Driving in Austria

Excellent motorways and federal roads connect Austria with all of its neighboring countries. All major border checkpoints (both on highways and federal roads) are open around the clock.

The length of the road network in Austria is 200,000 km, of which 2,249 km are paid.

Contents

Toll roads

The use of motorways and special sections of roads in Austria is permitted only after payment of the toll. All vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tons - cars, motorcycles and camper vans - must have a vignette.

For trailers, camper vans (motorhomes), strollers for motorcycles, an additional vignette is not required.

Depending on the type of vignette, drivers can use a network of toll roads for a certain period of time.

When crossing the border, shields are installed that inform drivers of the need to purchase a vignette. Inland, when approaching toll roads, there are signs.

Map of toll roads in Austria

On motorways and expressways marked in orange on the map, all vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tons are required to have a vignette.

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Vignette cost

Vignette price (EUR) for different categories of vehicles at 2024:

Cars with a permitted mass of more than 3.5 tons pay for toll roads electronically.

Vignette can be purchased at some gas stations located close to the border, both in Austria itself and in neighboring countries.

If you are caught without a vignette on Austrian motorways, the fine will be € 120 if paid on site (for motorbikes € 65). In case of any manipulations with the vignette (damage of the vignette, traces of the vignette sticking, etc.), the fine will be € 240 (for motorcycles € 130). If you refuse to pay on the spot, then in court proceedings the fine can reach from € 300 to 3,000.

Vignette Validity

Since 2018, an alternative to traditional vignette has appeared. An electronic vignette is tied to a license plate. Those who want can continue to use the traditional vignette stuck on the windshield.

1-day vignette - valid for one calendar day. Only available as a digital vignette.

Example:
Date of mark: January 10th. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from January 10, 00:00 a.m. and until January 10, 24:00 p.m.

10-day vignette - entitles vehicles to use Austrian toll roads for ten consecutive calendar days, starting from the date marked by the buyer.

Example:
Date of mark: January 10th. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from January 10, 00:00 a.m. and until January 19, 24:00 p.m.

2-month vignette - entitles vehicles to use Austrian toll roads for 2 months. The vignette expires two months later at the end of the day beginning from the date marked by the buyer.

Example:
Date of mark: January 10th. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from January 10, 00:00 a.m. and until March 10, 24:00 p.m.

1-year vignette - entitles vehicles to use Austrian toll roads for 1 calendar year. The vignette begins on December 1 of the last year and ends on January 31 of the next year.

Example:
Vignette for 2024. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from December 1, 2022 until January 31, 2024.

A valid vignette must be correctly attached to the vehicle before using toll roads. Driving on toll roads without a valid vignette is prohibited.

Special toll

In Austria, there are sections of the road with special payment (tunnels). Tariffs at 2024.

Motorway A9 Pyhrn Tunnel:
Motorway A10 Tauern Tunnel:
Motorway A11 Karawanken Tunnel:
Motorway A13 Brenner Tunnel:

Section 1 : Innsbruck – Patsch/Europabrücke – Nösslach
Section 2 : Innsbruck - Stubaital
Section 3 : Matrei - Brennerpaß

Expressway S16 Arlberg Tunnel:
Road 108 Felbertauerntunnel:

^[1] An excursion ticket (Bonuskarte) gives unlimited use of Felbertauernstraße on the day of issue, as well as special conditions for visiting the Hohe Tauern National Park. A ticket is available 24 hours a day at the ticket office on the southern side of Felbertauern.

Bonuskarte — information in German (1.8 Mб).

Tunnel location: Google Maps

High Alpine Roads in Austria

These are alpine roads in Austria. Pass through picturesque places. Often they are a serpentine with many turns and wonderful surrounding views.

Toll rates for car and motorcycles at 2024 for single trip:

Parking in Austria

If you stop or park a car in a chargeable short-term parking zone, you are required to pay a parking fee.

One option of paying this parking fee is by filling in a prepaid parking voucher when parking your motor vehicle in the parking zone.

If you park your car for up to 15 minutes only, you do not have to pay a parking fee, but still have to fill in a free of charge parking voucher (15 minute parking voucher).

Rates for parking in Vienna

If you want to leave the car for a longer period, it is better to use underground garages (on average € 25 per day) or P+R parking lots (€ 3.60 per day).

The penalty for parking in the wrong place or exceeding the parking time for paid short-term parking is € 36.

Map of roads in Austria

Road rules in Austria

Speed limits

Standard speed limits in Austria (unless otherwise indicated on the signs).

Cars (to 3.5 tons) and motorcycles:

• built-up areas - 50 km/h
• outside built-up areas - 100 km/h
• motorway - 130 km/h

Cars (up to 3.5 ton) with trailers (up to 750 kg):

• built-up areas - 50 km/h
• outside built-up areas - 100 km/h
• motorway - 100 km/h

Cars (up to 3.5 ton) with trailers (from 750 kg to 3.5 ton):

• built-up areas - 50 km/h
• outside built-up areas - 80 km/h
• motorway - 100 km/h

It is forbidden to drive vehicles on motorways whose speed does not exceed 60 km/h in technical specifications.

For cars whith studded tires the maximum permitted speed is not more than 100 km/h on motorway and 80 km/h on other roads.

Alcohol

The maximum permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.49 ‰.

If the level of alcohol in the bloodstream exceeds the allowable, a fine will be imposed:

• from 0.5 ‰ to 0.79 ‰ - from € 300 to 3,700
• from 0.8 ‰ to 1.19 ‰ - from € 800 to 3,700 and suspend driving license for 1 month
• from 1.2 ‰ to 1.59 ‰ - from € 1,200 to 4,400 and suspend driving license for 4 months
• above 1.6 ‰ - from € 1,600 to 5,900 and suspend driving license for 6 months

The permissible blood alcohol level for novice drivers (driving experience less than 2 years) is 0.1 ‰.

Dipped headlights

The dipped headlights is not required when driving in the daytime and is required when driving in the night. Also, the dipped headlights must be switched on in conditions of poor visibility caused by bad weather.

Fine - € 30.

Children in cars

Children under 14 years old and shorter than 1.50 m should be transported in special chairs only. Children under the age of 14 years and over 1.50 m should use adult seat belts.

Fine for violation of the rules for transporting children - € 35.

Seat belts

Seat belts is mandatory for both front and rear passengers.

Fine for unfastened belts - € 35.

The fine for traveling without a helmet on a motorcycle - € 35.

Mobile phone

Talking on the mobile phone while driving can only be done if the car is equipped with a hands-free system. The system must be controlled with one hand.

Fine - € 50.

Fines

In Austria there is no general catalog of fines for traffic violations. Different fines may be imposed for the same violation in different federal states.

Police officers in Austria have the right to collect fines on the spot. The fine officer must issue an official receipt. In case of a large fine, the driver will be asked to give a deposit, and he will have to pay the rest of the fine within two weeks.

Parked vehicles that obstruct traffic can be towed to the penalty parking lot.

Traffic fines in Austria (EUR):

The size of fines for speeding varies depending on how the violation was recorded - by a police officer (on the spot) or an automatic device (radar).

Fines for speeding in built-up areas (EUR): Fines for speeding outside built-up areas (EUR): Fines for speeding on motorway (EUR):

When measuring speed, the measurement error of the device, the type of device and the speed at which it is measured are taken into account (subtracted from the measured value):

• up to 100 km/h:
  • 3 km/h - static laser radar
  • 5 km/h - static radiolocating radar
  • 7 km/h - mobile radar
• above 100 km/h:
  • 3% - static laser radar
  • 5% - static radiolocating radar
  • 7% - mobile radar

This means that in a section with a permitted speed of 50 km/h, punishment theoretically can occur at a measured speed of 54 km/h.

In practice, the amount of punishment is left to the discretion of the police patrol and the specific circumstances of the traffic situation. So, for example, in the zone of validity of the sign "school" punishment will follow even for minimal speeding.

Useful information

Fuel prices

Unleaded gasoline (92, 95 and 98) and diesel fuel are available in Austria. Sale of leaded gasoline is prohibited.

Gasoline-92 (Normal) and propane-butane (Autogaz) are found on a limited number of gas stations.

Trends gasoline prices in Austria for last years.

In the country, it is allowed to carry in a car no more than 10 liters of fuel in cans.

Emergency phone numbers

• European emergency number – 112
• Fire – 122
• Police – 133
• Ambulance – 144
• Rescue service – 140
• ÖAMTC roadside assistance – 120
• ARBÖ emergency service – 123

Compulsory to carry in car

• Warning triangle
• First aid kit
• Reflective jacket - must comply with European standards EN471. This rule does not apply to mopeds/motorbikes. Fine from € 14 to 36 on the spot.
• Winter equipment – all drivers have a legal obligation to prepare the vehicle for winter weather conditions.

Winter equipment

Winter tires

Between November 1 and April 15, under appropriate weather conditions (snow, ice on the road), vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons should be equipped with winter tires.

For vehicles with a total mass of over 3.5 tons, winter tires are always obligatory during this time period, regardless of the presence of snow or ice on the roads.

If during this period the vehicle is not equipped with winter tires, then the offender will be fined € 60. If other traffic participants are exposed to danger, the fine may increase to € 5,000.

Spiked tires

Studded tires may only be used for vehicles whose weight does not exceed 3.5 tons from October 1 to May 31. Local authorities may increase this period.

Studded tires must be mounted on all wheels. The speed of vehicles equipped with studded tires should not exceed 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on other roads.

Snow chains

Snow chains may be used in conjunction with summer tires. They must be installed on at least 2 drive wheels. Snow chains are only allowed if the road is completely covered with snow or ice.

Optional equipment and other rules

When the school bus stops for boarding/disembarking children, while blinking with a turn signal, cars passing in the same direction are not allowed to overtake it.

The use of navigation software indicating the location of fixed speed cameras is permitted.

The use of radar detectors is prohibited. Upon detection, confiscated by the police. Fine up to € 4,000.