Border between Austria and Germany

The border between Germany and Austria stretches over 817 km from the Czech Republic to Lake Constance. The largest part of the border runs through the federal state of Bavaria. There are a total of more than 50 border crossings on the German-Austrian border. For holidaymakers, the motorway crossings at Kiefersfelden, Walserberg, and Suben are particularly important.

Entry regulations and border controls

Within the Schengen Area of the EU, border controls are rarely carried out as a rule. However, temporary controls can be introduced on specific occasions to safeguard public order and internal security. This may be the case, for example, at international sporting events such as a Football World Cup or at major political events. With a valid passport or national identity card, EU citizens generally pass through controls without any problems. Goods for personal use may generally be carried; exceptions may apply in certain cases, particularly for tobacco and alcohol.

Well-known border crossings between Austria and Germany

For holidaymakers, the three motorway crossings are most relevant, as they are generally the fastest. These include:

• Kiefersfelden (DE) / Kufstein (AT) – Kiefersfelden is a Bavarian town located directly on the Austrian border. The German motorway A93 merges here into the Austrian A12. From Kiefersfelden, it is just under 110 kilometres to the Austrian-Italian border and the Brenner Pass. The route via the A12 and then via the A13 (Brenner motorway) near Innsbruck is a classic holiday route from Germany to Italy.
• Walserberg (AT) / Reichenhall (DE) – Walserberg is located near Salzburg directly on the German-Austrian border. There, the German A8 becomes the Austrian Westautobahn A1 towards Vienna. In the immediate vicinity is the motorway interchange of the A1 and A10; the latter runs almost to the Slovenian border. The section of the A1 from the Walserberg border crossing to Salzburg Nord has been toll-free since 2019. However, a digital vignette is still generally required to continue travelling through Austria.
• Suben (AT) / Neuhaus am Inn (DE) – Suben is home to another important motorway crossing between Germany and Austria. Here, the German A3 becomes the Austrian A8. Via the A8, you can access both the A9 (Pyhrn motorway) towards Slovenia and the A1 towards Vienna.

To avoid waiting times, these motorway crossings can in principle be bypassed via country roads. In practice, however, this often takes longer than waiting around 30 minutes at the border crossing. As compensation, the route offers an attractive landscape panorama in many cases.

Austria

The following section gives you an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there is a distance-based toll.

Austria: vignette requirement (or not?)

Fees in the form of a vignette requirement apply for the use of the Austrian motorway and expressway network. Accordingly, vehicles up to 3.5 t permissible gross weight require a (digital) vignette. More information on the toll in Austria can be found in our guide. You can purchase your digital vignette conveniently from home with us.

In addition, there are also toll-free motorway sections as well as options to avoid the vignette requirement. You can read about whether bypassing the toll makes sense in our article on avoiding the toll.

Distance-based toll in Austria

Please note that for vehicles over 3.5 t permissible gross weight, the vignette requirement does not apply and instead a distance-based toll must be paid. This mileage-dependent toll is charged using a GO-Box, which must be installed in the vehicle for data collection.

Special toll routes

In addition to the vignette requirement and the distance-based toll, there are certain special toll routes in Austria that you should take into account on your journey. Additional fees apply for their use, independently of the digital vignette or the distance-based toll. Further information on special tolls and a list of all relevant special toll routes can be found in our article on special toll routes in Austria.

Germany

The following section gives you an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there is a distance-based toll.

Germany: vignette requirement (or not?)

In Germany there is no general vignette requirement for motorways. This means that most motorways in Germany can generally be used toll-free. However, exceptions apply to certain motorway tunnels and bridges for which fees are charged. These fees serve to finance and maintain the respective infrastructure and are generally payable at toll booths or via electronic payment systems.

Distance-based toll

For vehicles under 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, no distance-based toll is charged. Lorries, on the other hand, must pay toll on federal motorways including service areas and rest stops as well as on federal roads. The lorry toll can be charged, for example, using an On-Board Unit (OBU).

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We wish you a safe drive to Austria and are happy to assist you with any questions about toll regulations. Detailed information on the toll in Austria can be found in our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to plan your journey perfectly and have suitable toll products displayed. Contact us with any further questions about your journey or our digital vignette via our e-mail.