Transport in Upper Austria
Car
About driving in general:
- Right-hand traffic
- Mind the speed limits on highways, main roads and in towns
- Tire regulations for summer and winter
- Vignette for driving on highways required
- In a traffic jam on the highway, always make room for an emergency lane
Speed limits
130 km/h on the highway 100 km/h on the main road 50 km/h in towns (or as marked by road signs)
Tire regulations
Independent of weather conditions, it is compulsory to fit winter tires from November 1st until April 15th of the following year. Plus, if the car is not equipped with winter tires, the insurance does not accept liability for damages anyways.
Vignette
A so-called Vignette is required for the use of motorways. There is a yearly Vignette and also a Vignette for shorter periods. A yearly Vignette must be renewed at the beginning of each year. The Vignette is available from automobile associations (ARBÖ, ÖAMTC, VCÖ), gas stations, tobacconists and ASFINAG toll locations. There is also the possibility of buying a digital Vignette: www.asfinag.at/maut-vignette/vignette/ digitale-vignette/
Automobile associations
These associations represent the interests of road users and offer their members services such as roadside assistance, insurance, travel and buyer’s information. The most well-known are the ÖAMTC and ARBÖ:
www.oeamtc.at
www.arboe.at
Oh! That’s important!
Attention should be payed to what is important when having a non-Austrian driving licence and bringing your own car to your new home country.
Traffic light colours
Austrian traffic lights consist of three colours: red means stop, green means go. When the green light is flashing, drivers should try to stop. After four green flashes, an orange light appears, which means that you should only continue to drive if it is impossible to brake in time or to stop.
Zebra crossings
In Austria, it is compulsory to stop at a zebra crossing if a pedestrian wants to cross the road, but only if the crossing is not regulated by a traffic light.
About the car in general:
- Car registration
- Assessment (Pickerl)
- Car liability insurance
Car registration
Before a newly purchased car can be used on public roads, official registration is required at the relevant local body. A prerequisite is the purchase of liability insurance. If you bring your own car (or other motor vehicle such as a motorcycle or bus) from abroad, you must officially register it with the local authorities at your place of residence. After registration, you get a new local number plate for your car. Please also consider the information in the box when importing a car from abroad.
Assessment (Pickerl)
All vehicles must be assessed at regular intervals for roadworthiness and safety. The assessment date depends on the first registration of the vehicle, the month being indicated on the assessment sticker. The tolerance period for the assessment ranges from one month prior to four months after the month indicated. The assessment can be performed by automobile associations, approved freelance civil engineers and garages. Costs can vary according to the chosen assessment location.
Car liability insurance
The purchase of a car liability insurance is a legal requirement in Austria. This should cover both third parties and the insured and prevent financial ruin.
Foreign number plates and car imports
Persons with their main residence in Austria are allowed to drive a car with foreign number plates for one month after entry of the vehicle into Austria. After this period, the registration certificate and foreign number plates must be handed to the relevant local body: either the district authorities, the state police headquarters in Linz, or the respective police department in Steyr or Wels. Vehicles with an EU operating license do not require individual approval.
Vehicles without an EU operating license
These require an individual approval, along with registration in an approval database. The bodies responsible for the approval are the technical test centres of the Upper Austrian State Government: www.land-oberoesterreich.gv.at/themen_verkehr_kfz.htm
NoVA (Normalverbrauchsabgabe)
Regardless of whether the car is imported from the EU or from a third country, the so-called standardised consumption tax (Normverbrauchsabgabe/ NoVA) is payable to the local tax authority. A tax calculator can be found at: www.nova-rechner.at/index.php/rechner-menu
Further information on rules for driving motor vehicles in Austria can be found here: https://www.help.gv.at/Portal.Node/hlpd/public/content/6/Seite.0630002.html
If you stay for a longer time in Austria, you should check out the different ticket options you have for the public transportation system.
An advantage of the OÖVV, which is the public transportation company for Upper Austria, is the free choice of public transport and free alteration between the OÖVV transportation companies along the selected route. Please consider the special arrangements in the central zone (Linz, Wels, Steyr).
Upper Austrian Transport Association (Oberösterreichischer Verkehrsverbund/OÖVV) The Upper Austrian Transport Association fulfills the demand for quantity and quality in public transport for the whole federal state. Its duties include providing information and advice to passengers, issuing and billing free travel for students or apprentices, and charging and providing services to customers. The OÖVV website provides timetables, tickets and prices as well as information on tickets for trainees: www.ooevv.at
Oh! That’s good news!
Be sure to check out the Sparschiene offers on the ÖBB website. They are available for both Austria and Europe, and you can pre-book rail connections very cheaply. The family card (Familienkarte) is also helpful for cheaper travelling.
Austrian railway companies
You can choose between two railway companies
- OEBB – if you book online in advance, check out the „SparSchiene“ tickets, which offer tickets for discounted prices.
- WESTBAHN – this railway only operates between the cities Salzburg, Linz and Vienna.
In any case, do compare the prices. Please also mind that the tickets are not interchangeable between the railway companies!
ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen) – Austrian Railways
The trains of Austrian Railways, a nationally owned organisation, are the most widely used form of public transport in the country. The well-developed network of railways offers comfortable commuting by train, along with international connections. Busses are also operated by the ÖBB. For train travel with the ÖBB, tickets must be purchased before boarding, either online or from a ticket machine at the stations. For frequent trips, the purchase of a weekly, monthly or yearly ticket can be cheaper. Alternatively, it is advisable to purchase a so-called ÖBB Vorteilscard, as this can allow you to make substantial savings. The timetables are available on the ÖBB website as well as on the free ÖBB Scotty app, which covers all bus and train connections, stops, delays and more, regardless of the op erator. In addition, train connections of the WESTbahn are displayed in the app as well as on the website. www.oebb.at https://www.oebb.at/de/fahrplan/fahrplanauskunft/scottymobil
OEBB Vorteilscard
If you stay longer and would like to discover Austria by train, it is worth getting the OEBB Vorteilscard.
WESTbahn
The WESTbahn is a private company offering train travel be - tween Vienna and Salzburg. Upper Austria benefits greatly from this service since it lies between these two states. WESTbahn offers its services at lower prices than the ÖBB, using the ÖBB infrastructure. ÖBB Vorteilscard holders can also travel at reduced rates with the WESTbahn. Tickets bought from the ticket machines at railway stations are not valid for travel with the WESTbahn since they are only valid on ÖBB trains. WESTbahn tickets can be bought on the train directly from the ticket collector, in many tobacconists, with the WESTpay app or on the WESTbahn website: www.westbahn.at In timetables, displays and apps (including the ÖBB Scotty app), WESTbahn trains are indicated with the prefix WB. On the platform, WESTbahn trains can be distinguished from the red ÖBB trains by their green-blue design.
The “LINZ AG LINIEN” has different ticket offers. In addition to the classic MINI, MIDI, MAXI and MEGA (annual) tickets, weekly and monthly tickets are available for your individual mobility requirements. Children, pupils, students, trainees, employed persons, senior citizens as well as owners of an Active Pass can get low-price tickets based on socially adjusted fares and special discounts. MEGA tickets (annual network ticket) are available as transferable tickets for adults, senior citizens and students. There is a Job Ticket available for people commuting to and from their workplaces.
Linz AG lines (busses and tramway) Linz AG is the operator of regional buses and trams in Linz and offers an excellent public transport network. This allows trouble-free travel to all parts of Linz and beyond. Passengers must be in possession of a valid ticket before travelling, otherwise plainclothes ticket inspectors can levy large fines.Tickets (short or long-distance, day tickets) can be bought from ticket machines at all bus and tramway stops and should be purchased in advance. The ticket types and prices can be displayed in German and English. The tickets are valid for both buses and trams in Linz, but not for the Pöstlingberg tram. For frequent travel, a weekly, monthly or yearly ticket is highly recommended.Extensive information is available at www.linzag.at/efa
Oh! Don’t forget!
If you want to board a bus or tram with your dog, you have to buy a separate ticket for man’s best friend! Oh, and make sure to press the stop button in busses and trams before reaching your destination.
ÖBB Bus and FlixBus
The Austrian Railways not only operate trains, but also an extensive bus network. Tickets for ÖBB busses can be purchased in cash from the driver as well as online. For frequent trips, the purchase of a weekly, monthly or yearly ticket can be cheaper. Alternatively, it is advisable to purchase a so-called ÖBB Vorteilscardas this allows you to make substantial savings. The timetables are available on the ÖBB website as well as on the free ÖBB Scotty app, which covers all bus and train connections, stops, delays and more, regardless of the operator: www.oebb.at
FlixBus is a German company operating an international long-distance bus network, which offers relatively cheap bus travel within Europe. www.flixbus.de
Public transportation Wels
„Linie Wels“ offers different tickets for the public transportation in Wels.
Public transportation Steyr
„Stadtbetriebe Steyr GmbH“ has also a range on different options for public transportation tickets.
Plane
Vienna International Airport
The airport in Vienna is the largest and most important Austrian airport. It can be reached directly in less than 2 hours from Linz by ÖBB railjets, which offer the most comfortable way of travelling to the Vienna International Airport. Additionally, the airport can be reached by bus from all railway stations in Vienna. www.viennaairport.com www.oebb.at
Linz Blue Danube Airport
The airport in Linz is rather small and flies predominantly to large hubs like Vienna, Frankfurt or Düsseldorf. It is primarily used for business trips. In summer, there are also flights to various holiday destinations.
www.linz-airport.com
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Salzburg)
Airport Living in the south of Upper Austria, the airport in Salzburg may be the best option for flying. Like the airport in Linz, it is primarily used for business trips and for connecting flights to larger hubs.
www.salzburg-airport.com
Munich Airport
Another big international airport is Munich Airport. Although it cannot be reached by train as comfortably and directly as Vienna International Airport, it could be a good option for people living in the west of Upper Austria. Munich Airport is best reached by car.
www.munich-airport.com
Other transport options
LINZ AG collective on-call taxi
Linz AG lines offer a collective on-call taxi (Anruf-Sammel-Taxi/AST): A taxi running according to a timetable, which is shared with other passengers and is therefore cheaper. The taxi must be ordered at least 30 minutes before the desired departure time as demand is high. All information can be found here:
www.linzag.at/portal/de/privatkunden/unterwegs/anruf_sammel_taxi
Taxi
Usually, there are taxi ranks at highly frequented locations in cities. Alternatively, many taxi companies are online. A Google search with “taxi + location” indicates the nearest taxis and their contact information.
Oh! That’s good to know!
It’s advisable to keep a little cash for paying the taxi driver as not all accept debit or credit cards. And: It is common to give the driver a small tip.
Bicycle
Bicycles are also popular for making journeys. Cyclists should note that they must push their bicycle over zebra crossings and are not permitted to cycle on pavements. Additionally, there is also a strict limit on alcohol. For children under 12, a helmet must be worn for safety reasons. Although this is optional from the age of 13 onwards, a helmet is still highly recommended. Please note that you have to pay extra for taking your bicycle with you on public transport.
e-scooter sharing Linz
e-scooters can be rented against payment of a fee, mostly over smartphone apps, and are payed for by credit card or through online payment systems. The minimum age for driving an e-scooter is 12 years, but kids with a bicycle license at the age of 9 or 10 are also allowed to drive. Younger children are only allowed to drive if accompanied by at least one person of at least 16 years of age. Moreover, children under 12 years have to wear a helmet. It is forbidden for two people to drive one e-scooter. In general, the rules for riding a bicycle apply to driving an electric scooter, although hand signals for turning are not allowed as it is too dangerous to steer an electric scooter with only one hand.
