Day 11: Skiing in Austria – vignette, winter tyres and insurance before you set off
Vanessa is a fictional character created by Reiseblase. Her stories are made up – we check facts, rules and advice against official sources.
Hello everyone! It’s getting dark earlier, and here at our travel agency the first people are already asking about skiing holidays. Right at the top of the wish list is Austria: a few hours’ drive in your own car and you’re in the middle of the mountains.
The last time I stood on skis I was twelve – and, to be honest, I spent more time sitting in the snow than standing. But every winter my customers tell me what went well and what they’d do differently next time.
Today it’s all about the things to think about before you set off: vignette, winter tyres, ID and insurance. It sounds dry, but it saves you hassle on the motorway, in the slush and, in an emergency, on the slopes.
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One customer – let’s call her Lena – wanted to quickly buy her annual vignette from the online shop the evening before she left. Then came the shock: annual and two-month vignettes bought online are only valid for consumers from the 18th day after purchase (1). Lena bought hers at a sales point the next morning – there, the vignette is valid immediately (1).
A young couple from Cologne set off in January on summer tyres because it hadn’t snowed at home for weeks. Just before the ski resort there was slush on the road – and it is exactly in conditions like these that winter equipment is compulsory in Austria (2). The two of them had to fit snow chains in the dark with freezing fingers. Their verdict: never again without winter tyres.
And then there’s the K. family, whose son sprained his wrist on the second day of skiing. His mother told me that only afterwards did she read up properly on what the European Health Insurance Card covers and what it doesn’t – and how glad she was that she had also taken out travel insurance.
My checklist for a skiing holiday in Austria
- ID: For German nationals, an identity card or passport is enough; a child’s passport is also accepted. According to the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), documents may be expired by no more than one year; a provisional identity card must be valid (3).
- Border: Checks are currently taking place at the German–Austrian border – allow some waiting time (3).
- Vignette: You need a vignette on motorways and expressways; on certain Alpine routes you pay a separate route toll instead (1). Car prices for 2026: 1 day €9.60, 10 days €12.80, 2 months €32.00, 1 year €106.80 (1). The 2026 annual vignette is valid until 31 January 2027; from the 2027 vignette year onwards there will only be the digital vignette (1).
- Digital vignette: It is linked to your number plate (1). Annual and two-month vignettes bought online are only valid from the 18th day after purchase; those bought at a sales point are valid immediately (1).
- Winter tyres: From 1 November to 15 April, in wintry conditions – snow, slush or ice – you must have winter tyres on all wheels, marked M+S, M.S, M&S or with a snowflake symbol (2). Alternatively, snow chains on at least two drive wheels are allowed, but only where there is a more or less continuous layer of snow or ice (2).
- In the car: Drivers of multi-track vehicles must have a high-visibility vest. The alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, or 0.1 for drivers who have held their licence for less than two years (3).
- Health: Take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. It gives you the same rights as locally insured people for treatment that can’t wait until you get home – but only in the public healthcare system (4). It does not cover transport home or search and rescue costs, for example after a skiing accident (4). The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) recommends travel health and repatriation insurance (3).
- On the mountain: Stay on marked slopes and cross-country trails, respect closures and check the weather, snow and avalanche situation before any tour (3).
My conclusion: the best day on the slopes starts at home – with a vignette bought in good time, winter tyres on the car and your insurance card in your wallet. If you’re driving a hire car from the airport into the mountains, check the winter equipment when you book – more on that in my guide to car hire on holiday (Advertisement).
See you tomorrow,
Vanessa
Please note: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Rules can change – please check the latest official information before you travel.
Sources
- oesterreich.gv.at: Vignette for motor vehicles weighing up to 3.5 t (as of 1 January 2026; accessed 21 October 2026)
- oesterreich.gv.at: Compulsory use of winter tyres (as of 12 January 2026; accessed 21 October 2026)
- German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt): Österreich: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (as of 21 October 2026, unchanged since 27 August 2026; accessed 21 October 2026)
- European Commission – Your Europe: Health cover for temporary stays in another EU country (as of 16 September 2026; accessed 21 October 2026)
