General information about getting a driving licence

General information

A driving licence application must be submitted to a driving school. This can be any driving school within Austria.

The procedure for issuing the driving licence falls under the responsibility of the driving licence authority in whose district the driving school in question is located. However, there will ideally be no need for you to deal with the authority directly.

Individuals may start lessons at a driving school (theory and practical) no earlier than 6 months before reaching the minimum age applicable for the relevant category of vehicle (exceptions: category AM  – 2 months in advance and L17 – at the age of 15 years and six months).

Once you have passed your practical driving test, you will be issued a temporary licence. Your photocard driving licence will be sent to you by post within a few days after you have paid the amount indicated on the fee sheet.

Requirements

• You have reached the minimum age
• You have a medical certificate
• You have completed emergency life-saving training
• You have passed your theory test and practical driving test

Competent authority

• For applications: a driving school (→ WKO)^{German Text} of your choice
• For the procedure for issuing the driving licence: the driving licence authority in whose district the driving school in question is located
  • In cities with a State Police Department: the State Police Department^{German Text}
    • In Vienna: the Traffic Department (→ BMI)^{German Text}
  • In cities without a state police department or in municipalities: the District Authority^{German Text}
    • In the Chartered Cities of Krems and Waidhofen/Ybbs: the Municipal Administration^{German Text}
    • In the chartered urban district of Rust: the Burgenland State Police Department (→ BMI)^{German Text}

Procedure

Candidates applying at a driving school will have their data entered directly into the driving licence register. The printed record is given to the applicant so that they can check it and sign to confirm that the information is correct. This record replaces the driving licence application form.

It is then necessary to take the following steps:

• Taking driving lessons
• Provide a medical certificate
• Attend an emergency life-saving course (all categories except category AM – for category D (DE), a first aid course must be attended)

When you pass your practical driving test, the examiner will give you:

• your temporary licence;
• a fee sheet and a payment slip for the administration fees;
• for conditional licences: an explanatory note about the codes used.

One temporary driving licence is issued for every category for which a test is passed, containing all of the information found on the photocard driving licence (personal data and driving licence categories, as well as any time limits, restrictions or conditions).

The temporary driving licence must be signed both by the examiner and by the candidate upon issue.

The temporary driving licence is only valid:

• for a maximum of 4 weeks from the date of issue (period cannot be extended);
• in conjunction with an official photo ID:
• within Austria.

Once a photocard driving licence has been issued, the temporary driving licence will no longer be valid. However, it does not need to be returned to the authorities.

If a candidate applies for several categories, but only passes the tests for some of those, they may choose whether a photocard driving licence card is issued or not:

• Driving licence to be issued for the categories for which a test has been passed:
  • The full amount is payable (including fees for the categories for which the candidate failed their test)
  • The application for the categories for which the candidate failed their test is regarded as being withdrawn
  • In order to obtain a licence for the other categories, the candidate must apply to the driving school for an extension of their licence
• Photocard driving licence only to be issued once a test has been passed for the remaining categories:
  • No fee sheet is provided
  • The fees are temporarily deferred (for up to 18 months)
  • Once the candidate has passed a practical driving test for the remaining categories, a photocard driving licence will be issued upon payment of the fees

The fee sheet contains:

• A list of all costs incurred (except for doctors’ and official medical costs), i.e.:
  • Driving licence fee
  • Test fees
• A payment slip (showing the application number)

Once the fees indicated on the fee sheet have been paid, the driving licence authority will send a request to the Austrian State Printing Office for the photocard driving licence to be issued.

Further information about the EU photocard driving licence can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

Within no more than five to ten days after the request for issue has been submitted, the photocard driving licence will be posted to the address provided by the applicant.

Photocard licences which cannot be sent to the applicant will be sent to the driving licence authority.

Required documents

When applying at a driving school:

• Official photo ID (e.g. passport, ID card or proof of identity)
• Where possible, confirmation of registration in the civil register (facilitates processing at the driving school)
• Where applicable, evidence of academich degree

Upon request, the confirmation of registration can be obtained by the driving licence authority via a search in the Central Civil Register (ZMR).

By the time of the theory test at the latest:

• One photo (portrait, 35 mm x 45 mm) in which the applicant is clearly recognisable (if possible in line with passport photo criteria)

By the time of enrolment on the waiting list for the practical test at the latest:

• Proof of completition of emergency life-saving training (six hours for all categories, except for category AM, category D and category  DE) or a first aid course for category D and category DE (16 hours)

Costs and fees

• Issue fee (not including doctors’ or testing fees): 60.50 Euro

The fees can be paid in cash at the premises of the driving licence authority at any time during office hours. If the payment slip system applies, the payment slip provided must be used, or at least the application number must be provided (otherwise it may be difficult for the driving licence authority to identify which fees have been paid by which applicant).

Further information

The driving licence for category B also covers  category AM (licence required for mopeds, often referred to colloquially as the ‘moped licence’). This means that a category B licence also authorises the holder to ride mopeds.

The same applies to the following licences: A1, A2, A, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE and F. In all these cases, in addition to the relevant category (e.g. category A), the licence will also authorise the holder to drive category AM vehicles.

Legal basis

• Führerscheingesetz (FSG)
• Führerscheingesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (FSG-DV)
• Fahrprüfungsverordnung (FSG-PV)
• Führerscheingesetz-Gesundheitsverordnung (FSG-GV)

Link to form

Driving licence application – issue/extension^{German text}