notification of the handling or sending a written opinion on the complaint settlement to the User’s email address indicated in the Complaint shall be deemed as its settlement.

Article XIII.
Personal Data Processing
Any information relating to the processing of personal data is available on the Web Portal in the section “Information obligation of Národná diaľničná spoločnosť, a.s. (National Motorway Company) concerning the electronic vignette” and on the website www.ndsas.sk in section „Personal data protection“.

Article XIV.
Final Provisions
1) The Vignette Payment Collection Administrator shall be entitled to unilaterally amend, supplement and/or replace these Terms and Conditions with new Terms and Conditions, in particular (but not limited to) in case of amendments to the legislation in the field of vignette payment collection on the basis of which these Terms and Conditions were issued. The current version of the Terms and Conditions is published on the web portal. The legal relationship between the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator and the User is governed by the Terms and Conditions valid and effective at the time of the establishment of this legal relationship.
2) Amendments, additions or replacements of the Terms and Conditions shall enter into force upon their publication by the Vignette Payment Collection Administrator on the Web Portal, unless a later effective date is indicated in the Terms and Conditions.
3) Legal relations not regulated by these Terms and Conditions shall be governed primarily by the legislation in the field of Vignette payment, as well as the relevant provisions of Act No. 513/1991 Coll., the Commercial Code, as amended, the relevant provisions of Act No. 40/1964 Coll., the Civil Code, as amended, as well as other related legal regulations.
4) These Terms and Conditions are drawn up in the Slovak language. In case of other language versions of these Terms and Conditions and occurrence of any discrepancy/conflict/interpretation problem or any other ambiguity, the Slovak language version shall prevail.
5) These Terms and Conditions shall come into force and effect on 1 March 2026.

Národná diaľničná spoločnosť, a.s.