Can I use my phone while driving in Austria?
Only hands-free — otherwise banned. Holding and operating a phone while driving is prohibited; calling is allowed only via a hands-free kit while the vehicle is moving. Under the 41st amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act, the on-the-spot fine was doubled from €50 to €100. If you don't pay on the spot, you risk proceedings with a fine of up to €140. Holding the phone to your ear is always banned, even briefly; typing or texting by hand is banned even with a hands-free kit. In short: yes, hands-free — otherwise €100.
📋 The rules
- Phone in your hand is banned
- Calling only via a hands-free kit
- On-the-spot fine doubled from €50 to €100
- Up to €140 in formal proceedings
- Typing/texting banned even hands-free
🔓 Exceptions
- Use allowed when the vehicle is stopped and the engine is off
- Holding it to your ear is always banned, even briefly
- 41st amendment: seatbelt/helmet fine rose from €35 to €50
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The on-the-spot fine has been €100 since the 41st amendment; if you don't pay and it goes to proceedings, you risk a fine of up to €140. It's an administrative offence, not a criminal one. Use is only allowed when the vehicle is genuinely stopped and the engine off — not at a red light or in start-stop. Beware a myth: "it's only €50, no big deal" is outdated — the fine was doubled to €100 (up to €140 if unpaid). Tip: put the phone in a mount, set your route beforehand, and call hands-free.
📎 Official sources
- Parliament · phone fine doubled to €100 →
- oesterreich.gv.at · phoning while driving →
- ÖAMTC · rules & penalties →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I make calls while driving?
Only via a hands-free kit. Holding and operating a phone while driving is prohibited. With a fixed or portable hands-free kit you may make calls, as long as you don't pick the device up or operate it by hand.
How much is the fine?
The on-the-spot fine was doubled from €50 to €100 by the 41st amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act. If you don't pay immediately and it goes to administrative proceedings, you can face a fine of up to €140. It's an administrative offence.
Can I check my phone at a red light?
No. Use is only allowed when the vehicle is genuinely stopped and the engine is switched off. That doesn't apply at a red light or in start-stop mode, so holding the phone is prohibited then too.
Can I type with a hands-free kit?
No. Even with a hands-free kit installed, typing, texting or operating the device by hand while driving is prohibited. What's allowed is hands-free voice control or making a call without picking the device up.
Were other fines increased too?
Yes. The same 41st amendment also raised the fine for breaching the seatbelt and helmet rules from €35 to €50. The increases are intended to improve road safety.
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