If you plan to drive in Austria, you'll need to be sure you have an Austrian environmental sticker, referred to as the Austrian Pickerl, for traveling through the country's Low Emission Zones (LEZs).
You can quickly and easily purchase the Austrian environmental badge on Tollwayr. Our payment methods include PayPal, online banking, or a credit card among others. A confirmation will be sent to your email address. The adhesive sticker will be delivered by mail.
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Low Emission Zones in Austria were first established in and around Vienna in 2012, with the rest introduced in 2014 or later. Today, there are eight different environmental zones that specifically apply to certain vehicle categories in Austria, the N category, which includes light trucks and similar vehicles.
The Legal Basis for the Austrian Environmental Sticker
The Austrian environmental sticker, or Pickerl, is mandatory for vehicles entering any one of the country's eight LEZ in 2024. Having this sticker on your vehicle's windshield is essential for complying with the Austrian environmental regulations.
Be aware that environmental badges and other types of LEZ stickers from different countries such as Germany, are not accepted in Austria. This means that in addition to the regular Austrian motorway vignette, you will also need the environmental badge to legally operate your vehicle on Austrian roads if it falls under the N category. If you fail to comply, heavy fines may apply.
Low Emission Zones in Austria
There are eight LEZs in Austria, with the obligation to affix an environmental sticker only applying to vehicles in the N category which includes light trucks. There is an exemption for vintage vehicles which must have a license plate marked with the letter "V" and a vintage vehicle certificate.
In some regions, certain high-emission vehicles are already banned. It's a must to understand the boundaries of each zone as highways are included and bypassing them is often not possible.
Environmental Zone Außerfern
Außerfern covers an area of 1,237 square kilometers (477.6 square miles) and corresponds to the Tyrolean district of Reutte in the far northwest of Austria, bordering directly on Bavaria, making it a popular route to reach Tyrol. It's the first, and to date, the only environmental zone that strictly concerns motorbikes and is a noise protection zone.
Environmental Zone Burgenland
Burgenland environmental regulations (located in Austria's easternmost region which includes the capital of Eisenstadt) cover the entire territory with an area of 3,962 square kilometers (1,529.7 square miles). It requires the environmental badge to be affixed to the windshield with restrictions applying to vehicles in categories N1, N2, and N3. It allows only cars falling within the EURO 3 emissions class or above.
Environmental Zone Linz
The capital of Upper Austria, Linz is the country's third-largest city. In contrast to other Austrian environmental zones, it only affects class M1 taxis.
Environmental Zone Lower Austria
Lower Austria entirely surrounds the federal capital of Vienna. This is the largest federal province in terms of area and covers the districts of Bruck an der Leitha, Gänserndorf, Korneuburg, and Mödling. Class N1, N2, and N3 trucks that do not meet EURO Standard 3 are banned from entering.
Environmental Zone Upper Austria
Upper Austria includes the districts of Bruck an der Leitha, Gänserndorf, Korneuburg, and Mödling. It borders Southern Bohemia in Czechia and Bavaria and Germany, along with Lower Austria, Salzburg, and Styria in Austria. It affects the A1 West motorway between the junction Enns-Steyr and Knoten Haid near Linz in both directions. Heavy trucks, including classes N2 and N3, are banned.
Environmental Zone Styria
Bordered to the south by Slovenia, LEZ restrictions in the Styria district apply to some of its areas which include Graz and its surrounds, Murtal, Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, Leoben, Deutschlandsberg, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Leibnitz, Voitsberg, and Weiz. This applies only to vehicles in categories N1, N2, and N3, with entrance allowed to vehicles that are within the EURO 3 emissions class or above.
Environmental Zone Tirol
Located in the west of Austria lying north of Italy, unlike most Austrian environmental zones, this one doesn't affect a large area. It only applies to the A12 Inntal motorway where only Euro 6 trucks in classes N2 and N3 are allowed.
Environmental Zone Vienna
The Low Emissions Zone in Vienna applies to the entire capital, an area of 415 square kilometers (160.2 square miles). As mentioned, it was one of the earliest zones implemented in 2012. The restriction applies to category N1, N2, and N3 vehicles, with entry allowed only to cars under the EURO 3 emissions class or above.
Types of Austrian Environmental Badges
Just like the French Crit’Air and the Swiss Stick’AIR systems, Austria distinguishes six different levels of air pollution which is why there are six different types of environmental badges to choose from, assigning your vehicle to a specific emissions class. The environmental stickers are available in six different colours representing the respective EURO class. Ranging from EURO 1 to 6, they're black, red, yellow, green, blue, and violet. You cannot use an Austrian badge to enter other European LEZ zones, neither can you use other countries' stickers to enter the Austrian zones.
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Euro 1/I
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Euro 2/II
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Euro 3/III
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Euro 4/IV
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Euro 5/V
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Euro 6/VI
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How to Buy an Austrian Emissions Sticker
To obtain the Austrian emissions sticker, you will need the registration certificate of your vehicle (part II).
Austrian emissions stickers are available online, which is the most convenient purchasing method, although you will still need to send your registration documents (this can be done by email). The sticker will be delivered within 14 days by mail.
Buying a Sticker in Austria
The emissions stickers are available in every workshop/garage that is authorized to issue safety check stickers in accordance with Section 57a of the Motor Vehicles Act. They can also be found at authorized testing facility at two of the country's leading breakdown insurers: ÖAMTC and ARBÖ.
Unfortunately, there are challenges that come with this option so we never recommend it. This is due to the large LEZ coverage areas in Austria and the inclusion of motorways. Basically, that means it's impossible to get to any of the workshops/garages by bypassing the zone.
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Online at Tollwayr
It takes under two minutes to purchase the Austrian emissions sticker on our website at Tollwayr.com. This is by far the most convenient way to receive your environmental sticker. We sell them for €39.95 and they are delivered via priority post across Europe.
Follow these steps for a seamless experience:
- Vin Number
- Manufacturer / Type
- Fuel type
- Permissible total weight
- License plate number
- Date of first registration
- Copy/scan/photos of your registration documents
After we’ve received the payment, if the order comes through 5 p.m., your sticker will be shipped the same day. Below you can see the estimated delivery times:
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Validity of the Emissions Sticker
The emissions sticker will always have an unlimited validity length for the vehicle license plate for which it was issued. It is tied directly to your vehicle's registration so it will remain valid as long as the vehicle remains in service.
Fines and Compliance for the Vignette
Violation of the environmental zone sticker obligation, including entering an LEZ without a mandatory sticker, can be punished with heavy fines of as much as €2,180.
FAQ
The Austrian Environmental Sticker, also known as "Pickerl," is a mandatory requirement for vehicles entering Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in Austria. It indicates the emission class of the vehicle and is necessary to reduce air pollution in designated areas. The sticker is required for vehicles in the N category, such as light trucks, and must be displayed on the windscreen.
The sticker is mandatory for vehicles in the
N category, which includes light trucks. Passenger cars, motorcycles, buses, and tractors are currently exempt from this requirement. However, all vehicles entering LEZs must comply with the sticker regulations.
No, environmental stickers from other countries, such as the German "Umweltplakette," are not valid in Austria. You must obtain a specific Austrian Environmental Sticker to legally enter the Low Emission Zones in Austria.
The sticker can be purchased online or at designated locations in Austria, such as garages/workshops. Buying online is recommended for convenience, as it allows you to avoid the LEZs where the sticker is required to be displayed.
The Austrian Environmental Sticker is tied to the vehicle’s registration and is valid indefinitely for that vehicle as long as it remains in service. There is no need to renew the sticker once it has been issued.
Failure to display the required environmental sticker in an LEZ can result in fines of up to €2,180. This applies to all vehicles, including foreign ones, that enter these zones without the appropriate sticker.
There are eight regions in Austria with Low Emission Zones: Außerfern, Burgenland, Linz, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Tirol, and Vienna. Vehicles entering these zones must display the appropriate environmental sticker.
Yes, highways are included in the Low Emission Zones in Austria. Therefore, vehicles traveling on these roads must also display the environmental sticker if they fall within the required vehicle categories.
While it is possible to buy the sticker at garages in Austria, it is not recommended as many highways are within the LEZs. Purchasing online before your trip is advised to avoid entering a zone without the sticker.
To purchase the sticker, you will need to provide the VIN number, manufacturer/type, fuel type, permissible total weight, license plate number, date of first registration, and copies or scans of your registration documents.
Environmental Zones in Neighbouring Countries
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Italy
Hungary
Euro 1/I
Euro 2/II
Euro 3/III
Euro 4/IV
Euro 5/V
Euro 6/VI
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Italy
Germany
Hungary
Switzerland