If you rent a car in Austria, you can drive across international boundaries, but you are not allowed to drive a rental car into Eastern Europe. You can hop across the border into Germany, and while most rental car agencies will charge you for doing so, there are a few that do not charge extra.
Parking areas in Austria are called Blue Zones and are designated by marked blue lines on the road. Each of these Blue Zones has a three-hour parking limit, and you must purchase a parking disc and display it while you are away. These discs are available at convenience stores, banks or from the electronic machine that dispenses discs (if there is a machine in the area).
In Austria, "one-way car rental" is permitted, which means that you do not have to return the rental car to the place where you picked it up. But there may be restrictions on the certain types of vehicles that are allowed (e.g., luxury cars); so, if you intend to use this option, be sure to check with your rental agency before making any selections.
Many picturesque sights in Austria, such as the Krimml Waterfalls and the Hohensalzburg Castle, are found high in the mountains. For this reason, it’s not a bad idea to rent an SUV if these attractions are on your itinerary, especially when traveling during the winter months, when snow and ice can impact the journey. The law also requires snow chains on at least two tires during the cold season.
25% of our users found a car hire in Austria for R960 or less
Book your car hire in Austria at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Standard car hire in Austria are around -24% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Austria
On average a car hire in Austria costs R1 593 per day.
Standard (Class Standard SUV or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Austria.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at U-Save (R736/day), Alamo (R754/day) and Sixt (R807/day).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Austria are Sixt (7,8, 132 reviews), and Budget (7,4, 52 reviews).
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Austria are Vienna (38% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Austria), Bregenz (19%) and Graz (19%).
On average a car hire in Austria costs R10 341 per week (R1 477 per day).
On average a car hire in Austria costs R44 318 per month (R1 477 per day).
Just like in the United States, drivers in Austria use the right side of the road. Petrol stations are usually open from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm, but many of the ones around cities and urban centers are open 24h a day. If you wish to drive your rental car on the autobahn or on motorways, you will first need to purchase a toll sticker, which you can find at any petrol station.
The minimum age to rent a car in Austria is 19, and you need to have held your license for at least 12 months. However, if you are under 25 years of age, there will likely be a young drivers fee applied to your rental cost. You will also need an International Driver’s Permit in addition to a valid driver’s license and credit card.
Travelers to Austria intent on renting a car should know that the average price of petrol there is about 1.25 € (approximately $1.41) per liter or about about $5.40 per gallon. For those who rent a diesel car to get around Austria, you will have to pay approximately 1.25 € (about $1.41) per liter or about $5.36 per gallon.
Anyone who decides to rent a car in Austria should know that the speed limit for driving within cities and other urban areas is 50 km/h (about 31 mph), and on highways you can go as fast as 100 km/h (62 mph). However, on the country’s motorways, speeds up to 130 km/h or 81 mph are allowed.
The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for hire cars for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 48 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car hires listed or dates of travel. Some hire car providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the website of the respective hire car provider.