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Self-Drive
Motoring holidays in Austria.
Tips on driving abroad
in Austria. Motoring rules and regulations in Austria. Austrian motoring laws.
Autobahn and
Tunnel Tolls in Austria
Distance
Chart from Channel Ports
International Driving Permit
Interactive Route
Planner
Relative Carbon
Emissions
Buy Road Maps of Austria
Make sure you Drive Alive! Drive on
the right!
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Be especially careful when setting
off from service stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.
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Take care when overtaking - allow
more space between you and the car in front so you can see further down the
road ahead.
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Austria
has strict drink driving laws, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per
millilitre of blood - stricter than the UK where the limit is 0.8.
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Seat belts front and rear are
obligatory everywhere.
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Speed limits, shown below, are
implemented rigorously. Radar traps are frequent in Austria, and heavy
on-the-spot fines can be levied.
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Remember - Speeding and other
traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines.
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When approaching a roundabout give way to traffic already on the roundabout,
on your left, unless signed otherwise.
A full UK driving licence is required. As in the UK, seat belts should be
worn front and rear. Below are motoring regulations relating to Austria.
|
Speed Limits |
Motorway |
Open Road |
Town |
Alcohol mg/ml |
|
Austria |
130 km/h |
100 km/h |
50 km/h |
0.5 |
If you intend to use Austrian
motorways and expressways you vehicle must display a
motorway tax sticker (vignette). These stickers, valid for a year, two months or
10 days, can be purchased at many petrol stations close to the border in
neighbouring countries, at the frontier in Austria, or in AMTC offices. Cost
2007 for a car 10 days euro 7.60 or 2 months euro 21.80.
Visibility vests must be worn
if walking on a motorway, or anywhere if broken down under a red warning
triangle, or on the highway in bad visibility.
Children
in cars: child under 12 and 1.5 metres in height cannot travel as front or
rear passenger unless they use a suitable restraint system.
Documentation: always
carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate
of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you
carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in
your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to
drive.
Drinking
and driving: Don't do it. You will be fined if the level of alcohol in the
bloodstream is between 0.05 per cent and 0.08 per cent. Over this level and you
will incur a fine and/or suspension of driving licence.
Fines: On the spot fines are issued. Ensure an official receipt is issued
by the officer collecting the fine.
First-aid kit must be carried.
Fuel: All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well
as lead substitute additive. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and
debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won't work at automatic
pumps. At many garages in rural areas only automatic pumps are available at
lunch time, during the evening and weekend, so make sure you're topped up. It's
a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This
ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar
places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.
GB
sticker: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12
stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB
sticker when driving in European Union countries.
Headlamp converters are
compulsory.
Lights:
Since 2006 dipped headlights must be used during the day at all times by all
road users.
Minimum
age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car, 18
for a motorcycle over 50cc, and 16 for a motorcycle under 50cc.
Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.
Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not
required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.
Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.
Snow
chains are recommended to be carried everywhere in Austria during winter,
and if you do not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police can
prevent you continuing your journey. Click for general
information on
winter tyres and snow chains.
Visibility Vests are now compulsory in
Austria. They are also compulsory in Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal
and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU). The
rules vary from country to country concerning number of vests required and
whether they should be carried in the car or boot. Common sense suggests that
there should be a vest for every occupant, and that the vests should be carried
in the car, and put on before getting out. Do this and you will not have a
problem.
Warning
triangle is compulsory.
Winter
tyres are recommended but not compulsory (as of January 2008). Snow chains
are recommended to be carried everywhere in Austria during winter, and if you do
not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police can prevent you
continuing your journey. Click for general
information on
winter tyres and snow chains.
BACK TO TOP
All information on this page is provided as a
service to our clients. It is intended as a guide to the more important rules
for the different countries to which we offer driving holidays. It is not meant
to be a comprehensive document. We try and keep the information on this page
up-to-date, but we cannot be held responsible in any way for any consequences
arising from any inaccuracies. If you find a mistake or would like to send us
some additional information, please email
us. Your co-operation is appreciated.
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