Car owners in Austria: travel and vignette, insurance, replacement of driver's license
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Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many Ukrainians have taken refuge in Austria. Some of our compatriots came to the country by their own cars. We offer you to get acquainted with important information for Ukrainian car owners.
Road toll and vignette
Cars with Ukrainian license plates are currently exempt from tolls on toll roads and highways, so you do not need to buy a vignette. The exemption applies to both personal vehicles and trucks carrying humanitarian aid.
Please note that free travel on motorways and expressways for personal cars is set until 30 July 2022.
Do I need to insure my car?
You will not have any insurance problems if you have a green card - you will be able to cover losses in case of accidents directly through the insurance company. If you did not have a "green card" when crossing the border, you had to take out an insurance policy directly at the border. Currently, there are exceptions to this rule for Ukrainians. At least until July 30, the Austrian police should not file a complaint if you do not have an insurance policy.
Registration of cars in Austria and exchange of Ukrainian driver's licenses to Austrian ones
Refugees from Ukraine may not register their cars in Austria. Cars with Ukrainian registration and license plates can be used throughout the year.
If you reside in Austria, you can voluntarily register your vehicle. To register, you must pay taxes: standard consumption tax (NoVA) and insurance tax related to the engine.
It is necessary to change the Ukrainian license to the Austrian one after 6 months of residence in the country. The term "residence" in the context of driver's license law refers to actual circumstances (actual place of residence) without regard to registration or status of the person.
Ukrainian driver's licenses (issued approximately since 2005) are similar to EU citizens' licenses. It is usually not necessary to obtain international license or have a Ukrainian translation done. If necessary, a translation of the driver's license is available from ÖAMTC. More information about the translation can be found here.
In order to renew your driver's license after 6 months in Austria, you must pass a medical examination and pass a practical driving test. Details on changing driver's licenses can be found here.
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