Transport > Europe > Car travel > Driving in Austria

Driving in Austria

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age to sit in the front seat (unless a special seat or seat belt is fitted or unless they're over 1.5 metres tall). The use of seat belts is compulsory for front- and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg. Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (30 mph) in built-up areas, 100 kph (62 mph) outside built-up areas, 130 kph (81 mph) on expressways, and 100 kph (62 mph) for cars with a caravan or trailer under 750 kg traveling on expressways. If the trailer or caravan is larger, contact a national motoring club for more information. In the Vorarlberg and the Tyrol, maximum speed limit is 80 kph (50 mph). Expressway speed limits are only 100 kph (62 mph) on the following: A8 (Innkreis), A9 (Pyhrn), A10 (Tauern), A12 (Inntal), A13 (Brenner), A14 (Rheintal).

In exception to the priority-on-your-right rule, trams coming from your left have priority. Ascending vehicles have priority on mountain roads.

Headlights must be on at all times in built-up areas. Parking lights are not necessary if your vehicle is visible from at least 50 metres away. Motorcycles must be operated with headlights on - night and day. Horns cannot be used in Vienna and are prohibited elsewhere as indicated by signs.

Passing on the right is allowed only on one-way streets or when passing trams or when passing a vehicle that is indicating a left turn. You are not allowed to cross a solid yellow centre line. Give warning of your approach by flashing your lights.

Police are empowered to collect fines of up to €36 on the spot. The officer must issue an official receipt. You'll have two weeks to pay. You can request to bring the case before a court instead, but you may be asked to make a security deposit.

Parking

Except for when quickly loading and unloading, don't park in the following areas: where you see a sign saying Halten Verboten, where you see crosses on the road in front of houses, within 15 metres of pedestrian crossings or public transportation stops, in front of fuel stations or any entrances, on narrow roads, on the left of one-way streets, or on priority roads outside built-up areas during conditions which significantly reduce visibility. In Vienna it's illegal to park between 8pm and 5am from 15 December to 31 March on roads with tram rails; this rule allows for snow removal. Blue Zones or Blaue Zones exist in many cities and are marked on their boundary by the No Parking sign bearing the word Kurzparkzone (short-term parking) or zone; blue road markings may mark the zone. Fees are associated with Blaue Zones in Baden, Bludenz, Bregenz, Feldkirch, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Krems, Linz, St. Pölten, St. Veit/Glan, Salzburg, Schwaz, Vienna, Villach, Völkermarkt, Wiener Neustadt and Wolfsberg. Tickets for the Blaue Zones in the above cities can be purchased at machines in the parking area or at banks or tobacconists. Unless otherwise indicated by a sign, parking in Blaue Zones is allowed for 3 hours. In the Blaue Zones of other towns, free parking is allowed for 90 minutes. Parking tickets are not required in these other towns, but you must obtain a parking disc free of charge from tobacconists. Even motorcycles need to display such a disc.

Don't leave an unhitched trailer in a public parking place. In Salzburg, the Tyrol, and Upper Austria, it's illegal to park caravans outside special parking lots or within 500 metres of a lake. And don't park a caravan within 200 metres of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road or on the expressway in Salzburg. Violaters are subject to heavy fines and the towing of the vehicle.

Licence

Non Europeans must carry an International Driving Permit.

Equipment

You must carry a warning triangle in your vehicle; though this does not apply to motorcyclists. All drivers must carry a first aid kit in or on their vehicle. Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Fuel

Most fuel stations are open 8am to 8pm; stations in large cities may operate 24 hours. Generally, major credit cards are not accepted. Regular unleaded has an octane rating of 98. Unleaded petrol is known as blyfrei normal or blyfrei super. Regular unleaded petrol has an octane rating of 91; the octane rating of super is 98. As for leaded petrol, super is no longer sold; super plus (98 octane), containing a lead additive, should be used instead. Diesel goes by its English name. LPG is called autogas.

Tolls

The word for toll is Mautstelle. To use expressways other than the A13 Brenner, A9 Pyhrn, A10 Tauren, and S16 Arlberg Tunnel you must purchase and display on your vehicle a tax disc. To use those expressways listed you simply pay their tolls though the disc entitles you to a 15 percent discount. Choose from 10-day, 2-month, and annual discs. The penalty for not displaying a disc is €120 for cars and €65 for motorcycles. They are sold at border crossings, fuel stations and post offices and cost as follows:

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