Vacation Abroad: This Can Be Expensive for Drivers

According to an ARBÖ survey, around 45 percent of respondents plan to go on vacation by car this year, preferably to Germany, Italy, or Croatia. "What is allowed here can be penalized with high fines elsewhere," warns Johann Kopinits, head of the ARBÖ legal department. Particularly popular regulations such as red additional license plates, the digital driver's license, or the four-month tolerance window for the §57a inspection are often not recognized abroad.

Allowed in Austria - Expensive Abroad: An Overview

§57a Grace Period

In Austria, the "Pickerl" appointment can be overdue by up to four months. This is not permissible abroad - driving with an expired sticker risks severe penalties.

Red License Plates for Bicycle Carriers

Practical but problematic: The red additional license plates for rear carriers are often not valid in other countries.

Digital Driver's License and Registration Certificates

The digital driver's license valid in Austria is only accepted domestically as proof. Abroad, the physical original document is still required.

Code 111 – Motorcycles up to 125 cc

The B-license extension for light motorcycles is valid only in a few countries – including Italy and Latvia without restrictions, in Spain and Portugal only under certain conditions, and in the Czech Republic only for automatic vehicles.

L17 License

Beginner drivers with an L17 license are only allowed to undertake training drives in Austria. Abroad, the driving license before the 18th birthday is only recognized in Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

Moped License Class AM

This is valid for teenagers under 16 only in Austria and Germany. In other countries, the minimum age is 16.