Damon Mcknight
Driving in Austria is well-regulated, with good-quality roads and signage. However, one of the most notable differences for visitors from the UK or US is that Austrians drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. This can take some adjustment if you are used to driving on the left. In addition to this, there are several other important rules and regulations to be aware of before getting behind the wheel in Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Driving side | Right |
| Overtaking side | Left |
| Driving licence | Local or foreign |
| Foreign driving licence validity | Up to 3 or 6 months |
| Translation of foreign driving licence | Required if not in German |
| Motorway tax disc (toll sticker) | Required |
| Headlight converters | Compulsory for right-hand drive cars |
| Speed limit in built-up areas | 30km/h-50km/h |
| Speed limit on main roads outside built-up areas | 100km/h |
| Speed limit on motorways | 130km/h |
| Alcohol limit | 0.5mg of alcohol per ml of blood |
| Seatbelts | Compulsory for everyone in the car |
| Child seatbelt rules | Children under 14 years of age and below 1.5m in height must be seated in the rear with a seatbelt or safety seat |
| Parking | Only allowed on the right side of the street |
| Parking restrictions | No parking in front of red or yellow lines, within 3m distance from a fire hydrant, or on white lines at bus stops |
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What You'll Learn
Driving on the right, overtaking on the left
Driving on the right and overtaking on the left in Austria can take some adjustment if you're used to driving on the left. In general, driving in Austria is easy once you get used to being on the right side of the road, with all main roads in good condition and well signposted. However, exercise caution on steep mountain roads, and be aware that if you go off the beaten track, the quality of the roads and signage may vary.
Road signs in Austria are usually placed on the right, either next to or above the road, and in some cases, on both sides of the road. Signs for warnings or prohibitions have white backgrounds and red writing, which is similar to the rest of Europe. Speed limit and lane and direction signs will be easy to see and understand.
If you are driving on the right at night, you should use deflector stickers or adjust the beam manually so that you don't dazzle oncoming traffic. Motorists of foreign-registered cars should be aware that the police can impose on-the-spot fines of up to €90.
If you are driving a right-hand-drive car, headlight converters are compulsory, and you must be at least 18 years old to drive in Austria.
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Driving licences and requirements
Driving licences in Austria are issued by different authorities depending on where you are in the country. In Vienna, for example, you can get your licence from the Motor Vehicle Department (Verkehrsamt). In most other cities, you'll need to go to the Federal Police Headquarters (Landespolizeidirektion). If your city doesn't have a Federal Police Headquarters, you'll need to go to the district administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft).
To get an Austrian driving licence, you'll need to complete driving theory training at a driving school and pass a computer-based theory test. You'll also need to pass a practical driving test. If you need an interpreter for the test, you can request one. If you already have a foreign driving licence, you may be able to drive with this for up to six months, depending on your circumstances. However, it's recommended that you switch to an Austrian licence as soon as possible. To get an Austrian licence, you'll need to take the following documents to the appropriate licensing office:
- Your foreign driving licence
- An international driving permit (for non-EU licences)
- An official translation of your licence (if it's not in German)
- A medical report
- Residence registration form (Bestätigung der Meldung)
The minimum age to obtain a driving licence in Austria is 16 years for a motorcycle, 17 or 18 years for a car, and 21 years for buses and cargo vehicles.
If you're planning to drive in Austria with a foreign-registered car, be aware that police can impose on-the-spot fines of up to €90 for minor offences, such as not having a UK sticker on the rear of your car. More serious offences, such as speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol, can result in much higher fines.
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Road signs and markings
In Austria, road signs are usually placed on the right-hand side of the road, or above it, although sometimes they are placed on both sides. The country's road rules are similar to those in the rest of the European Union, but there are some differences. For example, some road signs are unique to Austria. These include:
- A white, inverted letter 'T' in a blue square, which means 'dead end'.
- 'EINBAHN', written in a white arrow on a blue rectangle, which indicates one-way traffic, with the arrow showing the direction.
- The 'Rettungsgasse' sign, which means that an open median has been created between the lanes of a two-way road to allow emergency vehicles to pass through.
In addition to these unique signs, there are also some other important road markings and signs to be aware of when driving in Austria. For example, there are many speed cameras, particularly at the ends of tunnels. Speed limits may also be lower late at night near towns, so watch out for those signs. You may also encounter red traffic lights before entering tunnels, which limit the number of cars in the tunnel at any one time.
There are also some private mountain roads that carry a toll, which will be indicated by a yellow 'Maut' sign at the start. Toll roads, including expressways and autobahns, will have the 'Vignettenpflicht' sign visible at the entrance. To drive on these roads, you must have a vignette, which can be in either digital or non-digital format. If you have a vignette sticker, it must be placed on the windshield, whereas the digital version should be attached to your licence plate.
In terms of parking, there are special parking zones in Austria, marked with a specific sign. Parking in these zones is free for up to 15 minutes, but any longer requires a parking ticket, which can be purchased at various locations, including gas stations and post offices.
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Speed limits and emergency lanes
In Austria, the national speed limit on motorways is 130 km/h (80 mph). On main roads outside built-up areas, the speed limit is 100 km/h, and in built-up areas, it's between 30 km/h and 50 km/h. If visibility is less than 150 feet due to bad weather, the speed limit is reduced to 50 km/h.
Motorists driving on Austrian roads need to be aware of the speed limit enforcement. Even though you may not see any police monitoring speeds, there are cameras, and you will receive a ticket by mail. If you are stopped for speeding, you will usually have to pay the fine on the spot. Fines for speeding range from €20 for a minor offence to €5,900 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
When driving in Austria, it is important to know how to form a Rettungsgasse, which translates to "rescue lane" or "emergency lane". It is a temporary lane or corridor on the road that must be created by vehicles on motorways or dual carriageways when there is a traffic jam or one seems imminent. This allows emergency services to access the scene of an accident quickly and safely.
Here's how to form a Rettungsgasse:
- On a dual carriageway, vehicles in the left lane should drive as far to the left as possible, and vehicles in the right lane should move as far to the right as needed to open up an emergency route down the middle of the carriageway.
- On a motorway with two lanes, vehicles in the far left lane should keep as far to the left as possible, while vehicles in the right lane should move to the right to open up an emergency passage between the outermost left lane and the next lane.
- On a motorway with three or more lanes, all vehicles on the outermost left lane should drive as far to the left as possible, and vehicles on the other lanes should drive as far to the right as possible, including using the hard shoulder.
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Parking regulations and restrictions
In Austria, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. Driving in Austria is generally very easy, with all main roads in good condition and well-signed. However, caution should be exercised on steep mountain roads, where the quality of the roads and signage may vary.
Parking charges apply in most major Austrian towns and cities, and most have "m-parking" capabilities, allowing visitors to use their mobile phones to make payments. On-street parking in central Vienna is severely limited, but there are plenty of underground car parks in Vienna District 1.
In general, parking is only permitted on the right side of the street and is not permitted in front of yellow or red road lines, within 3 metres of a fire hydrant, or on a white line at a bus stop. Fines for violating parking regulations can be very high.
In some areas, parking is subject to a fee on Monday to Saturday between 8:00 and 12:00 and on Monday to Friday from 14:00 to 18:00. On these days, parking is only permitted for up to 3 hours. Outside of these stated periods and on public holidays, the restrictions do not apply, and parking is free of charge without time limits.
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Frequently asked questions
In Austria, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left.
You need to have a valid driver's license to drive in Austria. If you have a foreign license, you can use it for up to three or six months, depending on your circumstances. However, it is recommended to switch to an Austrian license as soon as possible.
The national speed limit on Austrian motorways is 130km/h (80 mph). The speed limit is 100km/h on main roads outside built-up areas and 30km/h-50km/h in built-up areas.
