Länder-Info Austria

Entering Austria with a motor vehicle

Foreign travellers residing in the European Union entering Austria with a motor vehicle require their national driving licence and registration certificate. Travellers of other countries require a German translation or an international driving license.
For further details please contact your local Automobile Club.
The car distinguishing sign of the country of origin must be displayed on the rear of foreign vehicles.

Entry into Austria from a member state of the European Union

Goods imported for non-commercial purposes in the luggage of the visitor may be imported free of duty and taxes in the quantities indicated.

There are no limits for the importation of goods purchased in an EU country provided that these goods are destined for the importer's personal use. However the Excise department has fixed indicative limits on alcohol and tobacco. Beyond these limits the importer must be able to prove that these goods are for his personal use.

For cigarettes that you bring into Austria in your luggage from Hungary orRomania, the tax-exempt quantity shall be 300 pieces as from 1 March 2014. You shall immediately declare (orally) any number of cigarettes in excess of this quantity at the customs office and pay tobacco duties.

Entry into Austria from a non EU member state/non European state

Medicine

amounts consistent with your personal needs during the trip.

Comment:
Without authorisation travellers resident in the EU are allowed to import medication to Austria they carried already with them on their departure. Import of medication bought abroad is only permitted up to an amount of three (retailer) packages each per person.

Other Goods

with a cumulative value of EUR 430 for airline travellers or EUR 300 for all other travellers per calendar day. For travellers younger than 15 years those amounts are generally reduced to EUR 150.

Comment:
Import prohibitions and restrictions also have to be considered when importing above mentioned duty-free goods.

Travellers may not combine their duty allowances

International vaccination (EU pet passport) certificate necessary. Rabies vaccination at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before crossing the border.
More Information: www.sozialministerium.at

Any motor vehicle or trailer registered abroad and travelling in Austria must be covered by third-party insurance recognised in Austria.Vehicles (including trailers and mopeds) bearing an official valid registration plate need not be covered by a Green Card when circulating in Austria.  The national insurance policy is sufficient.

A Green Card is required for vehicles registered in: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegowina, Iran, Israel, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine

​​​​​​The Austrian National Tourist Office provides comprehensive and useful information about holidays, sightseeing and acitivities in Austria. The Website is available in many languages: Arabic, English, Chinese, Czech, Croatian, French, Danish, Dutch, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish 

Amongst other things information is available about:

• Family holidays in English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Italian, Swedish
• Cycling in English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
• Cities and Culture in English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Italian, Swedish
• National parks in English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Italian, Swedish
• Swimming and Watersports in English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Polish

For more information visit the website of the Austrian National Tourist Office

Toll Sticker

The toll sticker is compulsory on Austria's motorways and expressways. All cars, motorbikes and camper vans up to 3.5 t mpw (maximum permissible weight) must properly display a toll sticker or have purchased online in time a digital vignette when they drive onto a motorway or expressway. This avoids a possible toll fine of at least 120 euros. Vehicles over 3,5 t overall weight are subject to the toll system for trucks (www.go-maut.at).

* Motorcycles with two wheels on the rear axle (e.g. trikes) and motorcycles with side car aim for single-lane vehicles and need a toll sticker for motorcycles.
** Trailers do not need a toll sticker.

More Infos: Tolling Regulations (Asfinag)

Digital Vignette

Instead of buying a toll sticker it is possible to buy a digital vignette by registering the license plate. The digital vignette is available online: https://shop.asfinag.at or at all ÖAMTC offices. Alternatively it can be bought via the Asfinag-App "Unterwegs" or at many gas stations and tobacco shops.

A9 Pyhrn-Autobahn (Gleinalm and Bosruck Tunnel)

A10 Tauern-Autobahn (Tauern and Katschberg Tunnel)

A11 Karawanken-Autobahn (Karawankentunnel)

*) Ticket is valid for 14 rides through the Karawankentunnel within a period of 30 days. Not consumed rides will expire after this period. The ticket can only be used for one vehicle.

A13 Brenner-Autobahn

S16 Arlberg-Schnellstraße

The payment of the toll for categories 2 ,3 and 4 must be carried out by the electronic toll system (www.go-maut.at)
All prices for category 1 vehicles (vehicles with an overall weight up to 3,5 t, there is no toll duty for trailers which are pulled by multi-lane vehicles and have a maximum overall weight of 3,5 t).

The "GO - BOX" must be carried along in the vehicle and is available at ÖAMTC bases.

Section Toll Tickets

On Pyhrn-, Tauern- or Brenner-Autobahn toll can be paid by drivers directly at the tollgates or discharged in advance by a digital section toll ticket. Coming-in vehicles are identified on the video toll lane based on their number-plate and can pass through the tollgate with a speed of about 15 km/h without stopping. Fits for two-lane vehicles (not possible for caravan, car with a trailer or motorbike) with a maximum width of 2,30 m. If the digital section toll system does not identify a vehicle with a valid toll ticket (e.g. because the number-plate ist dirty), it will be redirected to an open toll lane where the toll can be paid directly.

More Info (and details to selling points): http://www.videomaut.at (only german)

Scenic Routes, Austrian Passes

Großglockner High Alpine Road
Opening hours: Beginning of May- 31. May: 6 am - 8 pm;
1. June - 31. August: 5 am - 9.30 pm; 1. September- End of October: 6 am - 7.30 pm
More Infos: www.grossglockner.at

Gerlos Alpine Road / Wonder World of Water
Opening hours: open year-round; Wonder World of Water closed for the winter (end of October until the beginning of May)
More Infos: www.gerlosstrasse.at/

Nockalm Road
Opening hours: closed for the winter (end of October until the beginning of May)
More Infos: www.nockalmstrasse.at/

Villach Alpine Road
Opening hours: open year-round
More Infos: www.villacher-alpenstrasse.at

Felbertauern Road
Opening hours: open year-round
More Infos: www.felbertauern.at

Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road
Opening hours: During summer the road is opened daily from 7 am until 8 pm. (Night closure!).
More Infos: www.timmelsjoch.com

Silvretta High Alpine Road
Opening hours: closed for the winter (end of October until the beginning of May)
More Infos: www.silvretta-bielerhoehe.at

Speed Limits

Built-up areas: 50 km/h

*) 110 km/h between 10 pm and 5 am on the following motorways: A10 (Tauern), A12 (Inntal), A13 (Brenner) and A14 (Rheintal)

Blood alcohol level

The maximum permitted level of alcohol in the blood is 0,5. A limit of 0,1 applies to novice drivers holding their driving licence for less than 2 years and for drivers of commercial vehicles.

Seat belts and child restraints

Occupants of all seats equipped with a seat belt (including rear seats) must wear that belt, whether they are visitors or residents. Persons found not wearing the seat belt when stopped by an officer of the law can either be warned, or receive a fine on-the-spot of 35 EUR. If the fine is not paid immediately or in due course, it can be increased to 72 EUR and even lead to 24 hours detention.

Children under 14 years old and less than 1,35 m in height travelling in vehicles registered in Austria or abroad must use special seat belts adapted to their size or special child restraints, both at the front and at the rear of the vehicle. Vehicles without such protection (e.g. two seater sports cars or lorries) may not be used at all to transport children under 14 years of age. (This regulation does not apply to buses or to vehicles used to transport school children, or in farming and forestry.). Child restraints in Austria must conform with ECE standard 44/03 or 44/04.

Use of mobile phones

The use of a mobilephone when driving is prohibited. Only hands-free mobilephones may be used when driving.

Warning triangles and first aid kit

All vehicles registered in Austria or abroad must be equipped with a warning triangle and a first-aid kit, which must be in a strong, dirt-proof box.

Safety jacket/waistcoat

Motorists whose vehicles is immobilised on the carriageway outside a built-up area at night, or in poor visibility, must wear a reflectorised jacket (available at ÖAMTC).

Winter tyres

From 1st November to 15 April, vehicles must be fitted with winter tyres if weather conditions so require. These tyres must be fitted on all wheels when roads are covered in snow or ice. The tyres must bear the mark M+S or M&S and have a minimum tread of 4 mm. Alternately, vehicles with summer tyres must have chains, see below.

Note
It is the driver's legal responsibility to carry the required winter equipment; therefore, it is essential to check that it is included in any hire car. This regulation applies to vehicles registered in Austria as well as those registered abroad.

Spiked tyres:
Spiked tyres may be used only on vehicles with steel radial tyres, of a maximum total authorised weight not exceeding 3,500 kg and a maximum axle weight not exceeding 1,800 kg. They must be fitted on all wheels. If the towing vehicle has spiked tyres, the trailer must be fitted with spiked tyres on all wheels.

Spiked tyres may be used only from 1st October to 31 May, though special local regulations may extend this period. These regulations also apply to temporarily imported vehicles.

Vehicles fitted with spiked tyres are subject to special speed limits (80 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on motorways), and must display at the rear the approved "spiked tyres" sign. This sign is available from the OeAMTC, petrol stations, etc.

Snow chains:
The use of snow chains is permitted. In extreme conditions the authorities can require cars to be fitted with snow chains on the driving wheels. All-wheel drive vehicles must be fitted with snow chains on at least two driving wheels of the same axle. The international road sign is used. The maximum speed recommended is 50 km/h.
Snow chains can be hired from ÖAMTC offices in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Carinthia by members of the ÖAMTC. They can also be hired at some of the major border crossings.

Overview of traffic regulations

To have an overview of important traffic regulations in Austria at hand please download the file stated below:

Austrian currency

Austria belongs to the EURO-currency-area.

Currency regulations

All currencies may be imported and exported without restrictions.

Travelling with EUR 10,000 or more?
Don't forget to declare it!

All travellers entering or leaving the EU with EUR 10,000 or more in cash must declare the sum to Customs in order to comply with European Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 in force since 15 June 2007. This initiative is introduced for the purpose of assisting the efforts made at EU level to tackle crime and improve security by cracking down on money laundering, terrorism and criminality.
More Informations: Federal Ministry Rebuplic of Austria

Pay cash / Pay cashless

Most hotels and shops accept American Express, Eurocard/Mastercard, Diners Club and Visa. All convertible currencies are accepted at the change counters at the airports, in larger hotels, post offices, banks, tourist information bureaus and other official bureaus de change.

Tip

All charges are generally included in the total amount of a bill or invoice. In return for good service, for example in restaurants, at the hairdresser's and in taxis, it is customary to give a tip of approximately 10% of the total.

Largergas stations accept international credit cards. In cities and main roads, gas stations are open from 8:00 to 20:00, some around the clock. On highways, they are generally open around the clock.

Fuel prices

Find the cheapest gas station in your area. The fuel price database of the ÖAMTC is fed by the official E-Control database.

LPG (LPG) and CNG (natural gas) filling stations

Here you will find all LPG and CNG gas stations in Austria

Electric Car Charging Station

Here you will find all e-filling stations in Austria.

ÖAMTC Electric Car Charging Points

The ÖAMTC offers recharging options for e-vehicles in numerous locations. At the charging stations, conventional sockets (230V, 16A) are available for the electric vehicles.
Attention: The charging process must be completed 30 minutes before the base is closed.

• 1. Jänner 2020: New Year's Day
• 6. Jänner 2020: Epiphany
• 13. April 2020: Easter Monday
• 1. Mai 2020:Labour Day
• 21. Mai 2020: Ascension Day
• 1. Juni 2020: Whit Monday
• 11. Juni 2020: Corpus Christi
• 15. August 2020: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
• 26. Oktober 2020: National Holiday
• 1. November 2020: All Saints' Day
• 8. Dezember 2020: Immaculate Conception
• 25.-26.Dezember 2020: Christmas

Breakdown Service

The ÖAMTC breakdown service can be reached 24 hours on telephone number +43 1 25 120 20.

Emergency Numbers

•  Police: +43 133
• Ambulance: +43 144
• Fire brigade: +43 122
• call 112 (Euronotruf)

The austrian motorway and highway road network, which is more than 2.000 km long at the moment, is subject to toll duty.
More Infos: www.asfinag.at

 Traffic information

 For information about current traffic and roadworks visit maps.oeamtc.at

International dialing code

to Austria: +43 (plus citycode without "0")

In Austria, there are about 12,000 phone boxes that work with coins.
Concerning long distance calls it is more favourable using phone boxes than using the hotels telephone.

Mobile and car phones

For detailed information on using a mobile phone abroad, please contact your network operator.

ÖAMTC Headquarter
Baumgasse 129
A-1030 Vienna
Tel. +43 (0)1 711 99-0
E-mail: office@oeamtc.at
Internet: www.oeamtc.at and www.autotouring.at

Austrian Campingclub (ÖCC)
Baumgasse 129
A-1030 Vienna
Tel. +43 (0)1 713 61 51
E-mail: office@campingclub.at
Internet: www.campingclub.at

Austrian National Tourist Office / Austrian Tourism
austria.info Holiday Service Center
Tel. 00800 400 200 00 (free of charge: Germany, Austria and Switzerland)
Fax 0810 10 18 19
E-mail: urlaub@austria.info
Internet: www.austria.info