Driving in Austria from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Austria? You need:
- A motorway vignette, bought before you reach the motorway The 2-month and annual digital vignettes take 18 days to start if bought online. See below
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate Still have an old paper licence? You need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for Austria below
- A hi-vis vest, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit All 3 are required. Put the vest on before you get out after a breakdown
- Headlights set for driving on the right, so they don't dazzle oncoming drivers Many newer cars do this from a setting in the car's menu (check your handbook). Others need beam deflector stickers
- Winter tyres or snow chains in wintry conditions from 1 November to 15 April
🛂 Your border check happens before Austria
Driving through France, Belgium or Germany? You enter the Schengen area when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave.
Check your passport for Austria →The motorway vignette
You need a vignette to drive on Austria's motorways and expressways (cars up to 3.5 tonnes). Cameras check number plates. 2026 is the last year of the windscreen sticker: from 2027 the vignette will be digital only.
Tunnel and pass tolls (2026, one way): Brenner motorway A13 €12.50, Tauern and Katschberg tunnels A10 €15.00, Arlberg tunnel S16 €13.00, Gleinalm tunnel A9 €12.00, Bosruck tunnel A9 €7.00, Karawanken tunnel A11 €9.00. You don't need a vignette on these sections.
Speed limits in Austria
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph |
| Dual carriageways (Autostraßen) | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Roads outside towns | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
On some motorways, signs marked IG-L set lower limits to reduce air pollution, and some motorways have lower limits at night. Going more than 30 km/h too fast can cost €200 to €5,000.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🚑 Make a rescue lane straight away
As soon as traffic slows into a queue on a motorway, leave a gap for emergency vehicles between the far-left lane and the others. Not doing so can mean a fine of up to €726, or more if you block an emergency vehicle.
🍷 Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l, or just 0.1 g/l for drivers with less than 3 years' experience. Over the limit starts at a €300 fine.
📵 No handheld phones
Calling with a phone in your hand is a €100 fine. A phone used as a sat-nav must be in a holder.
👶 Child seats
Children under 14 who are shorter than 135 cm need a suitable child seat or booster.
💡 Lights
Daytime lights aren't compulsory, but you must use your lights in poor visibility, at dusk and in the dark.
❄️ Winter tyres and chains 1 Nov – 15 Apr
From 1 November to 15 April, whenever there's snow, slush or ice on the road, cars must have winter tyres on all wheels or snow chains on at least two driving wheels.
Tyres marked M+S or with the snowflake symbol count as winter tyres, but they need at least 4 mm of tread. With chains, don't go faster than 50 km/h. Many ski resort roads need chains in heavy snow, so it's worth carrying a set.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112, or 144 for an ambulance, 133 for the police and 122 for fire.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you get out.
- Place the warning triangle far enough behind the car to warn traffic, if it's safe to.
Hiring a car in Austria instead
- Hire companies set their own minimum age and may want a year's driving experience.
- Austrian hire cars come with a vignette, and winter tyres in winter: check both when you collect the car.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
FAQs
Do I need a vignette to drive in Austria?
Yes, to use Austria's motorways and expressways. In 2026 it costs €9.60 for 1 day, €12.80 for 10 days, €32.00 for 2 months or €106.80 for a year. Driving without one is a €200 fine.
Why isn't my Austrian digital vignette valid straight away?
If you buy a 2-month or annual digital vignette online, it's only valid from the 18th day after you buy it, because of the consumer cooling-off period. 1-day and 10-day vignettes can start straight away, and so can any vignette bought from a petrol station, motoring club shop or toll station.
Do I need winter tyres in Austria?
From 1 November to 15 April, whenever there's snow, slush or ice on the road, cars need winter tyres on all wheels or snow chains on at least two driving wheels. Winter tyres need at least 4 mm of tread to count.
What do I need to carry in my car in Austria?
A warning triangle, a hi-vis vest and a first-aid kit. Put the vest on before you get out of the car after a breakdown or accident.
Do I need to pay extra for tunnels in Austria?
Yes, on 6 sections: for example the Brenner motorway (€12.50), the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels (€15.00), the Arlberg tunnel (€13.00), the Karawanken tunnel (€9.00) and the Gleinalm tunnel (€12.00), each one way in 2026. You don't need a vignette on those sections.
What is the drink-drive limit in Austria?
0.5 g/l, lower than England, Wales and Northern Ireland (0.8). It's just 0.1 g/l for drivers with less than 3 years' experience.
Do I need an international driving permit for Austria?
No, not with a UK photocard licence. You need one only if you still have an old paper licence.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: Austria travel advice, road travel · International driving permits · UK stickers · Insurance abroad
- Austria: Vignette prices (ASFINAG) · Digital vignette and the 18-day rule · Section tolls · Checks and fines · Fake vignette sites · Winter equipment (oesterreich.gv.at) · Speed limits · Warning triangle and vest · First-aid kit · Rescue lane · Phones · Child seats
- EU: Your Europe: road rules in Austria