Driving in Germany and crossing over to Austria

1) Whether you need an IDP depends on both which country you are driving in an which country issued your licence. Since you don't say which country you are from we cannot answer this question.
Where you get it from again depends on which country you are from.

1) (you have two number 1's!) Yes, tell the car hire agency and they should supply the reflective vest. It may be in the car already

2) A Vignette is a toll sticker. You need to buy a Vignette sticker if you want to drive on Austrian Autobahns (motorways). you can buy this at border crossings which are Autobahns. If you don't want to go on Autobahns you don't need one.

3) t = tonnes. 3.5t = 3.5 tonnes = 3500 Kg. The weight of the vehicle. This is the limit you can drive on a normal licence. Over 3.5 tonnes is a lorry/truck and the Vignette costs more..

4) You may be able to get it a Vignette a fuel station on the Autobahn on the way to Austria, otherwise buy it at the border. Shops / fuel stations in Germany would not sell them. In Austria they would, but that is only any good if you are already in Austria.

They won't ask for an IDP if you rent in Germany, but you will need to produce one if the police pull you over in Austria. If you don't have one, the fine will be much higher.

1. Vignettes are still required if driving on the Austrian Autobahn network. All registered cars in Germany will provide a reflector vest, first aid kit and warning triangles. The rental company may be able to provide the vignette, but if not, you can simply buy one from a gas station at the border.

2. Not sure, but see above about vignettes.

3. "3.5t" is 3.5 tons. Unless you plan to haul freight, don't worry about this.

4. See above. Most German Autobahn rest stops near the border sell them.

Hi Jen,

We've rented cars in Germany for trips that included Austria so many times. Simple. I always get an IDP from AAA for about $20. I've never been asked for it though. The Austrian Vignette can be bought at gas stations in Germany. We've never had a problem finding these at stations between Munich and Austria. Check the car, most come with a reflective vest. As for "border crossings" that others mentioned, I've never seen these. Driving from Germany to Austria is like driving from one state to another in the U.S. If you miss the sign saying you are entering Austria, you'll never know.

Paul

The Autobahn crossing at Bregenz has one of these stations, and although I'm not 100% sure, I believe there's one at Salzburg too (can't quit remember).

Jen, we bought 2 vignettes at the service station close to the Austrian border ( we needed 2 x 10 days, as it turned out) one in Switzerland and also near the german/Austrian border near Berchtesgaden. while we probably could have avoided using the 'toll' roads it was just easier to quickly stop buy one for 8 euro etc stick it on and know your covered. piece of mind

Tom,

" All registered cars in Germany will provide a reflector vest, first aid kit and warning triangles."

I suppose it doesn't matter whether or not the renter knows how to effectively use the contents of the first aid kit, or whether the rental agency checks this periodically to ensure it's properly stocked.

Hi All,

thanks so much for the inputs

As for the IDP, if the license is non-English then we'd have to apply for it. It is required both in Germany and Austria. sadly it's another cost >_<
I live in Indonesia btw, hopefully the embassy could assist us without having to go to the police station by ourselves (believe me it won't be as easy and straightforward as going to AAA in US ).

Cheers Have a Good Day All :D

Jen, the IDP is normally issued by the country which issued your driving licence, NOT the embassy. It is a certified translation. It translates your licence into multiple languages, including German. You need it because your licence is not in German (not because it is not in English, German and Austrian police speak German, not English).

Licences issued in the EU and certain other European countries do not require an IDP because they are already multi-lingual.

Last time I went from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden (2012) the bus fare was 4,50€ per person. A Tagesticket (day ticket) was 9,-€ and included use of most of the buses in Berchtesgaden.

There are multiple options for Oberammergau to Ehrwald. There is the all-train connection, Oberammergau to Murnau to Garmisch to Ehrwald, or Oberammergau to Oberau by bus, then train to Garmisch and Ehrwald, or my preference, Oberammergau to Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof by bus (via Ettal). Since Ehrwald is on the Außerfernbahn rail line, which is run by German Rail, a Bayern-Ticket is valid for any of those routes.

Hi All, thanks for the inputs

take my words back, i just got my IDP yesterday and it's very easy and straightforward phewww. the cost is also roughly the same with the US when converted to USD. there are private agencies who could offer service to arrange it on behalf of us but with the cost of 3-5x more! thanks God for the internet , i read other ppl's experience getting the IDP in my country and decide applying it by myself.

Hi Lee,
thanks for the train inputs. we heard about the great auto-bahn in Germany and would like to give it a try :D

I drive in Germany and Austria frequently and have always used my CDL. As so many have already advised, the laws can be quite different from what you are used to and the fines expensive. I have never been stopped -- not yet anyway-- but then I take time to acquaint myself with the rules. I think parking can be a challenge in large cities or metropolitan areas. So, I try to get to the city center early then park my car and go by foot or public transport.

Hi orakle
is there any traffic law that is somehow unique in Germany and Austria? I live in one of the most hectic Asian country but used to live and drive in Sydney, Australia for some years. I think the most difference is the driver's seating as in Sydney and my country, the driver's seat is on the left whilst EU is in the opposite side. But once my husband got fined in Sydney for A$ 1000 just because he forgot to put his L plate/beginner plate (at that time, he's in the process of converting to full license from his Indonesian license but has more than 10years of driving experience), the passenger next to him is not a full licensed driver and it's a long weekend so double demerit points applied >_<

Are there any other rules that needs to be pinpoint for tourists aside from the green and vignettes stickers for driving in Germany and Austria? I mean rules that are unique to this area and somewhat pretty different with US or UK for example.

TIA

Jen,
I can't think of a road rule that is unique to Germany, but I am sure there are some.
You do need to learn the traffic signs. Click here to see the important ones. Most are the same as the rest of Europe, but some are unique. I don't know if these are the same as the ones you are used to.
Germany and Austria drive on the right and have the driver's seat on the left of the vehicle. This is not true for all EU countries. UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus drive on the left.

I would suggest downloading and printing out this ADAC (German Auto Club) brochure that covers all traffic signage and some unique rules:
https://www.adac.de/_mmm/pdf/fi_05_verkehrszeichen_engl_0510_30482.pdf

Review it and keep a copy in your car for reference.

A few others that come to mind that some people might not know:

• Only pass on the left on the autobahns. Passing on the right will get you a ticket and possibly some road rage from other drivers!
• Stay out of the left lane when you are not passing
• No right turns on red allowed unless there is a special right turn sign (see page 18 of the brochure, special sign V)
• Speed cameras are everywhere, don't speed
• They have strict distracted driving laws, no using cell phones (unless hands free), no eating while driving

DJ

DJ, Jen, those are all rules which are common throughout Europe, not special to Germany.

When you enter Germany by road, you will see this sign which shows the national speed limits. All countries in Europe use this sign at their borders.

There are no specific speed limit signs when you enter a town or village. The town name sign (sign 310 in DJ's link) also indicates the start of the 50 Km/Hr speed limit. When you exit the town or village, there is a sign with the town name crossed through (sign 311), this is the end of the 50 Km/Hr speed limit and the start of the 100Km/Hr limit. This system is used in many other European countries.

I'll mention the obvious... on the German (but not Austrian!) Autobahn network, there's no speed limit if not otherwise specified. This only applies to a designated Autobahn route, which is easily identified by the distinctive blue signage.

If you see a yellow sign, even though the road may otherwise look identical to an Autobahn route, you're on a Bundestraße, and the default speed limit is 100 km/hr.

Be aware of the "priority on the right" rule for determining who must yield at an intersection, but don't get too stressed over it. This rule only applies at the intersectionof non-priority roads that don't have any kind of stop or yield signs. You generally only encounter this situation on back streets in residential areas, so likely, you won't experience it.