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Car Hire Austria

Nestled between Italy, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, Austria is best known for its fantastic skiing and traditional alpine villages. Austria is popular sightseeing destination whatever the weather and one of the best ways to get around is by booking rent a car Austria for your stay. There is so much to explore and take in while you are in Austria that you will want an uncomplicated way to get around. The roads are well made and maintained, so you can use your Austria car hire to see everything from the cities to the beautiful countryside and Alpine mountains. The most popular road in Austria is the Grossglockner Alpine Road which is in the High Tauren National Park, it spans the provinces of Salzburg, Tyrol and Carinthia.  Austria is such a beautiful country full of contrasts and a rental car Austria will open the doors to the beautiful landscape that would be missed if you took public transport. This is a place where the food, culture and people will amaze you at every turn. Austria rent a car can help you see all there is on offer.

There are places of interest for the tourist in all corners of Austria. Car hire Austria lets you see the most amazing sights that this peaceful and quiet country has in store. From the capital of Vienna to the breath-taking countryside in the Alps, Austria is a haven for those that want to see a unique way of life. Rental car Austria is popular, and you will need to book well in advance to get the dates and the type of car you desire.

To help to connect and experience the country you are visiting is really important so rent a car Austria lets you take it easy along the roads of the country and also get from place to place in comfort and style and at your own pace.. There are so many options for car hire Austria that you will want to decide early and get the most from your trip. It is easy to make a booking and the cars are modern and well-maintained, so don’t worry about your Austria rental car experience, it’s just like driving at home!

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The Country

Austria is such a picturesque and beautiful country and appeals to those who want to do more than just visit in the winter months for skiing. The splendour of Austria appeals to over 20 million tourists each year, with many visiting Vienna, with its major attractions being

  • The gothic Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral),
  • The Spanish Riding School

The country is home to over 8.72 million people, with Vienna being the countries capital and Graz being second in size. Austria is a landlocked country between Italy, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. It shares a lot of trading and cultural links with Germany and other EU member states. The territory of Austria covers 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq. mi). The terrain is highly mountainous, lying within the Alps.

Being north of the equator, the summer in Austria is in the months of June, July and August, while the winter months are December, January and February. The weather in the country is temperate, with four distinct seasons.

Austrian German is the national language of Austria, with a number of other dialects being spoken in the country. With other national foreign visitors living and working in Austria other such languages are spoken such as Slovenian, English and Turkish. Due to the mountainous terrain in Austria the largest and prominent sport is alpine skiing. Similar winter sports such as skiing jumping and snowboarding are also popular with Austrians and tourists alike. Austria also holds the Formula 1 race each season in The Red Bull Ring motorsport circuit in Spielberg, Styria.

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car hire rentals driving tips

Driving Tips

As with any new experience, you will need to know what you are letting yourself in for. Check all the rules of the road before you leave for Austria to ensure you stay safe. Here are some of the more important ones are

  • The driver is responsible to make sure all occupants of the car wear seat belts at all times, fine imposed is €35.00 for non-compliance
  • You cannot drive while under the influence of alcohol. There are strict laws and a fine will be imposed if over the limits of 50mg and 79mg.
  • You must carry an international drivers licence with you at all times while on the road in Austria. If you have a paper licence it is only valid with an accompanied photographic evidence, such as a valid passport.
  • It’s illegal to use a mobile unless you have a hands-free kit. Fines can be as high as €730.
  • Children under 14 and shorter than 1.50m cannot travel as a front or rear seat passenger unless using a suitable restraint system for their height and weight. Children under 14 years but over 1.50 metres in height must use the adult seat belt.
  • A reflective vest must be kept in the vehicle at all times. It is compulsory to carry a warning triangle (must conform to EC Regulation 27), first aid kit, and winter weather equipment.
  • They drive on the right-hand side of the road, over take on the left
  • Austrian police can impose and collect fines of up to €90 on the spot from drivers who violate traffic regulations
  • Between November 1st and April 15th, vehicles must be fitted with winter tyres (which must be marked M&S (Mud & Snow) on the side walls and have a minimum tread depth of 4mm) or all-season tyres which must be marked M&S and if roads have a covering of snow, slush or ice outside these dates
  • All vehicles using Austrian motorways and expressways must display a motorway tax sticker (vignette). The stickers, which are valid for one calendar year, two months or 10 days, may be purchased at some petrol stations located. Fines for driving without a vignette are a minimum of €120.
  • Speed limits in built up areas – 50 kph / 31 mph
  • Speed limits on open roads – 100 kph / 62 mph
  • Speed limits on the motorways – 130 kph / 80 mph

Make sure you know what to do when driving in Japan to say safe and on the right side of the law.

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Airports in Austria

Austria has transport links to the rest of the world through trade and other activities, o you would expect a lot of airports. Here are some of the busiest airports in Austria are

  • Vienna International Airport
  • Weiz-Unterfladnitz Airport
  • Linz Airport (Blue Danube Airport)
  • Salzburg Airport (W. A. Mozart Airport)
  • Graz Airport
  • Innsbruck Airport (Kranebitten Airport)
  • Klagenfurt Airport (Woerthersee Airport)

The best way to get the most from your car hire Austria is to book from the airport so you know you have the transport you need. Do this in advance to get the best prices available.

When driving on the roads of Austria, you want to be safe. You should research the rules of the road, as said before, but also have the police number 112/133 programmed in your phone on case of emergency. Also fire 112/122 and ambulance 122/144.

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