Austria
Drives on the right · EUR · Emergency 112Speed limits
Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
100 km/h
Motorway
130 km/h
Alcohol limits
General limit
0.5‰
Novice drivers
0.1‰
Mandatory equipment
- •Warning triangle
- •Hi-vis vest
- •First aid kit
Winter tires & snow 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.
Tolls
System
Vignette
A vignette (physical sticker or digital, plate-linked) is required for cars up to 3.5 t on motorways and expressways; several Alpine sections (e.g. Brenner, Tauern, Pyhrn) charge an additional separate toll on top of the vignette.
Full tolls & vignette guide →More things to know before you drive
Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children under 14 and shorter than 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their age, height, and weight.
Headlights
Dipped headlights mandatory at all times, day and night, year-round.
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.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections; roundabouts give way to traffic already circulating.
Parking
Many cities use short-term "Kurzparkzone" paid zones — display a purchased ticket or parking disc showing arrival time.
Speed cameras
Fixed and mobile cameras are common, including average-speed ("Section Control") systems on some motorway stretches.
Good to know
Special Alpine toll sections (e.g. Brenner, Tauern) are charged separately from the general vignette — budget for both if your route crosses them.