Driving in Austria
💡 Local Driving Tips
- →Vignette is mandatory — fines for non-compliance are very high (€120+).
- →Some alpine passes and tunnels have separate tolls in addition to the vignette.
- →Winter tyres are compulsory Nov–Apr when roads are icy or snowy.
- →Vienna's city centre has many pedestrian zones and parking is expensive.
- →Austria has a strict legal requirement to form a Rettungsgasse on motorways whenever traffic slows — not just when you see emergency vehicles. Left lane goes left, all others move right.
🗣️ Key Driving Words in German (Austrian)
You may not speak the language, but knowing these words on road signs and at toll booths can save you from confusion — or a fine.
🚦 Speed Limits
Some motorway sections limited to 110 km/h. Weather-dependent limits common.
💳 Toll Roads & Vignettes
Digital vignette purchased online at asfinag.at or physical sticker from petrol stations. Required immediately upon entering motorway. Spot checks frequent.
Vignette required on all motorways and expressways. Available for 10 days, 2 months, or 1 year.
🪧 Road Signs to Know
While most European road signs follow international standards, these are the signs you are most likely to encounter — and the ones that catch tourists off guard.
Must-Know Signs
Country-Specific Signs
📷 Speed Cameras
Camera Types in Austria
- 📷Stationäre Radargeräte (fixed cameras) — on urban roads, motorways, and alpine approach roads
- 📷Laserpistolen (mobile laser) — operated by police at roadside and in vehicles
- 📷Streckenradar / ViDi (section control) — widely used in tunnels (e.g. Karawanken, Gleinalm) and on motorways
- 📷Rotlichtüberwachung (red-light cameras) at major urban junctions
From €20 for minor excess. Extreme offences (>60 km/h over) can result in fines of €5,000+ and vehicle confiscation in Austria.
Austria has some of the harshest speeding penalties in Europe for extreme excess. The ViDi section control system in alpine tunnels is highly effective. Foreign drivers are often required to pay fines on the spot — keep a payment card accessible. Fines forwarded to rental companies are passed on with admin fees.
🅿️ Parking Signs & Zones
Understanding parking zones and road markings can save you a fine or a tow. Here is what each colour and sign means in Austria.
Parking Zones Explained
Short-term parking zone — display a Parkschein (paper voucher with time marked) or use the Handy-Parken digital system. Maximum stay is 1.5 or 3 hours depending on the zone. Free outside restricted hours.
Paid parking zone — use Parkscheinautomaten (ticket machines) or the Handy-Parken app. Common in Vienna and Salzburg city centres.
Yellow stripes on the kerb or a standard red-circle no-stopping sign. Strictly enforced in Vienna and Salzburg. Even brief stops in these zones can result in a ticket.
Road Line Colours
🗺️ Scenic Routes
- 🛣️ Grossglockner High Alpine Road
- 🛣️ Romantic Road
- 🛣️ Wachau Valley Drive