Cars
An excellent network of motorways, dual carriageways and A-roads stretch across the entire country and also connects Austria with its neighbouring countries. All major border checkpoints are open day and night. In general, Austrian traffic regulations and traffic signals are similar to those in place in other European countries.
Motorways
A toll is charged for the use of the motorway network in Austria. If you drive onto a motorway, you must be in possession of a valid motorway toll sticker, or digital pass (vignette). You can buy this at tobacconists in Austria as well as at border crossings and motorway service stations.
The vignette is also available in digital form and can be purchased in the online shop of the Austrian motorway operator ASFINAG.
More Information related to leisure and road traffic in Austria.
More information on vehicle regulations in Austria.
Car Ownership
Compared to the rest of Europe, Austria is around average when it comes to the costs of owning a car.
On average, car owners spend about € 1000 a month on a petrol-powered vehicle, and around € 800 on an electric car. This includes fixed costs such as insurance, tax, annual inspections and variable costs such as fuel. All registered vehicles in Austria need to have a valid sticker, called a Pickerl. The stickers validate the vehicle’s road worthiness and operational safety, and must be renewed periodically in accordance with a set schedule of inspections.
All driving licenses issued by an EU and EEA country are recognized in Austria. You can, but don’t have to, convert your EU or EEA license into an Austrian license, unless your driving license is a category C (C1 or D1) EEA-issued license, which is only valid in Austria for the first five years. For non-EU and EEA-issued licenses, you have six months to convert your license before it loses its validity in Austria. Depending on which country issued your license, you may need to take a practical driving test.
Further Information
More information on converting your driving license can be found under Relocation Foreign Driving License Conversion.
More information on car imports in section 2 – Relocation.
Car Registration and Insurance
Your vehicle must be officially registered in Austria. It may only be used on public roads once it has been registered.
In order for a vehicle to be registered with an official registration office, it must be covered by third-party liability insurance (KFZ Haftpflichtversicherung) which is valid in Austria.
The insurance must be purchased from an insurance company which is officially licensed to provide third-party liability insurance in Austria.
Austrian insurance companies work (especially for private vehicle ownership) with the bonus-malus system, under which claim-free years reduce the premium (no-claims bonus). In contrast, if claims are reported, a higher premium will be charged. The bonus-malus system can differ from each insurance company. They are not obliged to take into account the previous history of EU citizens who take out third-party liability insurance when registering their vehicle in Austria, but they often do so in practice.
Usually, if you are the one at fault in the case of an accident, your own third-party liability insurance will cover the cost of the damage incurred by the other driver, but not your own damage costs. In order to be compensated for the cost of this damage, you require fully comprehensive insurance.
Information regarding car and motorcycle insurance policies is provided by insurance companies operating in Austria and by the motorists’ associations ÖAMTC ÖAMTC ()and ARBÖ.ARBÖ. ()
Further Information
More information on third-party liability insurance services.
You can register your car at a licensing office (VVO) in the district of your main residence. Please find here an overview of all registration offices in Austria (in German).
The required documents must be submitted to a registration office. The data is entered there without having to fill out a form; the applicant only has to sign the application form. With a written power of attorney, a representative can also register the vehicle. When registering a vehicle, the registration office issues a registration certificate. Authorities and state inspection offices also issue registration certificates in specific cases.
Necessary Documents for Vehicle Registration
- 01
Official photo ID of the applicant
- 02
Proof of main place of residence (for private individuals)
Query of the Central Register of Residents by the registration office (costs are carried by the applicant).
- 03
Confirmation of insurance
- 04
Approved vehicle confirmation
For first-time registration:
- Typification certificate or
- Individual approval or
- Proof of registration or
- Valid certificate of conformity or
- Data extract from the approval database for vehicles with EC type approval
- 05
When registering a new vehicle, you will also need to:
- Enter the owner in the typification certificate or
- Provide a contract of sale or invoice, with the name of the buyer on it
- 06
When registering a used car, you will also need:
- Proof that the vehicle has passed it’s MOT, together with valid motoring test inspection certificate (Pickerl) for all applicable vehicles, if the valid test certificate is not yet stored in the vehicle inspection database.
- Personal declaration of the previous owner at the registration office or
- Contract of sale or invoice, clearly showing the name of the buyer
If applicable, a gift contract, court judgment, court order, inheritance order, declaration of consent of the person appointed to represent the estate, auction sale documentation, declaration of transfer of use
- 07
For a leased car you will need the leasing contract.
Further Information on Leasing
Find more information and an overview of different leasing options in Austria (in German).
More information about leasing (in German).
Car Sharing
Car sharing has become a popular concept, especially in Austria’s capital. The city of Vienna offers the Wien Mobil Auto car sharing pool.
The City of Vienna offers the Wien Mobil Auto car sharing pool.
Car sharing options in Austria.
Additional Information
More information on using the Handyparken App for parking.
Learn more about the different parking regulations (in German).
