Car Rental in Austria

Austria is a great country to explore by car. With your own ride, you’ll have the freedom to travel to its various regions, see historical cities and villages, visit nature areas and winter sports centers, and drive some of the highest and most scenic alpine roads in Europe.

If you want to know more about renting a car in Austria, don't miss our complete guide.

• From Austria to Slovakia - 254 offers from $54.23 per day
• From Austria to Germany - 554 offers from $59.91 per day
• From Austria to Hungary - 410 offers from $62.80 per day
• From Austria to Czech Republic - 138 offers from $68.81 per day
• From Austria to Italy - 72 offers from $135.19 per day

• Vienna Airport: Austria’s largest international airport and one of the 25 busiest airports in Europe, it hosts flights to and from four continents.
• Salzburg Airport: Located in the west of the country, Salzburg Airport is the main entry point to the Austrian Alps.
• Graz Airport: This international airport, located in Graz, capital of the Styria region, is the primary airport in southeast Austria.
• By land: If your rental car provider permits it, it’s possible to rent a car in a neighboring country and then drive to Austria. Some large international airports near Austria are Zurich Airport in Switzerland, Budapest Airport in Hungary, and Munich Airport in Germany.

• Vienna. The former imperial capital and home of countless world-famous artists and composers, Vienna is one of the most impressive cities in Europe. There’s plenty of architecture to enjoy, and not just in the city’s Innere Stadt or Old Town, as well as fun neighborhoods like Neubau which is home to the Museum Quarter and some of the city’s most creative spots.
• Salzburg. Befitting the birthplace of Mozart and the setting of the Sound of Music, Salzburg is a supremely quaint destination. The cultural heritage of the city greatly exceeds just these two cultural references, however, as exemplified by the mountaintop Hohensalzburg Palace, Salzburg Cathedral (and the accompanying Excavations Museum), and the Museum of Modern Art. Salzburg borders the German state of Bavaria, with which it shares a lot of cultural affinities, and can be easily visited on a day trip (though ask your rental car provider about this in advance).
• Innsbruck. Located in the western part of the country, Innsbruck is another scenic and relaxed destination known for architectural landmarks like the St. Jacob Cathedral and all of the historic Mariahilf-St. Nicolaus neighborhood. An Olympic host city (and not just once, but twice), Innsbruck is also a supreme winter sports hub, as well as the home of the very interesting Alpinist Association Museum.

The most popular rental car in Austria is the Skoda Fabia, closely followed by the Opel Astra and the Dacia Sandero.

• Austria accepts all driver licenses issued in the European Union (EU).
• If your driver license is issued by a non-EU country, for it to be considered valid you’ll need an Austrian visa. Another requirement is to have been in the EU for no more than six months at the time of the rental. If you’ve been in the EU longer, you’ll need a driver license issued by an EU country.
• If your driver license is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation of your license into English or German.
• You must carry your driver license, not its copy, with you at all times. You need to have had your driver license for at least one or two years, depending on the car provider’s requirements.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car provider and car category, so make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking.

Austria is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Austria is a member of the European Union (EU). It’s also a member of the Schengen Area, as are all the neighboring countries. If you’re not an EU citizen, you’ll need a Schengen visa to visit Austria. With a Schengen visa you can also cross the border to any of Austria’s neighbors. Some car rental providers allow you to cross national borders and even drop off your car in a different country, while others don’t. If you’d like to cross a national border during your rental period, make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking a car. Learn more about cross-border rentals in our FAQ section.

The type of car rented most often in Austria is an economy, but intermediate and mini are also very popular.

• Vorarlberg. Located in the far west of the country and closely related to its neighbor, Switzerland (with which it even shares a dialect of German that is uncharacteristic to the rest of Austria), Vorarlberg is a unique destination in more ways than one. The main tourist draw of this small region is naturally its Alpine scenery which is characterized not just by high-quality winter sports resorts, but also natural attractions like Spullersee Lake.
• Carinthia. Located in the south of the country, Carinthia is another distinct, proud, and scenic region that’s sometimes unfairly overlooked in favor of its better-known western neighbors. The main tourist draws of Carinthia are its cozy and scenic capital, Klagenfurt, impressive mountain vistas, and many highland lakes.
• Upper Austria. Another off-the-beaten-path destination, at least when it comes to attention from foreign visitors, Upper Austria can be a fascinating place to explore with a rental car. The region is known for its bucolic countryside, but also Medieval and Renaissance-era towns characterized by well-preserved Baroque architecture. Linz, the capital of the region and the third-largest city in the country, is just a two-hour drive from Vienna and 80 minutes from Salzburg.

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Austria:

• Compare rates
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements