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Practical legal guide · Austria

Fine from Austria: do I have to pay it? Alcohol limits and penalties

Got a fine from Austria or stopped by Austrian police? Austria finds the vehicle keeper in the Czech register, and a final fine of EUR 70 or more can also be enforced in the Czech Republic. Here are the alcohol limits, speeding fines and what can happen on the spot.

Describe your case

Updated and verified:

Short answer

  1. Pay, or challenge it within the Austrian deadline
  2. A final fine from EUR 70 can be enforced in Czechia
  3. An Austrian driving ban applies in Austria

The alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, 0.1 for novice and professional drivers. Speeding by more than 30 km/h costs EUR 200 to 5,000. Find a lawyer on LawBridge.

Describe your case

Quick answers

Do I have to pay a fine from Austria?
Yes, if it is justified. Austria finds the vehicle keeper in the Czech vehicle register and sends a letter, usually in the language of the registration certificate, so in Czech. A final fine of EUR 70 or more can also be enforced in the Czech Republic. If you disagree, you challenge it in Austria under local rules and deadlines.
What is the alcohol limit in Austria?
0.5 per mille in the blood (0.25 mg/l in the breath). Novice drivers with less than 3 years' experience and professional drivers have a 0.1 per mille limit. From 0.8 per mille a driver always counts as impaired.
How much is a speeding fine in Austria?
A smaller excess can cost up to EUR 726. More than 30 km/h over costs EUR 200 to 5,000, more than 40 km/h over in town or 50 km/h outside EUR 400 to 6,000, and more than 60 km/h over in town or 70 km/h outside EUR 500 to 7,500. In the last case the police can provisionally seize the car.

When this situation arises

  • You received a letter with a fine from Austria for speeding, parking or another offence
  • Police in Austria stopped you and want a fine or a deposit on the spot
  • You face a driving ban or criminal proceedings in Austria for alcohol or high speed

What options do you have

Pay the fine

If you accept the offence, pay within the deadline in the letter or on the spot. Keep the proof of payment.

Challenge it in Austria

If you disagree, file an objection or appeal with the authority that issued the fine, within its deadline. The case follows the law of Austria.

Challenge enforcement in the Czech Republic

If a Czech district court decides on recognising the foreign fine, it can refuse, among other things, for a fine below EUR 70. What you already paid abroad is deducted.

Recommended step-by-step process

  1. 1.

    Check the letter

    Check the date, place, registration number, the authority that issued the fine and the deadline to pay or object.

  2. 2.

    Decide before the deadline

    Pay, or challenge it in time with the authority in Austria.

  3. 3.

    Keep the proof of payment

    It shows the fine is paid if anyone tries to enforce it again.

  4. 4.

    A lawyer for a serious offence

    Alcohol, high speed or an accident can mean criminal proceedings in Austria. A lawyer helps with the defence and with what follows in the Czech Republic.

What documents to prepare

  • The fine letter or decision and the envelope with the date of delivery
  • Vehicle registration certificate and driving licence
  • Proof of payment of the fine or deposit
  • Photos, witnesses or a recording from the scene if you dispute the offence

Common mistakes

  • Ignoring the letter because nobody will enforce a foreign fine
  • Missing the deadline to object abroad
  • Driving in Austria as a novice driver after one beer: the limit is 0.1 per mille

Risks and important deadlines

Car seized

For speeding by more than 60 km/h in town or 70 km/h outside, the police can provisionally seize the car.

Deposit on the spot

Without the security deposit the police can secure valuables.

Short deadlines

The deadlines to pay and to object are set by Austria and are often short.

When it's worth contacting a lawyer

When you face a driving ban, criminal proceedings for alcohol or speed, or a seized car in Austria, or when a Czech court serves you a request to recognise a foreign fine. A lawyer looks at the defence in Austria and the consequences in the Czech Republic. On LawBridge, a search engine for lawyers, you can find a traffic lawyer and describe your situation in a request. Legal services are always paid.

Describe your case

Related pages

Frequently asked questions

How much is a drink-driving fine in Austria?

From 0.5 to 0.8 per mille EUR 300 to 3,700, from 0.8 to 1.2 per mille EUR 800 to 3,700, from 1.2 to 1.6 per mille EUR 1,200 to 4,400. From 1.6 per mille, or for refusing the breath test, EUR 1,600 to 5,900.

Can Austrian police take a deposit on the spot?

Yes. Minor offences can be paid on the spot, with a fine of up to EUR 90. If prosecution or enforcement could be made much harder, the police may ask for a provisional security of up to the maximum fine. If you do not pay it, they can secure valuables.

Does an Austrian driving ban apply in the Czech Republic?

Austria removes the right of a foreign licence holder to drive in Austria. The authority keeps the licence until the ban ends or until you leave Austria and, where possible, informs the authority that issued it. No EU rule in force yet makes a foreign driving ban apply automatically in the Czech Republic; from 26 November 2029 a ban of at least 3 months for a serious offence will be notified to the Czech Republic.

What is section control in Austria?

Austrian law allows the average speed to be measured over a set stretch of road. The fine is based on the average speed over the whole section.

What if I have no motorway vignette?

The Austrian motorway operator ASFINAG charges a substitute toll of EUR 200 for a car and EUR 100 for a motorcycle. If you do not pay it, an administrative fine of EUR 300 to 3,000 follows.

What happens if I do not pay a fine from Austria?

Austria can have a final fine of EUR 70 or more enforced in the Czech Republic. A district court where you stay decides on recognition, and the customs office then collects the amount. For a fine below EUR 70 the court can refuse. What you already paid abroad is deducted.

What changes from 2027?

EU countries must apply new rules by 20 July 2027. The traffic offence notice must then be issued within 11 months, in the language of the registration certificate, and say how to pay and how to object. The country of residence will then recognise a final fine above EUR 70 without further formality, if it was served on you and you could defend yourself.

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