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General Information
In general, Austrian traffic regulations and traffic signals are similar to those in force in other European countries.
Attention! All expressways and highways in Austria are subject to toll.
Regulations for motor vehicles:
Customs documents for the vehicle are not needed for crossing the border. A foreign driving licence entitles you to drive a motor vehicle in Austria for a year as long as main residence is outside Austria. Valid driving licences issued by the EWR-member states (= EU-member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) are recognized in Austria.
Travellers from other countries with which an agreement does not exist need an international driving licence. Please contact the competent national authority or your local automobile club in order to determine whether the licence is recognized.
Foreign motor vehicles must display (on the rear) a distinguishing sign to indicate the car's country of origin.
Excluding the fuel in the tank of the car, an additional 10 litres of fuel may be brought into the country in a reserve canister free of duty charge.
Travellers with residence outside the European Union may use their vehicle free of duty charge and without any formalities for the duration of six months in the EU region for non-commercial purposes. The automobile must, at the end of its usage, be taken back out again in an unaltered condition.
Car rental in Austria
Speed limits:
Maximum speed limits (if not otherwise indicated on road signs):
Automobiles and Motorcycles:
• in town: between the local road signs: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 100 km/h.
• on highways: 130 km/h.
Mobiles up to 3.500 kg:
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 100 km/h
• on highways: 130 km/h
Passenger cars with light trailers (up to 750 kg); towing vehicles of a maximum total weight of up to 3.5 tons:
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads and highways: 100 km/h
Passenger cars with trailers of over 750 kg (towing vehicles and trailers together up to a maximum total weight of 3.5 tons):
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 80 km/h
• on highways: 100 km/h
Buses:
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 80 km/h
• on highways: 100 km/h (however between 22:00 pm and 5:00 am only 90 km/h).
Compulsory Reflective Vests
Reflective vests are a legal requirement in Austria and have to be carried in all vehicles at all times. The vests must be worn day or night when exiting the vehicle on the hard shoulder or in the event of breakdown.
This is a double obligation which, in the event of infringement, can be fined twice. For further information please visit the automobile club associations ARBÖ and ÖAMTC
Mandatory Winter Equipment for Cars
In wintry conditions the use of four winter tyres or snow chains on at least two tyres is now compulsory in Austria between 1 November and 15 April.
Children on board:
Children under the age of 14, who are below a height of 150 cm, must be seated in appropriate child-safety seats. In passenger cars and station wagons (also in so-called ”mini-vans”) only one child per seat is permitted, who must be secured according to age and height.
Infos on child-safety seats (page available in German): www.autokindersitz.at
Drinking and Driving:
Permissable alcohol limit 0.5 promille! Exceeding this limit is punishable with a fine or even with the confiscation of the driving license.
Seatbelts:
In Austria, wearing seatbelts is compulsory.
Telephoning in the car:
While driving one may now only telephone using the hands-free speaking system. The hands-free system must be mounted in such a way that all elements can be operated with one hand and the driver is not affected in any way. Disregarding the "ban on Handys” is punishable with a fine.
Regulations for Motorcyclists:
When driving two-wheeled vehicles the wearing of helmets is compulsory in Austria. Toll stickers are compulsory.
While driving, the dimmed headlight must be turned on even during the day.
Petrol:
In Austria, unleaded regular-grade 91 octane petrol as well as Euro-Super (unleaded 95-octane) and Super Plus (unleaded 98-octane) petrol are available at all gas stations.
The sale of leaded petrol is forbidden in Austria; for cars without a catalytic converter an additive is available at gas stations.
Traffic Accident, Breakdown:
Traffic accidents involving injury to persons must immediately be reported to the police; accidents involving material damage must only be reported when mutual identity has not been established. The ÖAMTC and ARBÖ automobile clubs operate a 24-hour emergency breakdown service, which may be utilized by anyone (non-members must pay a fee).
Emergency numbers (without area code):
Euro-emergency number 112
Fire brigade: 122
Police: 133
Ambulance: 144
Doctor-on-call 141
Mountain rescue 140
ÖAMTC emergency breakdown service: 120
ARBÖ emergency breakdown service: 123
Traffic News:
Traffic news on all of Austria as well as the main connecting roads to neighbouring states are broadcast every half hour on the radio station Ö3. For reports on precarious situations, e.g. ghost drivers – the radio program is interrupted and a through-connection is made to all Austrian radio broadcasters.
Traffic news may be reported round the clock at the telephone number 0800 600 601 (free of charge for all Austria). Current traffic news can also be called up at the fee-based Traffic and Radar Hotline 0900 600 600.
Traffic news per handy is also available recently. Simply send an sms with a province or street abbreviation to 0900 600 600 and a reply will be sent promptly. More infos available online at oe3.ORF.at.
Automobile clubs in Austria:
ÖAMTC:
Schubertring 1-3, A- 1010 Vienna
www.oeamtc.at
ARBÖ:
Mariahilfer Straße 180, A- 1150 Vienna
www.arboe.or.at
Attention! All expressways and highways in Austria are subject to toll.
Regulations for motor vehicles:
Customs documents for the vehicle are not needed for crossing the border. A foreign driving licence entitles you to drive a motor vehicle in Austria for a year as long as main residence is outside Austria. Valid driving licences issued by the EWR-member states (= EU-member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) are recognized in Austria.
Travellers from other countries with which an agreement does not exist need an international driving licence. Please contact the competent national authority or your local automobile club in order to determine whether the licence is recognized.
Foreign motor vehicles must display (on the rear) a distinguishing sign to indicate the car's country of origin.
Excluding the fuel in the tank of the car, an additional 10 litres of fuel may be brought into the country in a reserve canister free of duty charge.
Travellers with residence outside the European Union may use their vehicle free of duty charge and without any formalities for the duration of six months in the EU region for non-commercial purposes. The automobile must, at the end of its usage, be taken back out again in an unaltered condition.
Car rental in Austria
Speed limits:
Maximum speed limits (if not otherwise indicated on road signs):
Automobiles and Motorcycles:
• in town: between the local road signs: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 100 km/h.
• on highways: 130 km/h.
Mobiles up to 3.500 kg:
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 100 km/h
• on highways: 130 km/h
Passenger cars with light trailers (up to 750 kg); towing vehicles of a maximum total weight of up to 3.5 tons:
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads and highways: 100 km/h
Passenger cars with trailers of over 750 kg (towing vehicles and trailers together up to a maximum total weight of 3.5 tons):
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 80 km/h
• on highways: 100 km/h
Buses:
• in town: 50 km/h
• on country roads: 80 km/h
• on highways: 100 km/h (however between 22:00 pm and 5:00 am only 90 km/h).
Compulsory Reflective Vests
Reflective vests are a legal requirement in Austria and have to be carried in all vehicles at all times. The vests must be worn day or night when exiting the vehicle on the hard shoulder or in the event of breakdown.
This is a double obligation which, in the event of infringement, can be fined twice. For further information please visit the automobile club associations ARBÖ and ÖAMTC
Mandatory Winter Equipment for Cars
In wintry conditions the use of four winter tyres or snow chains on at least two tyres is now compulsory in Austria between 1 November and 15 April.
Children on board:
Children under the age of 14, who are below a height of 150 cm, must be seated in appropriate child-safety seats. In passenger cars and station wagons (also in so-called ”mini-vans”) only one child per seat is permitted, who must be secured according to age and height.
Infos on child-safety seats (page available in German): www.autokindersitz.at
Drinking and Driving:
Permissable alcohol limit 0.5 promille! Exceeding this limit is punishable with a fine or even with the confiscation of the driving license.
Seatbelts:
In Austria, wearing seatbelts is compulsory.
Telephoning in the car:
While driving one may now only telephone using the hands-free speaking system. The hands-free system must be mounted in such a way that all elements can be operated with one hand and the driver is not affected in any way. Disregarding the "ban on Handys” is punishable with a fine.
Regulations for Motorcyclists:
When driving two-wheeled vehicles the wearing of helmets is compulsory in Austria. Toll stickers are compulsory.
While driving, the dimmed headlight must be turned on even during the day.
Petrol:
In Austria, unleaded regular-grade 91 octane petrol as well as Euro-Super (unleaded 95-octane) and Super Plus (unleaded 98-octane) petrol are available at all gas stations.
The sale of leaded petrol is forbidden in Austria; for cars without a catalytic converter an additive is available at gas stations.
Traffic Accident, Breakdown:
Traffic accidents involving injury to persons must immediately be reported to the police; accidents involving material damage must only be reported when mutual identity has not been established. The ÖAMTC and ARBÖ automobile clubs operate a 24-hour emergency breakdown service, which may be utilized by anyone (non-members must pay a fee).
Emergency numbers (without area code):
Euro-emergency number 112
Fire brigade: 122
Police: 133
Ambulance: 144
Doctor-on-call 141
Mountain rescue 140
ÖAMTC emergency breakdown service: 120
ARBÖ emergency breakdown service: 123
Traffic News:
Traffic news on all of Austria as well as the main connecting roads to neighbouring states are broadcast every half hour on the radio station Ö3. For reports on precarious situations, e.g. ghost drivers – the radio program is interrupted and a through-connection is made to all Austrian radio broadcasters.
Traffic news may be reported round the clock at the telephone number 0800 600 601 (free of charge for all Austria). Current traffic news can also be called up at the fee-based Traffic and Radar Hotline 0900 600 600.
Traffic news per handy is also available recently. Simply send an sms with a province or street abbreviation to 0900 600 600 and a reply will be sent promptly. More infos available online at oe3.ORF.at.
Automobile clubs in Austria:
ÖAMTC:
Schubertring 1-3, A- 1010 Vienna
www.oeamtc.at
ARBÖ:
Mariahilfer Straße 180, A- 1150 Vienna
www.arboe.or.at
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