Winter Driving in Austria and Germany: Tires, Vignettes and Ski-Resort Tips

Picking up a rental car in Munich, Salzburg or Innsbruck is one of the easiest ways to reach the Alps this winter. You can stop where you like, carry all your gear and drive straight to the lift. Winter driving in Austria and Germany has its own rules, though, and they differ in ways that matter once you cross the border. This guide covers winter tires, snow chains, Austria's digital vignette, cross-border car rental and the practical side of mountain roads and resort parking lots, so you can spend less time worrying and more time on the slopes.

Winter tires in Austria: the November 1 to April 15 rule

Austria has a situational winter-equipment rule for cars and vans up to 3.5 metric tons (about 7,700 lb). From November 1 to April 15, if the road is wintry (snow, slush or ice), you may only drive with winter tires on all four wheels. On a dry, mild day in November you won't be breaking the law on summer tires, but in the mountains conditions can change within one valley, so in practice you need winter tires for the whole trip.

What counts as a winter tire in Austria:

• The tire must be marked "M+S", "M.S." or "M&S", or carry the snowflake symbol, either on its own or alongside the M+S marking. All-season tires count only if they carry one of these markings.
• Minimum tread depth is 4 mm for radial tires (most car tires) and 5 mm for cross-ply. That's more than double the 1.6 mm legal minimum common elsewhere.

There's one alternative. Snow chains on at least two drive wheels can stand in for winter tires, but only when the road is fully, or almost fully, covered in snow or ice. You can't drive on chains on a clear road, so chains alone are no substitute for proper winter tires on a ski trip.

Winter tires in Germany: the situational rule and the Alpine symbol

Germany has no fixed winter-tire season. Instead, under § 2 (3a) of the German road traffic regulations (StVO), you must have winter tires on all four wheels whenever there is black ice, snow, slush, ice or frost on the road. The old rule of thumb "von O bis O" (October to Easter) is useful but has no legal weight.

The key detail is the marking. Since October 1, 2024, Germany only accepts tires with the Alpine symbol (3PMSF, a three-peaked mountain with a snowflake). Tires marked only "M+S" no longer count, and that applies to foreign-registered cars as well. Breaking the rule brings a fine and a penalty point, and a crash on the wrong tires can also affect your insurance coverage.

Even if your rental company equips its winter fleet properly, check before you drive off. Look for the mountain-and-snowflake symbol on the sidewall. It's the one marking that satisfies both countries.

Snow chains in Austria and Germany: when you need them

In Austria, snow chains are the legal alternative to winter tires only on a fully snow- or ice-covered road (see above). Separately, on some mountain roads and passes, signs can make chains compulsory for every vehicle, whatever tires it has. When you see one, fit chains before you go on. In Germany the same applies wherever a chain-requirement sign is posted.

Practical advice if you're renting a car for a ski trip:

• Ask whether chains are in the car when you book or collect it, and check they fit the tire size printed on the sidewall.
• Practice fitting them once in the rental parking lot. Doing it for the first time on a dark, icy hairpin is miserable.
• Fit chains on the drive wheels. Check the owner's manual for which axle that is.
• Keep your speed low with chains on, and take them off once you're back on a clear road.

Austria's digital vignette for 2027: how to buy it

Cars up to 3.5 metric tons need a vignette for Austria's highways and expressways, including the A12 into the Inn Valley and the A10 Tauern Autobahn from Salzburg. From the 2027 vignette year, ASFINAG only sells the digital vignette, and the sticker is being phased out. The 2027 annual vignette is valid from December 1, 2026, to January 31, 2028.

How it works:

• The vignette is linked to your license plate, so make sure you enter the rental car's plate and country of registration exactly.
• You can buy it in the ASFINAG toll shop or the ASFINAG app, choosing a 1-day, 10-day, 2-month or annual vignette.
• Watch the 18-day rule. If you buy a 2-month or annual vignette online as a consumer, it only becomes valid on the 18th day after purchase, because of EU consumer withdrawal rights. 1-day and 10-day vignettes bought online are valid straight away, as are vignettes bought from ASFINAG sales partners and vending machines.
• Prices change on December 1 each year, so check the current rates on asfinag.at before you go.

A ski week usually only needs the 10-day vignette. Driving without one leads to a substitute toll or a fine, so buy it before you reach the first highway, not at the border. Some routes, such as certain tunnels and mountain roads, charge a separate section toll that the vignette doesn't cover. Germany currently has no highway vignette for cars.

Cross-border car rental between Germany and Austria

Many ski trips cross the border. You might fly into Munich and ski in Tyrol, or land in Salzburg and head for Berchtesgaden. Before you book a cross-border car rental:

• Tell the rental company you'll be driving into the other country. Many providers charge a cross-border fee or limit which countries a car may enter. Fees and rules vary by supplier, so read the rental terms rather than assuming.
• Check whether winter tires are included. Cars rented in Austria and Germany for winter are normally fitted with winter tires, but some suppliers list winter equipment as a separate charge. Confirm it in writing, especially if your dates fall in November or April.
• Ask about the vignette. A car registered in Austria often comes with a vignette already. A German-plated car from Munich usually won't have one, so you'll need to buy it yourself.
• One-way rentals between countries usually cost more than returning the car where you picked it up.

On Northbound.net you can compare what's included before you book, so you can choose a car with winter tires and cross-border permission already taken care of.

Mountain roads and ski-resort parking

Alpine roads are well maintained and cleared quickly, but they need a different approach from highway driving.

• Check conditions before you leave. Road reports from ÖAMTC and ADAC and live traffic information from ASFINAG show closures, chain requirements and congestion.
• Plan around Saturday changeover. Many resorts change guests on Saturdays, and roads into the big valleys can be very busy. Traveling early in the morning or midweek saves hours.
• Use low gears on descents. Engine braking keeps your brakes from overheating and helps you keep control on packed snow.
• Leave much larger gaps and brake gently. Stopping distances on snow are many times longer than on a dry road.
• Arrive early for parking. Valley-station parking lots fill up fast on sunny weekends and during the holidays. Many resorts run free or cheap ski buses from villages, which are often less hassle than chasing a space.
• In deep cold, avoid leaving the parking brake on overnight if the owner's manual advises against it, as it can freeze on. On level ground, leave a manual-transmission car in gear (or an automatic in P) instead; on a slope, follow the owner's manual.
• Clear all the snow off the car, including the roof, before you drive. A slab of snow sliding onto the windshield under braking is dangerous.
• Keep the tank at least half full. Gas stations are fewer in high valleys, and a full tank keeps you warm if you get stuck in a traffic jam or closure.

Your winter emergency kit

Rental cars come with the legally required basics. In Austria and Germany that normally means a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and a high-visibility vest. Check they're in the car. For a winter mountain trip, add:

• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Snow chains (and gloves for fitting them)
• Warm blanket, hat and spare gloves
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Water and some snacks
• A phone charger or power bank
• Windshield washer fluid rated for sub-zero temperatures
• A small shovel if you're heading to remote valleys

Save the emergency number 112 in your phone. It works across the EU.

Ready for winter driving in the Alps

Winter driving in Austria and Germany is straightforward if you prepare: tires with the Alpine symbol, snow chains you've practiced fitting, a vignette linked to the right plate and a rental agreement that allows the border crossing. Get those right and the drive from Munich, Salzburg or Innsbruck becomes part of the vacation. Find your winter car rental on Northbound.net and head for the slopes.