Austria’s Vormerksystem and licence withdrawal: what to know in 2026

In Austria, serious traffic offences may be recorded in an official register in addition to attracting a fine. For the most serious offences, your driving licence may be withdrawn. This guide explains the Vormerksystem, the offences that can lead directly to withdrawal and how to regain your driving entitlement.

In brief:

• The official recording system, known colloquially as the “points licence” (Punkteführerschein), is called the Vormerksystem.
• If you already have a recording and commit an offence leading to licence withdrawal during the two-year observation period, the withdrawal period is extended by two weeks for each recording.
• For speeding, licence withdrawal applies when the limit is exceeded by more than 40 km/h in built-up areas or more than 50 km/h outside built-up areas, when measured by an instrument.
• After a withdrawal of up to 18 months, the old licence is returned for 59 euros. After a longer withdrawal, the driving entitlement ends.

What is the Vormerksystem?

Under the Austrian system, certain particularly dangerous traffic offences are recorded (Vormerkung) in a register. These are known as recordable offences (Vormerkdelikte).

The recording becomes relevant if your licence is withdrawn. If a recording is already in the register and you commit an offence leading to withdrawal within the two-year observation period, the legally prescribed withdrawal period is extended by two weeks for every recording.

Which offences are recorded?

The following is a selection of the main offences. The fines shown are ranges or maximum amounts:

• Driving with a blood alcohol level between 0.5 and 0.8 per mille: 300 to 3700 euros.
• A category C driver with a level between 0.1 and 0.5 per mille: 36 to 2180 euros.
• A category D driver with a level between 0.1 and 0.5 per mille: 363 to 2180 euros.
• Obstructing or endangering pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing: 72 to 2180 euros.
• Ignoring a red light while endangering others: up to 2180 euros.
• Unauthorised use of the emergency corridor (Rettungsgasse): 72 to 2180 euros.
• Following distance between 0.2 and 0.4 seconds: up to 726 euros.
• Breaching child safety requirements: up to 5000 euros.

The list also includes, among other offences, ignoring a “Halt” sign when this forces a vehicle with priority to brake suddenly and creates a danger; using the hard shoulder in a way that obstructs vehicles using emergency signals; offences at railway crossings; and driving a vehicle that is dangerous because of its technical condition or unsecured load.

When is a licence withdrawn immediately?

Some offences lead to licence withdrawal (Führerscheinentzug) even without a previous recording. The speeding thresholds are:

• More than 40 km/h in built-up areas or 50 km/h outside built-up areas: a fine of 300 to 5000 euros and withdrawal for 1 month.
• More than 60 km/h in built-up areas or 70 km/h outside built-up areas: a fine of 500 to 7500 euros and withdrawal for at least 3 months.
• More than 80 km/h in built-up areas or 90 km/h outside built-up areas: a fine of 500 to 7500 euros and withdrawal for at least 6 months, plus a retraining course.

Since 1 March, in the most serious speeding cases the vehicle may be temporarily seized for up to two weeks and, in certain cases, confiscated. For speeding offences, the observation period is four years. Once this period has expired, a new speeding offence is treated as a first offence again.

Other offences that can lead to licence withdrawal include:

• A level above 0.8 per mille, driving under the influence of drugs or refusing a breath alcohol test. For more information about the alcohol thresholds, see the guide to drink-driving.
• Driving the wrong way on a motorway: at least 6 months.
• Driving in particularly dangerous circumstances, such as significant speeding in front of a school, kindergarten or pedestrian crossing, or taking part in an illegal street race: at least 6 months.
• Failing to provide assistance after an accident that you caused and that involved personal injury: at least 3 months.
• A following distance of less than 0.2 seconds: at least 6 months.

Other offences not listed here may also lead to licence withdrawal.

What applies to probationary licences?

A new driving licence is a probationary licence (Probeführerschein) for the first three years. During this period, the permitted alcohol level is 0.1 per mille. If you breach this limit or commit another serious offence, such as using a phone while driving, failing to give way or significantly exceeding the speed limit, the authority can order a retraining course (Nachschulung), and the probationary period is extended by one year.

If you hold a foreign driving licence and move your main residence to Austria within three years of the licence being issued, the probationary rules also apply to you.

How do you get your driving licence back?

The procedure depends on the length of the withdrawal:

• Up to 18 months: the old licence is returned (Wiederausfolgung). The fee is 59 euros.
• More than 18 months: the driving entitlement ends and must be applied for again (Wiedererteilung). The fee is 90 euros.

For re-issuing the entitlement, you need a medical assessment. At the time of the authority’s decision, this assessment may be no more than 18 months old. The cost of the medical assessment and examination fees is not included in the amounts above.

Which authority handles the application?

You must apply for the return or re-issue of your driving licence at the driving licence authority responsible for your place of residence. In Vienna, this is the traffic office (Verkehrsamt) of the Landespolizeidirektion Wien. In cities that are the headquarters of the provincial police authorities, the responsible body is the Landespolizeidirektion. Elsewhere, it is the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft). The Magistrat is responsible in Krems and Waidhofen an der Ybbs. In Vienna, an appointment is mandatory for in-person service.

Frequently asked questions

Do I collect points in Austria?

The system is commonly called a “points licence”, but officially it records Vormerkungen after certain offences.

How is a breath alcohol reading converted into per mille?

The breath alcohol reading is multiplied by two: 0.25 mg/l breath alcohol corresponds to 0.5 per mille blood alcohol.

How long does a previous speeding offence count?

Four years. Within this period, another speeding offence is treated as a repeat offence and can lead to a longer withdrawal.

Do I have to take another test after withdrawal?

After a withdrawal of up to 18 months, the old licence is returned. After a longer withdrawal, you must apply for the driving entitlement again. If you submit the application more than 18 months after the entitlement ended, generally only the practical test must be taken.

Practical steps after a licence withdrawal

1. Check the withdrawal decision carefully, including its duration, conditions and any requirement for a Nachschulung.
2. Note whether the withdrawal is for up to 18 months or more than 18 months, as this determines whether you apply for Wiederausfolgung or Wiedererteilung.
3. Arrange the required medical assessment and check that it will be no more than 18 months old when the authority decides your case.
4. Contact the driving licence authority responsible for your place of residence. If you are applying in Vienna in person, book an appointment first.
5. Budget separately for the 59-euro or 90-euro administrative fee, the medical assessment and any examination fees.

This information is based on publicly available sources and is not legal, medical or other professional advice. Use it at your own risk and seek specialist advice where necessary.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at