Cars can be rented (Mietwagen) all over Austria with car rental companies easily available at airports and railway stations. Most of the large international car rental companies are well-represented
Drivers should be over 21 years old, with a valid driving license and a credit card. All licenses from EU member states and the USA are recognised in Austria.
Cars can be rented online for airport pick from the major dealers.
Rental cars in Austria should come with a valid Vignette - a windscreen sticker showing the country's one-off Autobahn toll has been paid. Check before driving off.
Getting around Austria by carThough not impossible, finding a free parking space in big cities is not easy. There are specially marked parking zones (Kurzparkzone), where you must pay and display a parking ticket in advance purchased from a Tabak or ticket machine. Many cities in Austria have multi-storey or underground car parks where you are charged on exit.
Der Österreichische Automobil, Motorrad und Touring Club
ÖAMTC (Tel: 01 531 34)
Breakdown (Tel: 120)
Cars can be rented (Mietwagen, Location des voitures, Noleggio di automobili) all over Switzerland with car rental companies easily available at airports and railway stations. Most of the large international car rental companies are well-represented throughout
Drivers should be over 20, 21 or 25 years old, depending on the rental company, with a valid driving license and a credit card. All licenses from EU member states and the USA are recognised in Switzerland.
Cars can be rented online for airport pick up from the major dealers.
Rental cars in Switzerland should come with a valid Vignette - a windscreen sticker showing the country's one-off highway toll has been paid and a parking disc for Blue Zone parking (see below). Check before driving off. In winter rental cars often come with snow tires, chains and even a ski rack.
Switzerland drives on the right.
Traffic signs are international. Swiss freeways/motorways are signed
in green.
The general speed limit in Switzerland is 50 kph (30mph)
in built-up areas - and sometimes 30 kph (19mph) in special zones and 80 kph (50mph) on open roads. On the freeways/motorways the
speed limit is 120 kph (75mph).
All passengers must wear seat belts.
Give way to postbuses and trams and vehicles coming uphill.
Insurance is legally required to drive.
The minimum driving age is 18 for both Swiss citizens and foreigners.
Cars are required to carry hazard warning triangles and to display them in the case of accidents.
Foreign cars are required to have a nationality sign.
The use of mobile phones while driving is strictly forbidden.
Motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear helmets.
The drink drive limit is 0.05 % blood alcohol content.
There are heavy on-the-spot fines for breaking traffic regulations.
Finding a free parking space in big cities is difficult and expensive and illegal parking has zero tolerance.
There are specially color-coded parking zones in Switzerland:
White Zones - pay and display a parking ticket or key in the number of your space
Blue Zones - free parking for certain time periods if you
display a parking disc (supplied in all rental cars)
Red Zones - free parking for up to 15 hours if you display a parking disc (supplied in all rental cars)
Yellow Zones - private parking
Swiss Touring Club (Tel: 022 417 27 27)
Swiss Automobile Club (Tel: 031 328 31 11)
Breakdown (Tel: 140)
Traffic conditions (Tel: 163)
