Lost Documents, Found Property and Theft: What to Do in Austria

Whether you have lost your wallet, had your driving licence stolen or found something in the street, Austria has specific procedures for each situation. The most important question is where to report it.

Lost or stolen: where should you go?

The key distinction is whether an item was lost or stolen.

• For a lost item, submit a loss report (Verlustanzeige) to the lost property authority (Fundbehörde). This is handled by the local authorities, not the police.
• For suspected theft, contact the police and submit a theft report (Diebstahlsanzeige). You can report it at any police station.

Depending on the location, the responsible lost property office is:

• the municipal office (Gemeindeamt),
• the magistrate (Magistrat) in statutory cities (Statutarstadt),
• in Vienna, the lost property services at the district offices (Magistratische Bezirksämter) or the central lost property service (Zentrale des Fundservice).

If you lost something on Vienna public transport (Wiener Linien), the MA 48 central lost property service has handled these items since 2 January 2018. The hotline is +43 1 4000-8091.

Exceptions: driving licences, number plates and weapons

Some items must be reported without delay (unverzüglich) and are not handled by the municipal office:

• Driving licence (Führerschein) and number plate (Kennzeichentafel): report the loss to the police. A driving licence can also be reported to the driving licence authority.
• Registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung): declaring the loss at the vehicle registration office (Zulassungsstelle) is sufficient. You can receive a duplicate immediately without a separate report.
• Firearms and explosives: always report them to the police.

In cases of theft, the requirement to report without delay also applies to an identity card (Personalausweis) and passport (Reisepass). There is generally no deadline for other items.

How much does a report cost?

The report itself is free. Fees may apply if you request written confirmation:

• Report: free for both loss and theft.
• Recording an oral loss report in the minutes: 2,10 euros.
• General confirmation of loss: 2,10 euros + 21 euros.
• Theft confirmation: 21 euros.
• Confirmation addressed to an authority or legal entity, such as an insurer: 2,10 euros for a loss and free for theft.

Request confirmation only if you actually need it, for example to obtain a replacement document or to continue driving. Bring an official photo ID if you have one.

Can you drive until your document is replaced?

Yes. If you request confirmation of the report, you may drive temporarily within Austria. For a loss report, the cost is 2,10 euros and the 21-euro fee does not apply.

• Driving licence: up to four weeks from the date of loss.
• Registration certificate: up to one week from the date of loss.
• Number plate: up to one week from the date of loss, with a temporary plate similar to the original.

Reporting theft online

Under certain conditions, theft can also be reported online. You need ID Austria and a valid Austrian registered address. In addition:

• the report must be against an unknown offender,
• you must be the victim or the person who suffered the loss,
• the offence must have occurred in Austria,
• there must be no investigative starting point,
• no other person may be involved.

What to do if you find something

Anyone who finds another person’s lost or forgotten property is generally obliged to return it. If the item is worth more than 10 euros and the owner is unknown, you must submit a found-property report (Fundanzeige) and hand the item in to the lost property authority. Named documents must also be handed in.

In Vienna, you can find Fundbox containers at district offices, the city hall, every recycling centre (Mistplatz) and near many police stations. Items can also be deposited outside customer service hours. Weapons must be handed to the police. Do not touch military equipment; contact the police or the military immediately.

Handed-in items can be searched for throughout Austria in the database at fundamt.gv.at.

Finderlohn and ownership of found property

The honest finder’s reward (Finderlohn) depends on the value of the item and on whether it was lost or forgotten:

• Lost item, such as a wallet left in the street: 10%; for the portion above 2000 euros: 5%.
• Forgotten item, such as an umbrella left on a train: 5%; for the portion above 2000 euros: 2,5%.

No reward is payable to someone who lives or works at the place where the item was found, such as a hotel employee.

If the owner does not come forward, the item becomes the finder’s property after one year, or after half a year if its value is no more than 100 euros.

Frequently asked questions

Can I report my lost wallet to the police?

Lost property is handled by the municipalities, not the police. If you suspect theft, contact the police.

Do I need confirmation of a theft for my insurer?

If the confirmation is addressed to a legal entity, such as an insurer, confirmation of theft is free.

How long do I have to claim found property?

For an item worth no more than 100 euros, you have six weeks after the half-year period has passed. For an item worth more than 100 euros, the claim period is two months from notification. After that, the claim becomes time-barred.

What happens if I lose firearms documents?

After a loss or theft, the confirmation replaces the document for 14 days from the report or until the replacement document is issued.

Practical steps

1. Decide whether the item was lost or stolen.
2. For lost property, contact the relevant Fundbehörde; for theft, contact any police station.
3. Report a driving licence, number plate, firearm or explosive without delay to the police, where required.
4. Ask for written confirmation only when you need it, and check the applicable fee.
5. If you find property worth more than 10 euros or any named document, submit a Fundanzeige and hand it in.
6. Search for handed-in items in the database at fundamt.gv.at.

This information is based on sources available online, including oesterreich.gv.at, and is not legal advice.