Austria by Car 2025: Tolls, Scenic Routes, Driving Rules & Fines Explained

Austria is made for those who enjoy not just the destination but the drive itself. Think pristine highways, magical mountain switchbacks, road markings that glow brighter than a Christmas tree, and drivers so polite you’d think they were on calming herbs.

If you’re used to the “creative” driving style of Eastern Europe—forget it. Austria follows the “Schengen standard”: no cutting people off, no overtaking on the shoulder, no drama. Just calm, smooth, rule-abiding drivers.

Toll Roads in Austria: How to Avoid Fines and Save Your Nerves

Austrian highways are a dream for any driver—but dreams come at a price.

There are around 2,200 km of toll roads, including all Autobahns (A), Schnellstraßen (S), and several tunnels and scenic alpine routes in national parks.

Vignette — Your Official Entry Ticket

To drive on motorways, you need a vignette—a special toll sticker or a digital version. You can buy it at gas stations near the border or online at asfinag.at. Stick it on your windshield yourself or have it validated at the point of purchase.

Prices for passenger cars in 2025:

• 10 days – €8.90

• 2 months – €25.90

• 1 year – €86.40

🧠 Pro Tip: Even if you’re entering Austria’s highway for just 10 minutes—buy the vignette. The fine for driving without it is €120, and the police can issue it on the spot. No excuses like “I didn’t know,” “The GPS made me,” or “Just stopping for coffee.”

Extra Fees for Tunnels & Alpine Roads

Aside from standard highways, there are a few stretches where you’ll pay extra—mostly for tunnels and scenic roads. In some cases, you’re paying less for the infrastructure and more for the views.

Major Toll Tunnels (2025 Prices)

• Bosruck Tunnel (A9) — €5.00

• Gleinalm Tunnel (A9) — €8.50

• Tauern + Katschberg Tunnels (A10) — €11.50 total

• Karawankentunnel (A11) — €7.20

• Arlberg Road Tunnel (S16) — €9.50 (almost 14 km!)

• Felbertauern Tunnel (A108) — €11.00 (or €16.50 for a day pass “Bonuscarte”)

• Brenner Autobahn (A13) — €9.00 – popular for trips from Innsbruck to Italy

💡 You can pay by credit card at toll booths. Cash works too, but it’s not always convenient.

Austria’s Most Beautiful Mountain Roads: Curves to Remember

These aren’t just roads—they’re mobile Instagram hotspots. You’ll find yourself joyfully crawling in second gear, savoring every turn.

1. Grossglockner High Alpine Road — €35.50

   • 36 turns, altitude up to 2,504 m

   • Open May to November (daytime only)

   • Length: 47.8 km
     📍 Coordinates: A – 47.226816, 12.826528 / B – 47.039888, 12.843464

2. Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road — €21 round-trip

   • Connects Austria and Italy (R186)

   • Altitude: up to 2,500 m

   • Open June to October, from 7:00 to 20:00

3. Gerlos Alpine Road — €9.00/day

   • Leads to the 380-meter Krimml Waterfall

   • Part of Hohe Tauern National Park

   • Length: 12 km

4. Villach Alpine Road — €17.00

   • Altitude: 1,732 m, Dobratsch Park

   • 16.5 km of pure romance on wheels (Carinthia)

5. Silvretta High Alpine Road — €15.00

   • “Dream Road” in Tyrol and Vorarlberg

   • Starts from Partenen town

   • 22.3 km long, 2,032 m high

   • Highlight: Silvretta reservoir lake

6. Nockalm Road — €18.00

   • Southern Austria (Carinthia)

   • Up to 2,042 m altitude, 34 km long

   • Open from May to October
     📍 Coordinates: A – 46.967529, 13.725482 / B – 46.872256, 13.877928

🧠 Tip: Some roads offer combo tickets or online discounts—plan ahead and save.

Fuel Prices in Austria (2025)

Fuel in Austria is top-quality and widely available. As of summer 2025:

• 95 Petrol (Eurosuper): €1.55/l

• 98 Petrol (Super Plus): €1.65/l

• Diesel: €1.49/l

• LPG (Autogas): ~€1.00/l (rare)

💡 Fuel is 10–15 cents more expensive on highways, so better to fill up in town or before you hit the road.

Most stations offer modern self-service terminals that accept cards and cash.

Parking in Austria: Play by the Rules or Pay the Price

Urban parking in Austria is a bit of a game—you either understand the rules, or you pay a fine.

🕘 Paid Parking Hours:

• Mon–Fri: 09:00–19:00

• Sat: until 13:00

• Sun & public holidays — free

🅿️ Typical Parking Rates:

• First 15 min — free (but you need a ticket!)

• 1 hour — €2.00–2.50

• Underground garages: €20–25/day (Vienna, Salzburg)

💡 Tip: Choose hotels with private parking or partnerships with local garages. Ask at check-in: “Parking?” — they’ll give you a map and discount ticket.

🚫 Illegal parking fine: from €20. If you’re lucky, it’s just a ticket. If not — a tow will cost much more.

Traffic Rules & Fines: The Essentials

Speed Limits:

• Cities — 50 km/h

• Rural roads — 100 km/h

• Highways — 130 km/h

🚓 Speed cameras are everywhere. Yes, even rental agencies get the fines, and they’ll pass them on to you.

How Much Can You Drink and Still Drive? (Spoiler: Not Much)

The legal blood alcohol limit in Austria is 0.49‰. But what does that actually mean?

Here’s a rough idea:

• 1 glass of wine (150 ml, 12%) ≈ 0.3–0.4‰

• 1 beer (0.5 l, 5%) ≈ 0.3–0.5‰

• 1 shot (50 ml, 40%) ≈ 0.5–0.6‰

Even one drink might put you near the limit—especially if you:

• Weigh under 70 kg

• Drink on an empty stomach

• Are a woman (alcohol breaks down more slowly)

• Or are a new driver (under 2 years) — your limit is just 0.1‰!

Fines:

• From €300 to €5,900

• High readings = license suspension for up to 6 months

🧠 Traveler’s Tip: Want mulled wine or a glass of Austrian white? Leave the car, take a walk, or hop in a horse carriage. Don’t play roulette with Austrian police.

What You MUST Have in the Car

Austria doesn’t take “optional” lightly. You are legally required to carry:

• First-aid kit

• Warning triangle

• Reflective vest — one per passenger!

🚫 Missing any of these? Fine from €14 to €36 on the spot—or more in court.

Winter Rules

From Nov 1 to Apr 15, winter tires are mandatory. In mountain regions, snow chains may also be required.

Fine: €60 minimum — but in case of an accident, it can be several hundred euros.

In Case of an Accident or Emergency

Call the police only if there are injuries. Save these numbers:

• 112 — Emergency hotline
• 133 — Police
• 144 — Ambulance
• 122 — Fire brigade
• 120 — Roadside help (ÖAMTC)
• 123 — Roadside help (ARBÖ)

🌍 Useful Travel Planning Services:

✈️ Aviasales — budget flight deals
🏨 Booking.com — accommodation for every taste
🚘 LocalRent — best car rentals in Europe (with free cancellation)