AustriavsGermany
Austria and Germany share a land border — here's how their driving rules differ, side by side.
VERIFIED 2026-07-29 & 2026-07-29 · METHODOLOGY| RULE | Austria | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Driving side | Drives on the right | Drives on the right |
| Urban speed limit | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural speed limit | 100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Motorway speed limit | 130 km/h | No general limit |
| Alcohol limit (general) | 0.5‰ | 0.5‰ |
| Alcohol limit (novice) | 0.1‰ | 0.0‰ |
| Mandatory equipment | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest, First aid kit | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest, First aid kit |
| Tolls | Vignette | No general toll |
| Headlights | Dipped headlights mandatory at all times, day and night, year-round. | Not generally mandatory for cars in daylight, but recommended in poor visibility and required in tunnels; motorcycles must run headlights at all times. |
| Winter tires / chains | From 1 November to 15 April, winter tires (or chains fitted when required) are mandatory whenever roads are snowy, icy, or covered in slush — it's condition-based within that window, not a blanket date rule. | Winter tires (marked with the Alpine/3PMSF symbol) are required whenever roads have snow, ice, slush, or frost — there's no fixed calendar season, the requirement is condition-based ("situative Winterreifenpflicht"). Driving on summer tires in wintry conditions can bring a fine and points. |
| Low-emission / restricted zones | No nationwide low-emission zone network; some Alpine routes and tunnels have separate driving bans for older or high-emission trucks, and Vienna has limited local restrictions. | Many cities have an "Umweltzone" (environmental zone) requiring a green Umweltplakette sticker; some cities add separate diesel restrictions. |
| Child seats | Children under 14 and shorter than 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their age, height, and weight. | Children under 12 and shorter than 150 cm must use an approved child restraint system. |
| Mobile phone use | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited. | Holding a phone while driving is prohibited; hands-free use is permitted. |
| Currency | EUR | EUR |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |