Driving in Austria as a United Kingdom National

Austria features stunning Alpine roads, well-maintained motorways, and a mandatory digital vignette system. EU licenses accepted; others need an IDP. Winter equipment rules are strictly enforced.

Key Things to Know First

No IDP Typically Required

Austria generally accepts foreign licences for short-term visitors. Carry your original licence and passport at all times.

Drive on the Right — You Are Switching Sides

United Kingdom drives on the left, but Austria drives on the right. Extra caution required at roundabouts, intersections, and after exits.

Tips for switching sides

Speed Signs Use km/h

United Kingdom uses mph, but Austria uses km/h. Verify your GPS or navigation app is set to the correct unit.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Rule	United Kingdom	Austria	Change?
Traffic side	Left-hand traffic	Right-hand traffic	Yes
Speed unit	mph	km/h	Yes
IDP required	—	No	No
Min. driving age	17	18	Differs
Emergency number	999	112	Different
Road difficulty	Moderate	Moderate	—

Speed Limits in Austria

Urban

50 km/h

Rural / Open road

100 km/h

Highway / Motorway

130 km/h

Speed limits in Austria are posted in km/h (kilometres per hour). Quick reference: 50 km/h ≈ 31 mph · 100 km/h ≈ 62 mph · 130 km/h ≈ 81 mph.

Documents to Carry in Austria

Original driving licence from United Kingdom — must be valid and unexpired
Passport or national ID — carry at all times while driving
Car insurance certificate — verify it covers Austria before departure
Vehicle registration / rental agreement

Emergency Number in Austria

112

112 is the pan-European emergency number, widely accepted across many countries worldwide.

Emergency numbers for all countries

Full Austria Driving Guide

Road rules, toll system, fuel types, parking, regional quirks — everything you need for driving in Austria.

Read the complete guide