Austria is an easy country to drive in, from Vienna to the Tyrol, but a few rules catch visitors out, particularly the mandatory motorway vignette, strict winter equipment laws, and individual toll charges on certain alpine tunnels and passes.
This guide covers the vignette, the extra tolls, winter equipment, speed and drink-drive limits, and alpine driving. For a quick summary of the rules, see driving in Austria at a glance.
The Vignette System: Austria's Motorway Toll
All vehicles under 3.5 tonnes must display a valid vignette (Mautvignette) to use Austria's motorways (Autobahnen) and expressways (Schnellstrassen). Driving on these roads without one is an offence that carries an on-the-spot fine of EUR 120, or up to EUR 240 if pursued later by post.
Digital Vignette vs. Sticker Vignette
Since 2018, Austria has offered a digital vignette alongside the traditional adhesive sticker. The digital version is linked to your number plate and can be purchased online through the official ASFINAG website or app. If you buy it online as a consumer, it only becomes valid 18 days after purchase (an EU cooling-off rule), so plan ahead. A one-day digital vignette is also available.
The sticker vignette is available at petrol stations, border crossings, OAMTC offices, and tobacconists (Trafiken). It must be affixed to the inside of the windscreen on the left-hand side.
Vignette durations and approximate 2026 prices
- 1-day vignette (digital only): roughly EUR 9
- 10-day vignette: roughly EUR 13, the usual choice for short transits or holidays
- 2-month vignette: roughly EUR 32, for extended touring
- Annual vignette: roughly EUR 107, valid from 1 December of the preceding year to 31 January of the following year
Prices rise each year, so check the ASFINAG site for the current figures.
If you are only passing through Austria on the way to Italy or Germany, a 10-day vignette is usually the most cost-effective option. But check whether your route uses a separately tolled tunnel or pass first, as those charges are on top of the vignette.
Special Toll Roads, Tunnels & Alpine Passes
The vignette does not cover every toll road in Austria. Several high-alpine routes and tunnels charge a separate fee, collected at toll booths.
Key Separately Tolled Routes
- Brenner Motorway (A13): the main route between Innsbruck and the Italian border
- Arlberg Tunnel (S16): connects Tyrol with Vorarlberg
- Tauern Motorway (A10): the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels south of Salzburg
- Karawanken Tunnel (A11): crosses into Slovenia
- Grossglockner High Alpine Road: Austria's best-known scenic pass, with a day ticket per car (expect around EUR 45-50); open roughly May to October
The motorway tunnel tolls are each roughly EUR 9-15 one way for a car. You can also pay them in advance online as a digital section toll (Digitale Streckenmaut), which lets you use the faster lanes.
Toll booths accept cash (euros) and most major credit and debit cards. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes pay distance-based tolls with a GO-Box instead of a vignette.
Winter Driving Laws: Tyres, Chains & Equipment
Austrian winter driving regulations are among the strictest in Europe, and they are rigorously enforced.
Winter Tyre Obligation
Between 1 November and 15 April, all vehicles must be fitted with winter tyres (marked M+S, or bearing the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol) when winter conditions are present, meaning snow, ice, or slush on the road. The minimum tread depth for winter tyres is 4 mm (compared with the legal minimum of 1.6 mm for summer tyres).
Fines for driving without winter tyres in winter conditions start at EUR 35 but can reach EUR 5,000 if you cause a hazard.
Snow Chains
Snow chains are not universally required, but many alpine passes mandate them when conditions deteriorate. Signs showing a blue circle with a white chain symbol indicate a chain requirement. Carry chains in the boot if you plan any mountain route between November and April, rental cars in Austria are usually supplied with them, but verify with your hire company.
Mandatory In-Car Equipment
- First-aid kit (must comply with ONORM V 5101 standard)
- Warning triangle
- High-visibility vest, which you must wear if you get out on the road after a breakdown; keep it within reach in the cabin
General Road Rules & Speed Limits
Austria drives on the right. Overtaking is on the left. At unmarked junctions, traffic coming from the right has priority.
Speed Limits
- Built-up areas: 50 km/h (sometimes 30 km/h in residential zones)
- Outside built-up areas: 100 km/h
- Motorways: 130 km/h unless signed otherwise
Night-Time Motorway Limit
On some motorway sections, mainly in Tyrol, a reduced limit of 110 km/h applies between 22:00 and 05:00 to cut noise. Separately, electronic signs marked IG-L (Immissionsschutzgesetz-Luft) can lower the limit to 100 km/h for air quality.
Drink-Driving
The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% (0.5 g/l). For drivers who have held their licence for less than two years, the limit is 0.01% (effectively zero). England's limit is 0.08%, so the usual rule of thumb is not to drink at all if you're driving.
Mobile Phones
Handheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited. A hands-free setup is required. Expect a fine of EUR 50 or more.
Austria operates a dense network of fixed and mobile speed cameras (Radarboxen). Average speed checks (Section Control) are in use on several motorway stretches and in some tunnels.
Practical Tips for Alpine Driving
Austria's alpine roads are well engineered but steep, especially if you are not used to mountain driving.
Right of Way on Mountain Roads
On narrow mountain roads, the vehicle travelling uphill generally has priority. Give way to buses and coaches on narrow sections, even if that means reversing to a passing place.
Driving Technique
- Use engine braking: select a lower gear on long descents to avoid overheating your brakes. If you smell hot brakes, stop in a safe place and let them cool.
- Stay right on blind bends: oncoming traffic may include wide agricultural vehicles or tour coaches. Sound your horn before blind hairpins on very narrow roads.
- Check pass status before departure: OAMTC and ASFINAG publish real-time pass conditions online. Many high passes close entirely from November to May.
- Watch for motorcyclists: alpine roads are extremely popular with bikers, particularly from April to October.
Fuel and Services
Petrol stations are plentiful in valleys and along motorways, but sparse on remote mountain routes. Fill up before heading into the high alps. Most stations accept card payment, and unleaded 95 (Super), unleaded 98 (Super Plus), and diesel are widely available. LPG stations are less common and should be located in advance using an app or map.
Planning Your Austrian Road Trip
Austria is compact enough to cover a lot in a week or two. Three classic routes:
- Vienna to Salzburg via the Wachau Valley: follow the Danube through terraced vineyards before cutting south to the Salzkammergut lake district. Explore Vienna | Explore Salzburg
- Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass: base yourself in Innsbruck and explore the Stubai Valley, the Seefeld plateau and the Brenner route south towards Italy.
- The Grossglockner High Alpine Road: 48 km of hairpins climbing to 2,504 m at the Hochtor, with views of the Pasterze Glacier. Best from June to September.
Ready to map out your route? Plan your Austria trip and build a day-by-day itinerary with stops, distances, and drive times calculated for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive on Austrian motorways without a vignette if I only use one junction?
No. Even a single junction-to-junction hop on an Autobahn or Schnellstrasse requires a valid vignette. The only exceptions are very short vignette-free sections near some border crossings (clearly signed as "Mautfrei"). If in doubt, buy a vignette: even a 10-day one costs a fraction of the EUR 120 on-the-spot fine.
Do I need winter tyres in Austria in October or late April?
The legal winter tyre obligation runs from 1 November to 15 April. Outside that window you are not legally required to have them, but mountain areas can experience snow as early as September and as late as May. If you are heading into the alps outside the core summer months, winter tyres or all-season tyres with the M+S marking are strongly recommended.
Is an International Driving Permit (IDP) required to drive in Austria?
EU and EEA licence holders do not need an IDP, and nor do UK drivers with a photocard licence (see using your UK licence abroad). Drivers from the US, Canada, Australia, and most other countries should obtain an IDP before travelling, as rental companies may require one even where the law does not.