Roads in Austria
Excellent motorways, highways and federal roads connect Austria with all its neighboring countries. All major border checkpoints (both motorways and federal roads) are open 24 hours a day.
The length of the road network in Austria is 200,000 km, of which 2,249 km are toll roads.
Toll roads
The use of motorways, highways and special road sections in Austria is only permitted after payment of the toll. All vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tons – cars, motorcycles and caravans – are required to have a vignette .
For trailers, caravans (motorhomes), motorcycle sidecars, no additional vignette is required .
Depending on the type of vignette, drivers can use the toll road network for a certain period of time.
When crossing the border , boards are installed informing drivers about the need to purchase a vignette. Inside the country, there are corresponding signs when approaching toll highways .
Map of toll roads in Austria
On motorways and expressways marked in orange on the map, all vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tons are required to have a vignette.
Vignette cost
The cost of a vignette (EUR) for different categories of vehicles for 2023 is:
| Vehicle | 10 days | 2 months | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles (A) | €5.80 | € 14.50 | € 38.20 | |
| Cars up to 3.5 tons (B) | €9.90 | € 29.00 | €96.40 |
Cars with a permissible weight over 3.5 tons pay for travel on toll roads electronically.
For vehicles with a permissible mass of no more than 3.5 tons, an additional vignette for a trailer or trailer is not required.
The vignette can be purchased at some petrol stations located close to the border, both in Austria itself and in neighboring countries.
If you are caught without a vignette on Austrian motorways, the fine will be €120 if paid on the spot (€65 for motorcycles). If any manipulations with the vignette are detected (damage to the vignette, traces of re-sticking the vignette, etc.), the fine will be € 240 (for motorcycles € 130). If you refuse to pay on the spot, then in court proceedings the fine can range from € 300 to € 3,000.
Vignette validity period
Since 2018, an alternative to the traditional vignette has appeared. The electronic vignette is linked to the license plate. Those who wish can continue to use the traditional windshield vignette.
10-day vignette – entitles vehicles to use Austrian toll roads for ten consecutive calendar days, starting from the date specified by the buyer.
Example:
Mark date: January 10th. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from January 10, 00:00 until January 19, 24:00.
2-month vignette – entitles vehicles to use Austrian toll roads for 2 months. The vignette begins on the date specified by the buyer and expires two months later at the end of the day.
Example:
Mark date: January 10th. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from January 10, 00:00 until March 10, 24:00.
1-year vignette – entitles vehicles to use Austrian toll roads for 1 calendar year. The vignette is valid from December 1 of the previous year and ends on January 31 of the following year.
Example:
Vignette for 2023. Accordingly, the vignette is valid from December 1, 2022 until January 31, 2024.
A valid vignette must be correctly affixed to the vehicle before using toll roads. Driving on toll roads without a valid vignette is prohibited .
Areas with special payment
In Austria there are sections of the road with special tolls (travel through tunnels). Tariffs for 2023.Autobahn A9 Pyhrn:
| Glenalm tunnel | Bosruck tunnel | Both tunnels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One trip | € 10.50 | € 6.50 | |
| One year | € 114.00 |
Autobahn A10 Tauern:
| Tauern tunnel | Katschberg tunnel | Both tunnels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One trip | € 7.00 | € 7.00 | € 13.50 |
| One year | € 120.00 |
Autobahn A11 Karawanken:
| Karawanken tunnel | |
|---|---|
| One trip | € 7.80 |
Autobahn A13 Brenner:
| Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 | All the way | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One trip | € 3.00 | € 3.50 | €5.50 | € 11.00 |
| One year | € 114.00 | |||
| One month | € 45.00 |
Section 1 : Innsbruck – Patsch/Europabrücke – Nösslach
Section 2 : Innsbruck – Stubaital
Section 3 : Matrei – BrennerpaßAutobahn S16 Arlberg:
| Autobahn Arlberg | |
|---|---|
| One trip | € 11.50 |
| One year | € 114.00 |
Road 108 Felbertauerntunnel:
| Vehicle | 1 trip | Bonuskarte | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles with or without sidecar | € 10.00 | € 16.50 | € 120.00 | |
| Passenger cars up to 9 seats, including motorhomes | € 11.00 | € 16.50 | € 120.00 | |
| Trucks up to 3.5 t | € 19.50 | € 140.00 |
[1] The excursion ticket (Bonuskarte) gives unlimited use of Felbertauernstraße on the day of issue, as well as special conditions for visiting the Hohe Tauern National Park. The ticket is available 24 hours a day at the ticket office at the south Felbertauern.
Bonuskarte – information in German (1.8 Mb).
Großglockner High Alpine Road
This is a high mountain road in Austria. Passes through the Hohe Tauern National Park. The road is named after the highest mountain in Austria, Großglockner (3,798 m). The length of the road is 47.8 km. The highest point is 2,504 m. It is a serpentine road with many turns (36) and wonderful surrounding views.
The road is open to travel from May to October (depending on weather conditions) during the daytime.Tariffs for 2024:
| Vehicle | 1 day ticket | 3 week ticket | Excursion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | € 30.00 | € 60.00 | € 38.50 |
| Passenger cars (including motorhomes and vehicles with a trailer with a total weight of less than 3.5 tons) | € 40.00 | € 73.00 | € 48.00 |
| Motorhomes and cars with a trailer with a total weight of over 3.5 tons | € 49.00 [ 3 ] | – | – |
[1] in case of entry after 18:00 the ticket price is reduced to € 30.00 for cars and to € 23.50 for motorcycles.
[2] Tour tickets are valid for one month for travel on the Großglockner High Alpine Road and Felbertauern Road.
[3] return travel on the same day is free.
A repeat visit in the same calendar year with the same car or motorcycle (with the same number plates) will cost € 14.50 (old ticket must be presented)..
Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road
This is a high mountain road from Austria to Italy. Connects the Ötztal valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Passeier valley in the Italian province of Bolzano.
The road is open to travel from June to October (depending on weather conditions) during the day. Detailed information can be found on the page – Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road .Tariffs for 2024:
| Vehicle | A one-way ticket | A round-trip ticket | Season ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | € 16.00 | € 21.00 | € 80.00 |
| Passenger cars up to 9 seats, including motorhomes with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons | € 18.00 | € 24.00 | € 80.00 |
| Motorhomes with a total weight of over 3.5 tons | € 28.00 | € 28.00 | – |
The return ticket is valid throughout the season, but must not be used on the same day.
Villach Alpine Road
The Villach Alpine Road is located in Austria and has a length of 16.5 km. It runs between Villach-Möltschach (550 m) and Dobratsch (1,732 m). The road is exclusively for tourism.
Driving along the road offers breathtaking panoramic views of the towns of Villach, Karawanken and the largest landslide in the Eastern Alps on the southern slope of Dobratsch. The road is open to traffic all year round. Motorcycles are prohibited from 20:00 to 07:00.Tariffs for 2023:
| Vehicle | 1 day ticket | Season ticket [ 1 ] |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | € 14.00 | € 70.00 |
| Cars | €20.50 | € 70.00 |
[1] The season ticket is valid from mid-April to the end of October.
Image from web camera:
Gerlos Alpine Road
The Gerlos Alpine Road is 12 km long and rises to an altitude of 1,630 meters. It connects Gerlos and Krimml. On the way to the top you will find 8 turns with a maximum gradient of 9%.
The Gerlos Alpine Road is open to traffic throughout the year and offers optimal access to the world famous Krimml Falls.Tariffs for 2024:
| Vehicle | 1 day ticket | 8 day ticket | 3 week ticket | 1 year ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | € 8.00 | € 18.50 | € 27.50 | €57.00 |
| Passenger cars (including motorhomes and vehicles with a trailer with a total weight of less than 3.5 tons) | € 11.00 | € 24.00 | € 41.00 | €57.00 |
| Motorhomes and cars with a trailer with a total weight of over 3.5 tons | € 18.00 | – | – | € 131.00 |
Nockalm Road
The Nockalm Road is 34 km long and rises to a height of 2,042 metres. It connects Innerkrems (1,500 m) and Reichenau (1,095 m). With a gradient of 10%, the road is a unique pleasure for car drivers and motorcyclists.
Nockalm Road is open to traffic from May to October. Motorcycles are prohibited from 18:00 to 08:00.Tariffs for 2024:
| Vehicle | 1 day ticket | Season ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | € 16.00 | € 75.00 |
| Cars | €21.50 | € 75.00 |
| Vehicles with or without a trailer with a total weight exceeding 3.5 t | € 37.00 | – |
Image from web camera:
Silvretta High Alpine Road
The Silvretta High Alpine Road is 22.3 km long and reaches a height of 2,032 meters. It is part of regional road 188 and connects Partenen (1,051 m) and Galtür (1,725 m). The number of turns on the road is 34, the maximum gradient is 12%.
This road is often called the “Alpine dream road for connoisseurs”. This is one of the most popular and beautiful mountain roads in the Alps. The magnificent mountain scenery of Silvretta, lakes Vermunt and Silvretta are located just off the road and simply enchant visitors.
Depending on weather and snow conditions, Silvretta High Alpine Road is open from approximately June to October. Restaurants along the route are also open at this time.Tariffs for 2024:
| Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|
| Moped (up to 50 cc) | € 7.00 |
| Motorcycles | € 14.50 |
| ATVs | € 14.50 |
| Cars | € 18.00 |
| Motorhomes | € 25.50 |
Passage is prohibited for vehicles with trailers.
Parking in Austria
In most cities in Austria, parking on city streets is paid and limited in time.
For example, in Vienna the following tariffs apply for temporary parking on city streets:
- 15 minutes – free
- 30 minutes – € 1.10
- 1 hour – € 2.20
- 1.5 hours – € 3.30
- 2 hours – € 4.40
If you need to leave your car for a longer period, it is better to use underground garages (on average € 25 per day) or P+R parking lots (€ 3.60 per day).
The fine for parking in the wrong place or exceeding the parking time in a paid short-term parking lot is € 36.
You can read more about parking in Austria using the example of parking rules in Vienna .
Austria road map
Basic traffic rules in Austria
Austrian traffic rules and signs are similar to those in other European countries.
Speed Limit
Standard speed limits in Austria (unless otherwise indicated on signs).Cars (up to 3.5 t) and motorcycles:
- in a populated area – 50 km/h
- outside the populated area – 100 km/h
- on the motorway – 130 km/h
Cars (up to 3.5 t) with trailers (up to 750 kg):
- in a populated area – 50 km/h
- outside the populated area – 100 km/h
- on the motorway – 100 km/h
Cars (up to 3.5 t) with trailers (from 750 kg to 3.5 t):
- in a populated area – 50 km/h
- outside the populated area – 80 km/h
- on the motorway – 100 km/h
The minimum speed limit on highways is 60 km/h.
Cars equipped with studded tires can travel on the autobahn at a speed of no more than 100 km/h, and on other roads – no more than 80 km/h.
Current maximum speed limits on European roads for passenger cars.
Alcohol
The maximum permissible blood alcohol level is 0.49 ‰ .
If the blood alcohol level is between 0.5‰ and 0.79‰, a fine of between €300 and €3,700 will be imposed. Repeated violation will result in a referral to a psychologist (approximately €200). In case of a third violation (within 2 years), your driver’s license may be revoked.
If the blood alcohol level is from 0.8 ‰ to 1.19 ‰, then a fine of € 800 to 3,700 and deprivation of the driver’s license for 1 month will be imposed, and in case of repeated violation for 3 months.
If the blood alcohol level is between 1.2‰ and 1.59‰, a fine of between €1,200 and €4,400 will be imposed and your driving license will be suspended for 4 months.
If the alcohol level exceeds 1.6 ‰, a fine of between €1,600 and €5,900 will be imposed and your driving license will be suspended for 6 months. The same penalty is provided for refusal to take an alcohol test.
For drivers with less than 2 years of experience, the permitted blood alcohol level is 0.1 ‰.
Permissible blood alcohol content while driving in European countries.
Low beam
Low beams are optional when driving during the day and are required when driving at night. Also, low beams should be turned on in conditions of poor visibility caused by bad weather. In this case, driving only with the lights on is prohibited.
For non-compliance the fine is € 30.
In which European countries is it mandatory to use low beam headlights during daytime?
Transportation of children
Children under 14 years of age and less than 150 cm tall must be transported only in special seats. Children under 14 years of age and over 150 cm tall must use adult seat belts.
The fine for violating the rules for transporting children is € 35.
Requirements for transporting children in passenger vehicles on the roads of European countries.
Seat belts
The use of seat belts is mandatory for both front and rear passengers.
The fine for not wearing seat belts is € 35.
The fine for riding a motorcycle without a helmet is €35.
Talking on the phone
You can talk on the phone while driving only if your car has a hands-free system. The system must be operated with one hand.
In case of violation, the fine is € 50.
Fines for talking on the phone while driving in European countries.
Fines
In Austria there is no general catalog of fines for traffic violations . For the same violation, different fines may be imposed in different federal states.
Police officers in Austria have the right to collect fines on the spot. The police officer collecting the fine must issue an official receipt. In case of a large fine, the driver will be asked to provide a deposit, and he will have to pay the rest of the fine within two weeks.
Parked vehicles that obstruct traffic may be towed to a parking lot.Table of fines for violating traffic rules in Austria (EUR):
| Violation | Fines (on site) | Fines (through court) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving on the side of the road | € 10 | € 10 – 40 |
| Failure to comply with traffic regulations to stop before the stop line | € 30 | € 30 – 60 |
| Failure to comply with traffic regulations to give a signal before moving, changing lanes, turning, turning around or stopping | € 35 | € 36 – 42 |
| Creating an obstacle for overtaking another vehicle | € 40 | € 36 – 80 |
| Violation of rules for crossing a railway crossing | € 60 | € 50 – 70 |
| Overtaking a vehicle where it is prohibited by road signs | €50 | €58 – 100 |
| Failure to comply with traffic regulations to give way to a vehicle that has the right of way | € 30 | € 70 |
| Driving through a yellow traffic light | € 30 | € 36 – 42 |
| Driving through a red traffic light | € 70 | €58 – 70 |
| Road surface contamination | € 40 | € 40 |
| Using rear fog lights despite good visibility | € 30 | € 36 – 60 |
| Failure to maintain distance from the vehicle in front | 50 | € 36 – 2,180 |
The amount of fines for speeding varies depending on how the violation was recorded – by a police officer (payment on the spot) or by an automatic device (radar).Fines for speeding in a populated area (EUR):
| Over speed | Police | Radar |
|---|---|---|
| up to 20 km/h | € 30 | € 29 – 60 |
| from 21 to 30 km/h | €50 | €56 – 72 |
| from 31 to 40 km/h | € 70 | € 70 – 160 |
| from 40 km/h and above | – | € 150 – 2,180 deprivation of driver’s license for 6 weeks |
Fines for speeding outside a built-up area (EUR):
| Over speed | Police | Radar |
|---|---|---|
| up to 20 km/h | € 30 | € 29 – 50 |
| from 21 to 30 km/h | €50 | €56 – 90 |
| from 31 to 40 km/h | € 70 | € 140 – 160 |
| from 41 to 50 km/h | – | € 150 – 300 |
| from 50 km/h and above | – | € 150 – 2,180 deprivation of driver’s license for 6 weeks |
Fines for speeding on the motorway (EUR):
| Over speed | Police | Radar |
|---|---|---|
| up to 20 km/h | € 30 | € 45 |
| from 21 to 30 km/h | €50 | € 60 |
| from 31 to 40 km/h | € 70 | € 70 – 160 |
| from 40 km/h and above | – | € 150 – 2,180 deprivation of driver’s license for 6 weeks |
When measuring speed, the measurement error of the device, the type of device and the speed at which it is measured are taken into account (subtracted from the measured value):
- up to 100 km/h:
- 3 km/h – stationary laser radar
- 5 km/h – stationary radar
- 7 km/h – mobile radar
- over 100 km/h :
- 3% – stationary laser radar
- 5% – stationary radar
- 7% – mobile radar
This means that in a section with a speed limit of 50 km/h, a penalty could theoretically occur at a measured speed of 54 km/h.
In practice, the amount of punishment remains at the discretion of the police patrol and the specific circumstances of the traffic situation. For example, in the area covered by the “school” sign, punishment will follow even for minimal speeding.
Helpful information
Petrol
In Austria, unleaded petrol (92, 95 and 98) and diesel are available. The sale of leaded gasoline is prohibited.
Gasoline-92 (Normal) and propane-butane (Autogaz) are found at a limited number of gas stations.
Average prices for all types of fuel according to the Ministry of Development and Tourism as of 11/17/2023 :
- Normal (92) – € 1.587
- Super (95) – € 1.581
- Super Plus (98) – € 1.796
- Diesel – € 1.699
- Autogaz (LPG) – € 1.330
In the country, it is allowed to carry no more than 10 liters of fuel in a car in cans.
Changes compared to the previous period are shown. Updated once every two weeks.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number – 112
- Fire service – 122
- Police – 133
- Ambulance – 144
- Mountain rescue service – 140
- ÖAMTC roadside assistance and tow truck services – 120
- ARBÖ emergency service – 123
Required equipment
Equipment you need to have in your car:
- Warning triangle – must comply with EC 27 standards (for vehicles with more than two wheels).
- Car first aid kit – should be in a durable box protected from dirt.
- Reflective vest – It is necessary to have a reflective vest (complying with European norms EN471), which must be used in the event of an emergency stop and when placing a warning triangle on the road. This rule does not apply to mopeds/motorcycles. Fine from €14 to €36 on the spot.
- Winter Equipment – All drivers have a legal obligation to prepare their vehicle for winter weather conditions.
Requirements for equipment that must be in a car in different European countries.
Winter equipment
Winter tires
Between November 1 and April 15, under appropriate weather conditions (snow, ice on the road), vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons must be equipped with winter tires .
For vehicles with a total weight of over 3.5 tons during this period of time, winter tires are always required, regardless of the presence of snow or ice on the roads.
If during this period the vehicle is not equipped with winter tires , the violator will face a fine of € 60. If other road users are endangered, the fine may increase to € 5,000.
Studded tires
Studded tires are only permitted for vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes from 1 October to 31 May. Local authorities may extend this period.
Studded tires must be installed on all wheels. The speed of vehicles equipped with studded tires must not exceed 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on other roads.
Anti-skid chains
Snow chains may be used in conjunction with summer tires. They must be worn on at least 2 driving wheels. Snow chains are only allowed if the road is completely covered with snow or ice.
Requirements for the use of winter and studded tires in different European countries.
Additional equipment and other rules
When a school bus stops to pick up/drop off children while flashing its turn signal, vehicles traveling in the same direction are not allowed to pass it.
The use of navigation software indicating the location of fixed speed cameras is permitted.
Usageradar detectors forbidden. If found, it will be confiscated by the police. Fine up to €4,000.
The use of dash cams in Austria for purposes other than personal use is prohibited. Violation is subject to a fine of €10,000.