AUSTRIAN DRIVING LICENSE

HOW TO GET AN AUSTRIAN DRIVING LICENSE

If you already have a driver's license but didn't obtain it in an EU country, you can use it on Austrian roads. However, you can only use it for six months.

ALGORITHM FOR OBTAINING AN AUSTRIAN DRIVING LICENSE
To obtain an Austrian driving license, certain requirements must be met:

First, you choose a driving school. There are numerous driving schools in Austria, and attending a driving school at your place of residence is not required. After choosing a driving school, the applicant submits an application. The information contained therein is entered into the special driver's license register. This means that all formalities are handled by the driving school itself.

You cannot begin driver training at a driving school if you have not reached the required minimum age for at least six months. For the most common Class B driver's license, this age is 18. Therefore, admission to training can only be granted at the earliest age of 17.5.

One exception is the special L17 training program, which is offered by almost all Austrian driving schools. It allows you to obtain a driver's license in Austria at the age of 17.

For classes A and F the minimum age is 24 years.

However, an Austrian driver's license is not possible without theoretical training. This can be combined with practical driving lessons.

For 15 years, there has been a multi-stage training system for anyone wishing to obtain an Austrian driver's license. This means that even holders of an Austrian driver's license must complete special courses to improve their driving skills.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DRIVER TRAINING
The theoretical part of driver training in Austria comprises 32 hours. Participants can then decide how intensively they want to learn the theory: two hours twice a week for eight weeks (standard course), four hours four times a week for two weeks (intensive course), or four hours daily for eight days (express course).

In each of the three training options, you will complete the required 32 hours. Additionally, you can purchase printed materials (books) and a CD containing all the questions, situations, and exercises from the theory test for €40 from the driving school.

A first aid course is required during or after the theory course. This course costs €55 and is paid separately. This six-hour course teaches the future driver skills in artificial respiration, closed chest compressions, and more.

If a person does not pass the exam within one and a half years after receiving the first aid course certificate, he or she must repeat the course.

A medical certificate of health is also required (35 euros, valid for one and a half years).

After completing the theory lessons, the candidate driver chooses a driving school for the test. This can be any school. An ID card is essential (without it, admission to the test is not possible).

The test is conducted using a computer-assisted approach in separate booths. The test content is standardized throughout Austria. The theoretical test consists of a module with basic questions for all classes – which are passed without exception by all – as well as nine additional modules for the individual classes (A, B, C, C1, D, D1, BE, E, F). To obtain a B driving license, you must complete the basic module and the class B module. Those who already hold a driving license and wish to obtain a further class do not need to answer the questions in the basic module after passing the theoretical test.

Each question has four possible answers: one, two, three, or all four can be correct. There are easy, medium, and difficult questions. If you're having difficulty, you can skip questions, which will appear at the end.

One or two supplementary questions are offered for each main question. However, these will not be displayed if the main question is answered incorrectly.

Each module contains a total of 20 questions. The entire exam consists of 40 questions, which must be answered within half an hour.

If the candidate achieves 80 of the required points, the exam is passed. Each module is assessed individually.

The first attempt is free. All subsequent attempts are subject to a fee.

Without passing the basic module and the module of the chosen category, the applicant will not be admitted to the practical driving test.

DRIVING TEST (PRACTICAL PART OF DRIVER TRAINING)
After passing the theoretical test, the multi-stage driver training system includes three further stages:

For classes A1, A2, and A, 12 hours of practical driving experience are required. For class B, 13 hours are required. For class F, 4 hours are required, and so on.

One hour of practical driving practice corresponds to 50 minutes of driving time.

According to Austrian law, the following is required in the first stage of driver training:

e with a driving instructor for at least 6 hours. The preparatory phase takes place at the training ground/autodrome, where the learner driver learns to drive a vehicle. The basic training takes place in quiet areas with low traffic.

The number of driving lessons for the main part of the training is not regulated by law and depends on the learner's progress and skills. However, even with sufficient driving skills, it should be at least one hour.

Contents of the main phase of practical driving training:

– Commented driving;

– traffic assessment, anticipatory driving;

– lane change;

– Merging into a fast flow of traffic;

– Driving through intersections;

– Driving in moving traffic;

– Driving in oncoming traffic;

– Driving on dangerous sections;

– Economical driving;

– Driving in fast traffic flow;

– Training of the second counting method – Determination of the corrected speed in different visibility conditions using the second counting method;

– Overtaking.

After successfully completing the main training phase, you can begin improving your driving skills. Austrian law requires at least 6 driving lessons:

After passing the theoretical test on the computer and completing the practical training, the practical driving test can begin.

The test takes place in the early morning hours. The candidate goes to the driving school, where they are met by the driving instructor, the representative of the training group. The examiner arrives a few minutes later. Typically, several students take the test one after the other. To pass the test, the candidate must have a passport; otherwise, they will be sent home.

The practical exam in Austria consists of three parts:

1. Vehicle inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure that the candidate has mastered the theory and is able to perform a practical vehicle safety test. The examiner will ask the student questions from the following list of topics (at least three topics will be covered):

– Wheels (checking the tire tread height, using winter and studded tires);

– Brake system (checking the brake fluid level in the hydraulic reservoir, checking the brake system, checking the brake pedal play, checking the brake pedal resistance, checking the brake system tightness, checking the brake booster, checking the brake lights, checking the parking brake);

– Lighting – What types of lights are in the vehicle (low and high beams, reversing lights, parking lights, hazard lights, side indicators, fog lights)? Switch on and check;

– warning signals (flashing lights, horn, side indicators, hazard lights);

– Steering gear (hydraulic power steering, drive belt, electromechanical power steering, freewheel test, front tire wear);

– Adequate visibility (windscreen wipers, windscreen washer, windscreen blow-off valve, rear window heating);

– Check the fluid level (oil, coolant, brake fluid, windscreen washer fluid);

– Pressure accumulator (function, poles, fluid level);

– Drive belt (function, condition);

– Checking the interior (correct sitting at the wheel, adjusting the driver’s seat, headrests, mirrors, fastening the seat belt);

– Fog (special features when driving in fog, fog lights);

– Vehicle engine.

2. Practice on a racetrack or a quiet road. Each candidate must complete two tasks: parallel parking and reverse parking. Cones are usually placed at sufficient distances to allow this part of the test to be passed easily. Pay attention to the appropriate traffic lights. When parking, exiting, and leaving the vehicle, you should demonstrate to the examiner that you are keeping an eye on all other road users by making appropriate head movements.

3. Driving in the city or on the highway. When getting in and before starting the engine, be sure to adjust the seat, rearview mirrors, headrests, and steering wheel, and fasten your seatbelt. The examiner will observe the candidate's behavior and note any errors in the test report. They will give the candidate instructions: "Always drive straight ahead unless otherwise instructed" and "When given turning instructions, look for the next possible turning." Then, as usual, "Turn right, turn left, drive to the indicated spot, and park."

The minimum driving time per candidate is 25 minutes. During the drive, the examiner takes notes in a special test report. The other candidate sits in the back seat the entire time. Afterwards, both candidates switch seats, and the first candidate can only recall his or her successful or less successful maneuvers.

4. Discussion of the experienced situations. At the end of the drive, the candidate can discuss his or her mistakes with the examiner and explain his or her behavior. The examiner may, at his or her discretion, not establish the error if he or she considers the explanation appropriate. The following situations are selected as topics for such discussions in the test report.

Discussion:

– Speed selection;

– Lane selection;

– Choice of vehicle spacing and lateral clearance;

– Driving on motorways and expressways;

– Overtaking;

– Recognizing dangerous situations;

– Defensive tactics, ecological driving;

– Perception, analysis and prediction of the road and traffic situation.

The practical exam (all four parts) lasts at least 40 minutes.

If you pass the test, you will be issued a provisional driver's license (valid only in Austria). Your full Austrian driver's license will be delivered by mail within a few weeks or sooner.

However, the validity of a driver's license in Austria is limited to 15 years. This period is believed to be sufficient to update the photo and make the document more forgery-proof.

WHAT NEXT?

Only the first stage of driver training in Austria concludes with obtaining a driver's license. This is followed by a driver safety course (first course) at a driving school after 2–4 months, and a further course (second course) after 6–12 months. Each driver safety course costs approximately €110 with a driving school car or €90 on your own.

Between these courses, 3–9 months after obtaining your driver's license, an extreme driving course with a subsequent psychological lecture is required. On a specially equipped race track, participants practice emergency braking with ABS, emergency maneuvers and vehicle stabilization in skidding situations, as well as emergency overtaking of obstacles. Travel to the course location is by private car or a rental car from the driving school.

The extreme driving course (official duration: 8.5 hours) includes:

– 50 minutes of theory;

– 5 hours of practical training with lunch break;

– One and a half hour lecture on road traffic with a psychologist.

This course costs 150 euros.

The second (and final) stage of driver training in Austria therefore comprises three courses.

If you fail the second stage, you will receive two warnings and then your Austrian driving license will be revoked.

If you already have an Austrian driver's license, you should consider getting an international one. This entitles you to travel outside the EU. Registration for such a license is done through our website. We invite you to apply for an international driver's license quickly and easily, without any formalities!