Renting a Car at Vienna Airport
Vienna International Airport (VIE) serves one of Europe's most civilised capitals — a city of Baroque palaces, Sacher torte, the Spanish Riding School, and the Wiener Philharmoniker. A rental car makes Vienna a superb base for exploring the Wachau wine valley, the Hungarian border, and the Bratislava day trip.
Prices from €22/day. An Austrian motorway vignette (Pickerl) is required — available at petrol stations near the airport. Most rental cars have it pre-attached. The A1 west to Salzburg and Innsbruck is one of Austria's great drives.
Which Car Rental Companies Operate at VIE?
- Europcar
- Sixt
- Hertz
- Avis
- Budget
- Buchbinder
Additional options are available through DiscoverCars and RentalCars.com, which aggregate independent local operators alongside the major brands — often at the lowest rates.
How to Pick Up Your Car at Vienna Airport
Follow signs to baggage reclaim in the arrivals hall.
Rental desks are in the arrivals hall — follow 'Car Rental / Auto a Noleggio / Autonoleggio' signs after customs.
You need: booking confirmation, valid driving licence (≥1 year), passport or ID card, and the credit card used to book.
Walk around the car with the agent before signing. Photograph any existing damage.
Follow airport exit signs toward the city. Your sat-nav or phone maps will guide you from there.
What Documents Do You Need?
- Valid driving licence — held for at least 1 year. EU licences accepted without translation throughout the EU/EEA.
- Passport or national identity card.
- Credit card in the primary driver's name for the security deposit (debit cards rarely accepted).
- Non-EU licence holders may need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if the licence is not in Latin script.
Young Driver Rules at Vienna Airport
Drivers aged 18–24 can rent from most providers but typically pay a Young Driver Surcharge of €10–€25/day. The minimum rental age is usually 18, though some providers require 21 or 25 for premium vehicle categories.
Tips for Renting at VIE
- Austrian motorway vignette (Pickerl): €10 for 10 days, required on all motorways. Most rental cars already have it — confirm before driving.
- Vienna inner ring road (Ringstrasse): free to drive but parking is metered and scarce; use Park+Ride on the U-Bahn lines.
- Hallstatt is beautiful but extremely crowded in summer — arrive by 8am or after 5pm.
- The Wachau valley road (B3) runs along the Danube and is one of Austria's most scenic drives.
Ready to Book Your Vienna Airport Car Hire?
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Compare Prices at VIEGetting from Vienna Airport to Vienna City Centre
With a rental car, driving from Vienna Airport to Vienna city centre takes approximately 20 min (18 km). Follow the airport exit signs toward the city — sat-nav or Google Maps will route you from there. Parking in the centre varies; check our tips above for the best options.
Driving in Austria
Austria uses right-hand traffic. Speed limits: 50 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h on rural roads, 130 km/h on motorways. Blood alcohol limit: 0.05%. Motorway vignette required (Pickerl) — often pre-attached to rental cars. Currency: Euro (€).
Nearby Destinations Worth Driving To
- Bratislava, Slovakia — 65 km, 1 hr. Europe's most underrated capital — compact, charming, and surprisingly affordable.
- Wachau Valley — 90 km, 1 hr. UNESCO Danube valley with vineyard terraces, castle ruins, and beautiful monastery towns (Melk, Dürnstein).
- Hallstatt — 280 km, 3 hr. Austria's most photographed village — a lakeside marvel in the Salzkammergut mountains.
- Budapest, Hungary — 250 km, 2.5 hr. Hungary's spectacular capital on the Danube — easily reached via the M0 and Hungarian M1.
For more planning help, read our car rental tips guide and find out which fees to watch for when you collect your vehicle.