Austria Driving Rules 2026: Speed, Alcohol, Lights

Documents to carry

For visitors driving in Austria with a foreign vehicle:

1. Driving licence: original, EU/EEA accepted, others should consider International Driving Permit (IDP)
2. Vehicle registration: original
3. Insurance: green card or EU policy with European coverage
4. Passport or national ID
5. Vignette: see our vignette guide

Austrian police can stop you for spot checks. Originals only.

Speed limits

Notable sections

• A1 Wien-Salzburg: 130 km/h, some sections 100 km/h in cities
• A2 Wien-Graz: 130 km/h, mountainous sections 100 km/h
• A12/A13 Tyrol: lower limits (100 km/h) on mountain stretches near Innsbruck
• S16 Arlberg: 80 km/h in tunnel
• A10 Tauern: 80 km/h in tunnel sections

Foreign drivers commonly speed in mountain sections where limits drop from 130 to 100.

Section enforcement (Section Control)

Austria uses Section Control: cameras at entry and exit of a stretch measure average speed. Cannot speed up briefly and slow down.

Main Section Control stretches:

• A1 around Wien-Tunnel Kaisermühlen
• A2 Wechsel-Aspang section
• A12 Inntal sections
• A10 Tauern tunnel
• Several urban tunnels in Wien (Praterstern, Kaiser-Ebersdorf)

Alcohol and drugs

Blood alcohol limits

Above 0.8 g/l: €800-5,900 fine. Above 1.2 g/l: €1,200-4,400. Above 1.6 g/l: €1,600-5,900 + minimum 6-month suspension + alcohol counseling course.

Drugs

Zero tolerance. Saliva tests are standard. Positive result: €800-3,700, suspension, possible criminal charges.

Mandatory equipment

The hi-vis vest must be reachable from your seat without exiting the vehicle.

For winter (Nov 1 - April 15)

Winter tyres or snow chains mandatory when winter conditions exist:

• Snow on road
• Ice
• Slush
• Visible winter precipitation

Acceptable: M+S marked tyres OR 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) marked. All four wheels.

If you have summer tyres + chains: chains must be ready to mount when conditions require.

Penalty: €35 minor, up to €5,000 for accidents caused by improper equipment.

Daytime running lights (DRL)

Recommended, not mandatory for passenger cars since 1 January 2008 (daytime lighting duty was repealed; previously in force 15.11.2005-31.12.2007). Primary ÖAMTC + Der Standard. Motorcycles must use dipped lights or DRL at all times.

Most modern cars (2010+) have automatic DRL. Foreign older cars: turn dipped headlights on manually whenever driving.

Penalty: €60 on the spot.

The Rettungsgasse (emergency corridor)

When traffic slows or stops on a multi-lane road, drivers must form an emergency corridor (Rettungsgasse) BEFORE traffic fully stops. This allows emergency vehicles to pass.

How to form it

When required

• Heavy traffic slowing
• Accidents
• Construction zones with full closures
• Anytime an emergency vehicle may need to pass

Form the corridor before traffic fully stops; once stopped, it’s much harder to create space.

Penalties

• Failing to form Rettungsgasse: €726
• Blocking emergency vehicle: up to €2,180
• Repeat offenders: license suspension

For foreign drivers: this concept is unfamiliar but legally enforced. The Austrian Rettungsgasse is the same as Germany’s, so German drivers know it.

Mobile phone and other distractions

• Holding phone while driving: €50 on the spot (up to €72 if escalated)
• Hands-free Bluetooth allowed
• Smoking with children under 18 in car: €100
• Driver must wear seat belt; passengers too: €35 per unbelted

Seatbelts and child restraints

Mandatory for all occupants. Penalty €35 per unbelted occupant.

Children: appropriate restraint by weight/height/age. ECE R44 or R129 (i-Size) approved.

Children under 14 in front seat: only with appropriate booster/seat AND if rear seats are full.

Traffic light and priority rules

Standard EU pattern

Traffic lights: red, amber, green (no flashing amber). Solid colors only.

Right of way

Standard Vienna Convention. Priority signed on main roads. “Rechtsregel” (right rule) applies at unmarked intersections: vehicle from the right has priority. Common in residential areas.

Roundabouts

Vehicles in the roundabout have priority. Yield when entering.

Tunnels

Austria has many tunnels. Special rules:

• Dipped headlights mandatory (always)
• Speed limit usually 80 km/h in tunnels (varies by tunnel)
• Distance: keep at least 50m from vehicle ahead (longer for trucks)
• In case of breakdown: pull into emergency niche if possible
• If fire: leave engine off, take key, evacuate via emergency exits
• Major tunnels: Brenner, Tauern, Arlberg, Karawanken, Plabutsch (Graz), Felbertauern

Lights

• Dipped headlights mandatory: in tunnels, in rain/fog, at night, at dusk (daytime DRL rule for cars was repealed 1.1.2008; motorcycles still required DRL/dipped at all times)
• High beams: switch to low when meeting another vehicle (within 150m)
• Rear fog lights: only when visibility under 50m
• Hazard lights: in emergency, when stopped, when at end of traffic jam

Roundabouts and signaling

• Indicate when entering AND exiting roundabouts
• Failure to signal: €25-72 fine
• Roundabouts in Austria use Vienna Convention design

Mountain driving

Mountain roads have special rules:

• Downhill traffic gives way to uphill (especially on narrow roads)
• Use lower gears on long descents
• Some mountain passes close in winter (Großglockner, Silvretta, Tauern Hochalpenstraße)
• Snow chains often required in winter
• Specific signs for switchbacks (“Serpentine”)

Common foreign-driver mistakes

1. Not buying vignette before entering motorway (see toll guide)
2. Not forming Rettungsgasse in traffic jams
3. Not running daytime lights (unique to Austria + a few other countries)
4. Speeding in mountain sections: limits drop 130 → 100 → 80
5. Missing Sondermautstrecke tolls: Brenner, Tauern, etc. need separate payment
6. Not having winter tyres November-April in winter conditions

Resources

• ASFINAG (toll info): asfinag.at
• ÖAMTC (motoring club, English): oeamtc.at
• ARBÖ (alternative club): arboe.at
• BMK (transport ministry): bmk.gv.at
• ÖAMTC breakdown: 120 (in Austria), +43 1 25 120 (international)