To drive in Austria you must hold a full UK licence. Minimum age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car, 18 for a motorcycle over 50 cc, and 16 for a motorcycle under 50 cc.
Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not required but your insurer should be advised of your trip and asked whether or not you require one.
Documentation: always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.
Drinking and driving: Don’t do it. You will be fined if the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is between 0.05 per cent and 0.08 per cent. Over this level and you will incur a fine and/or suspension of driving licence.
Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted Children in cars: child under 12 and 1.5 metres in height cannot travel as front or rear passenger unless they use a suitable restraint system.
GB sticker: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.
First-aid kit must be carried
Headlamp converters are compulsory And since 2006 dipped headlights must be used during the day at all times by all road users.
Warning triangle is compulsory
Visibility Vests are compulsory in Austria. It would be appropriate to ensure the vehicle carries one vest for each occupant in the vehicle. It is compulsory to wear visibility vests if walking on a motorway, or anywhere if broken down under a warning triangle, or on the highway when visibility is bad.
Fuel: All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won’t work at automatic pumps. At many garages in rural areas only automatic pumps are available at lunch time, during the evening and weekend, so make sure you’re topped up. It’s a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don’t suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.
Speed limits (unless signpost otherwise) are - Motorways 130 km/h (80mph), non motorways outside off towns 100 km/h (60 mph) Within Town 50 km/h (30mph) The above conversations to mph are approximate. Tip – 1 kilometre = 5/8 mile therefore for an approximate conversation divide the kilometres by 8 and then multiply by 5 to arrive at miles per hour. The same also applies for distances.
Tolls while most roads in Austria are toll free there are a few exceptions, as well as the requirement to purchase and display a vignette, in order to drive on the motorways (autobahns) and expressways (Schnellstraße) . These can be purchased at many petrol stations, at the border or from OAMTC Offices. The cost is !0 days €7.60, 2 months €21.80 ) prices correct as of 2007. Note: tolls may be chargeable at certain tunnels and passes.
More detailed information regarding Tolls, Vignette and the need for a ’top box’ are shown below and I would recommend that you familiarise yourself with them.
Highways and expressways in Austria (also city motorways) are generally subject to toll. The toll is effected by purchasing a toll sticker to be attached to the windscreen.
The toll sticker can be purchased in Austria: at the automobile clubs ÖAMTC und ARBÖ, at tobacconists’ shops and petrol stations. In neighbouring states: at the local automobile clubs and at petrol stations close to the border.
Placement of the toll sticker: Passenger cars: on the upper middle or left side of the windscreen (internal side) Motorcycles: on a clearly visible part, that is difficult to be removed
Infringements of the toll regulation will be punished with an additional charge of € 400.-- to € 4.000,--.
In addition to the toll sticker there are other charges for the following major roads that are subject to toll: Arlberg-tunnel road, Brenner-highway, Dachstein road, Felbertauern road, Gerlos Alpine road, Großglockner-alpine road, Maltatal-Hochalm road, Nockalm road, Pyhrn-highway (Gleinalm tunnel), Pyhrn-highway (Bosruck tunnel), Silvretta alpine road, Sölden – Rettenbachferner-Tiefenbachferner, Tauern-highway, Timmelsjoch, Villacher alpine road – Dobratsch.
Go-Box All vehicles with a weight of more than 3.5 t must be equipped with an on-board device, the so-called GO-Box. This weight only applies to the vehicle towing the caravan/camper van.
The toll system, which does not require the driver to stop or use a certain lane while the toll is collected, has been in operation since January 1, 2004. The system is as simple as can be; it consists of two components visible to the driver * the toll gantries and the on-board units. Drivers are obliged to install the so-called GO-Boxes in their vehicles. The size of the GO-Box is that of cigarette box. It ensures accurate toll collection from inside the vehicle. Communication of the small unit that is mounted on the inside of the windscreen and the toll gantries is based on microwave technology.
Where is the GO-Box available? The GO-Box is available from circa 220 GO-service and sales outlets (mostly Petrol- and Service Stations) in Austria and neighbouring countries.
How much does a GO-Box cost? The GO-Box is available for a one-off processing fee of * 5 (£3.30) including 20% VAT. The relevant vehicles are then broken down into three categories and toll is calculated on the basis of the number of axles, currently from * 0.13 (£ 0.09) per kilometre.
What does it cost to install it? Installation is free, as the driver can easily and quickly mount it him-/herself. The GO-Box is simply glued onto the windscreen with the attached adhesive tape.
User-friendly: The driver can easily and quickly mount the GO Box himself/herself to the vehicle. Tolls are charged electronically; either from a credit stored in the GO-Box (pre-pay) or by deducting the amount easily and conveniently from a debit, credit or petrol card at a later date (post-pay).
Reliable: EUROPPASS benefits from a partnership with its Italian parent company, Autostrade. Safe transmission between GO-Box and toll gantry ensures that tolls are collected reliably. The distance between the GO-Boxes inside the individual vehicles and the toll gantries is short and with sound technology. The system therefore guarantees to register every passage of a vehicle subject to toll. As such, the GO-Box provides a highly effective system in avoiding toll dodging.
More details and tariff information can be found on www.go-maut.at. This website also offers an online toll calculator.
Additionally, you will need a weight bridge certificate with your vehicle registration documents. You can keep your box until the end of your holiday, it costs *5.
Vehicles under 3.5t will only need a toll label for Austrian motorways, which is *7.60 for 10 days and *21.80 for 2 months and can be purchased at service stations close to the Austrian border or sales outlets at the border and is affixed to your windscreen.
