AUSTRIA – drives on the right
Please read the general notes in conjunction with those below.

Essential Safety Equipment

• Warning triangle
• First aid kit
• Reflective vest
• Headlamp converters
• GB Plate (see note 1)

Recommended Safety Equipment (by Austria and/or EUroadlegal.co.uk)

• Fire extinguisher
• Spare bulbs (see note 2)
• Torch

Seatbelt Requirements
The wearing of front and rear seatbelts is compulsory when fitted.

Children Passengers
There is a front seat minimum of 12 yrs/1.5m unless using a child restraint.

Drink Driving Limits
50mg/100ml (UK 80mg/100ml)

Minimum Driving Age
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18 for a car, 18 for a motorcycle over 50cc, and 16 for a motorcycle under 50cc.

Speed Limits

Lights
Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

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.

Tolls
To use Austria’s motorways you must purchase a tax sticker (vignette) and display it on the windscreen.  Vignettes are available from service stations and at border crossings and are valid for 10 days, 2 months or a year.

Current costs

Parking
For short-term parking (Kurzparkzone) you must buy a ticket from a local shop and fill in your time of arrival.  At night you must leave your sidelights on unless street lighting is provided.

Fines
On-the-spot fines are issued. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine.

Mobile Phones
It is illegal to drive whilst using a hand-held mobile phone.

Emergency Numbers
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services.

Local Numbers:
Fire - 122
Police - 133
Ambulance - 144
Mountain Rescue - 140
Doctor (out of hours) - 141

Breakdown Services:
ÖAMTC - 120
ARBÖ - 123

Other Useful Information
Traffic regulations in Austria correspond to those of other continental European countries. Driving is on the right. In snowy conditions (mid-November-mid-April) winter tyres, chains or studded tyres are required. ARBÖ (Austrian Motoring Association) and ÖAMTC (Austrian Automobile, Motorbike and Touring Club) run over 100 agencies throughout the country from which you can hire chains for your car.

Useful Words and Phrases

Embassy Details
Address:
British Embassy
Jauresgasse 12
1030 Vienna 

Telephone:
(43) (1) 716130

Email:
visa-consular@britishembassy.at Consular and Visa enquiries 

Office Hours:
GMT/BST:
Mon-Fri: 0800-1200/1300-1600

Local Time
Mon-Fri: 0900-1300/1400-1700

Website:
http://www.britishembassy.at

Note 1: 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.  Countries outside the EU still require national identification.

Note 2: Regardless of local requirements it is always a wise precaution to carry a spare set of vehicle bulbs and adjust headlamp beams for driving on the right. A spare bulb kit will not prevent a fine if you are travelling with faulty lights, but it may avoid the cost and inconvenience of a garage call out. On some cars it is inadvisable or impossible for anyone other than a qualified technician to change a headlamp bulb or lamp unit e.g. high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and carrying spare bulbs is not an option. However, it is recommended that spare bulbs are carried for any lights which may be easily and/or safely replaced by the owner/driver. Do not forget to ensure that you also carry any tools that might be required to change the various bulbs.

Disclaimer
EUroadlegal has made every effort to ensure that the information contained on this page is accurate and up-to-date.  In most instances the information has been collated from either an official document from the country concerned or from two or more reliable sources.  EUroadlegal cannot be held responsible for any actions resulting from the adherence to or ignoring of the information contained on this page. If you would like to contribute by adding, removing or modifying the data on this page based on your own experience, please us.