What kind of vehicles with a motor are you allowed to drive in Austria without a driver’s license?

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The classic example is the eBike, which travels at a maximum speed of 25 km/h and has a top-rated continuous output of 250 watts. Other examples are motor vehicles with a full speed of 10 km/h or transport carts and self-propelled work machines. Also, go-karts, driven in a race whose track is in a closed-off area, do not require a driver’s license.

Are there age restrictions for driving motorized vehicles that do not require a driver’s license?

There are no age restrictions for eBikes and eScooters. However, the same rules apply for children as for bicycling: They are only allowed to ride up to a certain age when accompanied by an adult or with a bicycle license. For self-propelled work machines, the age restriction is 16.

How are the types of vehicles defined that can be driven without a driver’s license? Are there certain power limits or cubic capacity restrictions?

By the 10 km/h plate, this is signalled to the outside. Otherwise, it depends on what type of speed is in the type certificate or registration certificate.

How can people allowed to drive without a license be sufficiently informed about the traffic rules and safety regulations?

There are often internal courses at companies or other types of authorization, such as the forklift license. Otherwise, it’s the same as with bicycles or e-bikes: there is no legal obligation for people to learn the traffic regulations in a course or take tests.

What responsibilities do drivers of vehicles without a license have if there is an accident or injury to other road users?

A vehicle with a design speed of no more than 10 km/h is not subject to registration and liability insurance. Private or business liability insurance could compensate for the damage if an accident occurs with such a vehicle. In the case of e-bikes, for example, the insurance coverage is integrated into the household insurance policy if a liability component is included.

Does it make a difference if you don’t have a driver’s license or have been revoked – because of a misdemeanour or health restrictions?

Yes. The more often you are caught without a driver’s license, the more severe the penalties. The first time, no jail time is expected. On the second or third time, the authorities could order such measures.

Are there any plans to change or adapt the regulations for driving without a license?

In principle, there are no such plans. However, there is a discrepancy between eScooters and eBikes. People have recently changed the power limits for these vehicles. It used to be a maximum of 600 watts of power. Nowadays, it’s 250 watts of power. But some eScooters in circulation still have a maximum capacity of 600 watts. With these e-scooters, the question is whether this is still a vehicle you can drive without a driver’s license.