A Guide to Car hire in Austria
Car hire in Austria is widely available from all the major car rental companies. Visits to Austria mostly include trips to Vienna with its Cathedral, wine pubs and romantic Waltz music events.
Worth a visit are Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol surrounded by the Alps, and the Danube valley with its vineyards, for example the Wachau or Dunkelsteinerwald, which are between Melk and Krems.
In the western part of the country the province Vorarlberg reaches the Lake Constance, in the eastern part Neusiedler See.
Of great touristic importance are the Austrian skiing, hiking and mountaineering resorts in the Alps as well as family-friendly recreation areas. The same applies to the numerous Austrian lakes.
Driving in Austria
If you’re planning to rent a car while in Austria there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.
The flashing of headlights is used as a warning.Also note that dipped headlights should be used in built-up areas at night.
Local Laws
It is compulsory to carry a warning triangle, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
A motorway tax disc must be displayed - weekly or monthly versions can be obtained. The following motorways charge tolls: A10 Tauern motorway, A9 Pyhrn motorway, A13 Brenner motorway, S16 Arlberg Tunnel.
Seatbelts are compulsory in the front and rear. Horns may not be used where their use is prohibited by a road sign. This applies in many large towns, mostly at night and in Vienna at all times
Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas, 100 km/h (62mph) out of town, while on toll motorways it’s 130 km/h (81mph).
Drink Driving
As with most other European countries nowadays drink driving is heavily frowned upon in Austria and the limit is quite low (currently 80mg) at the same level it is in the UK so it’s not worth taking any risks.
Parking
A ‘pay and display’ parking system operates in major towns for which tickets can be purchased from tobacconists.
