Traffic rules in Austria: known facts and misconceptions

Information on tolls and vignettes in Austria

The motorways and motorways in Austria are the fastest way to reach your destination. However, you will have to pay a toll to use these roads. Depending on the duration of your journey and the type of vehicle, there are various options available (vignette or toll box), which we explain in more detail in the following sections.

GO toll for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes

For all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes, such as large motorhomes, trucks and buses, there is a special toll system in Austria called the "GO toll". This system works completely differently to the system for travellers, who have purchased a "flat rate" for the use of the majority of the motorway network in Austria with an e-vignette. 

With the GO toll, there are no fixed prices based on the period of use, but toll charges calculated on the basis of the distance travelled, the permissible total weight, the number of axles and the emission class of the respective vehicle. 

Large motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes and a height of well over 3 metres can also conveniently pay tolls in Austria with the maut1.de "Toll box for motorhomes and vehicles over 3 metres high".

Toll-free routes

In Austria, there are some motorway sections that can be driven on without paying a toll (but beware: after these sections, a toll often applies immediately!): 

• West motorway, A1 (Walserberg to Salzburg-Nord) 
• Inntal motorway, A12 (Kiefersfelden to Kufstein-Süd) 
• A14 (Hörbranz to Hohenems/Diepoldsau) 
• Linzer Westring, A26 (toll-free until completion of the A7 motorway).

Traffic rules for parking in Austria

In Austria, stopping and parking is prohibited when there is a continuous yellow line at the edge of the carriageway or on the kerb, and parking is prohibited when there is an interrupted yellow line. Parking spaces that can be used without restrictions are recognisable by a white marking. 

Short-stay parking zones are marked in towns and cities with the signs "Short-stay parking zone start" and "Short-stay parking zone end", whereby blue ground markings can be additional orientation aids. 

In the case of area-wide short-term parking zones, e.g. in Vienna, the corresponding traffic signs are only located at the entrances and exits of the respective area. Within these areas, there are no other traffic signs indicating the area-wide short-term parking zone. There may be other prohibitions in short-term parking zones, such as stopping bans. 

Parking in a short-term parking zone is usually only possible with a parking ticket. In Austria, these parking tickets are available from the ÖAMTC, tobacconists, ticket agencies, ticket machines (underground stations), railway stations and some banks, savings banks and petrol stations and must be filled in completely and placed behind the windscreen so that they are clearly visible. Parking tickets can now also be purchased by mobile phone.

Equipment for winter road conditions

Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight: There is no general winter tyre requirement in the winter months. However, all vehicles up to 3.5 t must be equipped with winter tyres (marked "M+S", "M&S", Alpine symbol or snowflake symbol) or snow chains in winter road conditions, i.e. in snow, slush, on snow-covered or icy roads. 

This obligation applies from 1 November to 15 April of the following year. In the case of transit bans with the addition "Except vehicles with winter equipment", vehicles may only continue to drive if either snow chains or winter tyres are fitted. 

If necessary, winter tyres must be fitted to all wheels. Instead of winter tyres, snow chains can also be used on the drive wheels if the road is (almost) completely covered with snow or ice. Tyres intended for use as snow, mud and ice tyres must have a tread depth of at least 5 mm for diagonal tyres or at least 4 mm for radial tyres. 

So-called "all-season tyres" or "all-weather tyres" can be considered as winter tyres, provided they have an "M + S" marking. Trailers are not subject to this winter tyre requirement.

Vehicles over 3.5 t GVW: All heavy vehicles over 3.5 t GVW must be fitted with winter tyres at least on the wheels of one drive axle in the period from 1 November to 15 April of the following year. To avoid problems, it is recommended that motorhomes over 3.5 t that are registered as "special vehicle motorhomes" are also fitted with M+S tyres.

Snow chains: The use of snow chains is mandatory wherever you see a round sign with a blue background and a snow chain symbol. 

Snow chains must be fitted to all wheels of the driven axles. In the case of all-wheel drive vehicles, chains must be fitted to at least two drive wheels (as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer). 

Vehicles over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight must carry suitable snow chains for at least two drive wheels in the period from 1 November to 15 April of the following year.

Further traffic regulations in Austria in brief:

• If there is no way out on mountain roads, the vehicle that can reverse more easily due to the local conditions must do so. 
• Overtaking is prohibited within 80 metres before and after level crossings. 
• You may not drive past school buses if the hazard warning lights and amber-red warning lights are switched on. 
• Children up to 14 years of age and smaller than 1.35 metres require a child seat appropriate to the weight and height of the child. If the child is travelling in the front passenger seat in a rear-facing child seat, the airbag must be deactivated. be deactivated. 
• Drivers of multi-lane vehicles must carry and wear a warning vest if they leave their vehicle due to a breakdown or accident. This applies outside built-up areas and on motorways, even in poor visibility, at dusk or in the dark. 
• Smoking is prohibited in closed private vehicles if there is a person under the age of 18 in the vehicle. 
• A rescue lane must be formed as soon as a traffic jam begins to build up and not only when an emergency vehicle is approaching. The obligation exists not only after accidents, but also, for example, in daily traffic jams due to traffic congestion.
  A fine of up to 726 euros may be imposed if a necessary emergency lane is not formed or is driven into without authorisation. If this behaviour leads to an obstruction of emergency or breakdown service vehicles or vehicles of the road service can be fined between 72 and 2,180 euros. 
• The police must be called in the event of accidents involving personal injury. If the police are called to a road traffic accident with purely material damage, in which the exchange of data between the parties involved would have been possible, an accident report fee must be paid, approx. 36 euros must be paid. In the latter case, the use of the "European Accident Report" is recommended. 
• Single-track motorcycles must carry a small first-aid kit. Carrying a high-visibility waistcoat is also recommended. 
• From 15 April to 31 October, loud motorcycles with a stationary noise of over 95 dB are no longer permitted on certain routes in the Tyrolean Außerfern region. This affects five stretches of road with a total length of 126 kilometres. Offenders face fines of 220 euros.

Are fines from Austria also enforceable in Germany?

In Germany, fines from other EU countries are enforced from a limit of 70 euros. This limit applies to the fine plus any administrative costs incurred. 

Exception: Fines due in Austria are payable from a limit of 25 euros plus any administrative costs incurred. 

In principle, only fines are collected. A driving ban due abroad can currently only be enforced in the respective country. There are also no points in Flensburg for traffic offences committed abroad. 

The Federal Office of Justice is responsible for retrospective recoveries. The foreign authorities refer the matter to the Federal Office, which then takes action if a German driver has not paid their parking ticket. 

Incidentally, the EU member states have different levels of consistency when it comes to enforcing fines. While the Netherlands, for example, generally has fines in Germany collected by the responsible Federal Office of Justice, other countries are more cautious. 

Good to know: Fines from non-EU countries (e.g. Great Britain, Norway, Liechtenstein) cannot be enforced in Germany. 

In our maut1.de blog, we have also summarised the most important traffic regulations for Italy, France, Spain and Croatia.