Driving in Austria

Driving in Austria comes with clear rules for foreign licenses.
EU/EEA licenses are valid without limits, while non-EU/EEA ones only work for six months after registering your residence.

Austrian Driving License Laws

In Austria, you need a valid driving license (Führerschein) to operate a motor vehicle.
The rules differ depending on whether your license was issued in an EU/EEA country or a non-EU country.

Minimum driving age: 18 years for cars (category B).
All drivers must carry their driving license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance when driving.
Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers, and using a mobile phone while driving is only allowed with a hands-free system.

Validity of Foreign Licenses

EU/EEA licenses: Fully valid in Austria with no time limit. You can use them as long as they remain valid in the issuing country.
Non-EU/EEA licenses:
- - Valid for six months from the date you register your residence in Austria (Meldezettel).
  - After that period, you must exchange your license for an Austrian one to continue driving legally.
If your foreign license is not in German or does not follow the EU card format, you should carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with your original license for the first six months.

Converting Your Foreign Driving License

If you plan to stay in Austria long-term and your license is from outside the EU/EEA, you’ll need to apply for a license conversion (Umschreibung) at your local driving license authority (Führerscheinbehörde), which is the Police headquarters of upper Austria for residents in Linz.

EU and EEA driving licenses are already recognized in Austria. This means they do not have to be converted, but you may do so voluntarily.
When converting non-EU/EEA driving licenses, it is usually necessary to take a practical driving test. In order to do so, holders must provide a suitable vehicle from the relevant license category.
However, no practical driving test is required upon converting the following non-EU/EEA driving licenses: Albania, Andorra, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Switzerland, Serbia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hong Kong, Israel, Canada, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Korea, USA, United Arab Emirates.
All countries listed here.
For others, you may need to pass a theory and/or practical driving test in Austria.

Requirements:

To exchange your license, you will typically need:

Your original driving license.
Official translation into German (if not in German or English).
Passport or ID card.
Proof of residence registration (Meldezettel).
A biometric passport photo.
A medical certificate from an Austrian doctor confirming your fitness to drive (valid for 18 months).
Application fee (varies by state, usually €50–€100).
The process can take several weeks, especially if your home country requires confirmation of license validity, so plan ahead if your six-month deadline is approaching.

Renting Cars (e.g., for Transporting Furniture)

Car rental in Austria is straightforward if you have a valid license and meet the age requirements:

Most rental companies require you to be at least 21 years old (sometimes 25 for larger vehicles).
You’ll need your driving license, passport/ID, and a credit card for the deposit.
For moving furniture, you can rent a van or small truck from companies like Europcar, Sixt, or local hardware stores (e.g., OBI, Bauhaus) that offer hourly van rentals, but mostly with an EU/EEA driving license.
Some stores provide discounted or even free van use if you make large purchases.

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