Car rental in Austria - an Alpine Adventure

To rent a car in Austria, you must be at least 19 years old. However, the minimum car rental age requirements can vary depending on the car category and the local supplier's policies. Additionally, you must have held your driver's licence for at least one year prior to picking up the vehicle.

Drivers under the age of 21 years are often subject to a Young Driver Surcharge. When booking through the Auto Europe website, it's important for young drivers to enter their correct age to be informed of any restrictions or additional charges.

Simply select your travel dates and destination on our website, then click the blue info icon (i) to view the young driver surcharge. This fee amount is also listed in your voucher's terms and conditions, which are emailed once your reservation is confirmed. For young drivers renting their first car, our blog post offers extensive advice and tips to guide you through the rental process.

For one-way car rentals in Austria, drivers can pick up their vehicle in one location and return it elsewhere, but this is subject to an additional fee and may have further restrictions. Additionally, if the rental involves crossing the border between Austria and a neighbouring country like Germany, you may be charged an extra fee payable directly to the rental provider when picking up the car.

The one-way fee is displayed in the booking engine search results, just below the car rental rate. The fee amount is also located on the voucher's terms and conditions after the reservation has been confirmed. Please note that this fee is payable directly to the supplier.

Travel with your car rental in Austria and neighbouring countries is only allowed if pre-agreed. This is subject to approval by the local supplier. Some will charge an additional fee for this privilege. If you plan to drive in Eastern Europe, please note that permission to visit those countries is determined by the supplier.

You can view any applicable travel restrictions or additional fees for your booking on our website. Simply select your travel dates and destination, then choose your preferred supplier. By clicking the blue info icon (i), you'll see all the necessary details. This information is also included in the booking voucher upon your reservation being confirmed.

Yes - when renting a vehicle, drivers must provide a valid credit card upon pickup. This credit card serves as a security deposit, with the rental company holding the funds until the vehicle is returned in the same condition, at which point the full amount will be refunded.

It's important to have a valid credit card with a sufficient credit limit. For some car categories, more than one credit-card may be required. The credit card must be in the main driver's name. Generally, Visa, Mastercard, Diners or American Express are accepted for this purpose. You can easily check which payment methods are accepted by clicking the info icon (i) after selecting your preferred supplier.

Traffic circulates on the right side of the road, and vehicles overtake on the left, as in most European countries. Speed limits vary, for motorways it's 130 kph, 100 kph on suburban roads, and 50 kph in built up areas. However, some roads reduce the speed limit to 50 kph from 10 pm to 5 am.

The legal blood alcohol content for when you rent a car in Austria is 0.05%. So be careful as fines can be harsh. All within the car must wear seatbelts and children under 12 are not allowed to sit in the front. Mobile phones are only allowed with a hands-free. Make sure to check that the vehicle has a high-visibility vest and warning triangle before setting off.

Autobahns, the country's motorways, are signposted with an 'A' except for those that connect to neighbouring countries, which are signposted with an 'E'. Main roads are marked with a 'B' for Bundesstrasse, while rural routes are designated with an 'L' for Landstrasse. Drivers should be aware that stations in remote mountain regions sometimes close on Sundays, so it's best to fill up in towns and cities when possible. Most stations are open from 8am to 8pm, with some 24-hour locations in major cities like Vienna.

Driving in Austria between November 1st and April 15th requires your vehicle to be equipped with winter tyres, regardless of on road snow conditions. Additionally, you must carry snow chains and use them during hazardous weather. In the event of an emergency, accident, or vehicle breakdown, drivers must immediately report the incident to local police. Austria's two major automobile associations, ÖAMTC and ARBÖ, provide 24/7 emergency breakdown assistance, available to both members and non-members for a fee.

Yes - Austria requires toll stickers, known as "vignettes," for all vehicles using its motorway network. These vignettes come with a 10-day, 2-month or 1-year validity period and can be purchased from over 6,000 outlets across the country, such as at petrol stations, border crossings, and the two main automobile associations, ÖAMTC and ARBÖ.

Drivers must clearly display the vignette on their vehicle's windshield as failure to do so will result in fines. Some car rental companies offer prepaid toll options, so make sure you check at the time of pickup with the supplier. Alternatively, digital vignettes can be downloaded directly from the Austrian motorways website.

Auto Europe's car rental rates always include basic liability insurance and collision damage waiver (CDW). Drivers should note that CDW does not cover certain items or every eventuality. For extra cover, we offer a Full Damage Protection Coverage at an additional fee. The price of this add-on may vary based on location, rental duration, vehicle type, and rental company.

For coverage details you may click on the blue info icon (i) during your search. Here you’ll find the amounts for the CDW deductible, theft insurance deductible, and liability insurance. Details of which are also detailed in the terms and conditions provided after you have placed your booking.

Some suppliers may try to sell their own additional insurances, such as personal accident insurance (PAI), personal effects coverage (PEC), super CDW and road assistance. Drivers should be aware that Auto Europe cannot refund the cost of any locally purchased insurance, even if it is deemed unnecessary after the vehicle is returned. Have a read of our car rental coverage section for further details.

Yes - you can add extra drivers to the rental agreement. A daily fee may apply which is set by the individual provider. Some suppliers offer Free Additional Driver promotions, so it's wise to check out the relevant section on our website. Regardless of the supplier's policy, all additional drivers must be fully registered on the rental agreement before collecting the vehicle. Each additional driver will need to present the same documents as the main driver, including their driver's licence and their identification.

The additional driver fee is clearly stated within the car rental information - just click the blue info icon (i) to see the daily rate. This fee is also included in the rental voucher emailed to you. It's crucial that all friends and family members who will be driving are properly listed on the rental contract beforehand. Unauthorised drivers will be liable for the full cost of any damages or theft to the vehicle under their control. It is also a legal requirement to be fully covered with insurance.

Austria is a renowned winter sports destination, drawing large numbers of tourists to its roads even during the colder months. Given the icy and snow-covered conditions that often prevail, it's crucial to drive cautiously and take all necessary precautions when travelling with your car rental in Austria.

The first step is ensuring your vehicle is equipped for winter driving. Austrian law mandates the use of winter tyres from November 1st to April 15th. In addition, snow chains may also be required when roads are icy or more hazardous.

We include complimentary winter tyres in our rates for car rentals in Austria during the winter season. This not only provides added peace of mind, but also saves you the time and expense of arranging winter equipment upon arrival.