Brexit Frequently asked questions

Holders of British driving licences who reside and would like to drive in Austria, must have their British driving licence exchanged for an Austrian driving by 30 June 2021. It is not necessary to take a new practical driving test.

The British driving licence can (as long as it is valid) still be transferred after 30 June 2021 without completing a practical test, but driving on a British driving licence in Austria for UK nationals residing in Austria is no longer permitted after 30 June 2021.

Holders of British driving licences who are only temporarily staying in Austria (for example tourism) and hold a British driving licence that complies with the provisions of European Union (EU) driving licence directives do not need an international driving licence to drive a motor vehicle in Austria. In the case of older British driving licences (for example driving licences without a photo), which neither comply with the provisions of the EU Directives nor with the provisions of the Vienna Convention or the Geneva Convention, an international driving licence must be carried in order to drive a motor vehicle in Austria.

Registration: Motor vehicles and trailers with foreign registration plates must be registered by a member state of the Paris Convention on the Circulation of Motor Vehicles, the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The registration plate must therefore be valid under British law and the British regulations (in particular with regard to documents to be carried) must be complied with. In the case of the establishment of a new permanent residence or office of the vehicle's owner in Austria, vehicles with foreign registration plates must be registered in Austria within one month of their import into Austria.

Country registration: Motor vehicles with foreign registration plates must bear the national vehicle registration plate and the international licence plate country code (Distinguishing sign of the State of registration) at the rear.

Insurance: When driving a motor vehicle registered in the United Kingdom, the Green Card must be carried as proof of insurance coverage.