Driving licence categories

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Caution

In general, these rules also apply to EU citizens in Austria.

Description of the individual driving licence categories A to F. The table indicates which vehicles may be used with which licence
Class Description
  AM
  • Mopeds
  • Light quadricycles
  A1
  • Motorcycles with or without a sidecar with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cc and an engine power not exceeding 11 kW (15 hp); maximum power to weight ratio of 0.1 kW/kg
  • Three-wheeled motor vehicles with an engine power of up to 15 kW (20 hp)
  A2
  • Motorcycles with or without a sidecar with an engine power not exceeding 35 kW (48 hp) and a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW/kg, and which when unrestricted do not have more than double the engine power
  A
  • Motorcycles with or without a sidecar
  • Three-wheeled motor vehicles
  • Category A also covers AM, A1 and A2
  B1
  • Licence category B1, which features on the EU photocard licence, is an optional category introduced by the Third EU Driving Licence Directive that was not adopted by Austria. As a result, licences are not issued for this category in Austria.
  B
  • Motor vehicles designed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver and with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.500 kg
  • Three-wheeled motor vehicles (as of 21 years of age) (national provision)
  • Vehicles in category A1 if the holder has held a valid category B licence
    • for an uninterrupted period of at least five years, is no longer in the probationary period set out in Section 4, has completed practical training on driving such vehicles and
    • the code 111 is entered on the licence (national provision)
  • Towing a light trailer (maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kg)
  • Towing a heavy trailer (maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg) if the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 3.500 kg
  • Towing a heavy trailer (maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg) resulting in a maximum authorised mass for the vehicle combination of over 3.500 kg, but not exceeding 4.250 kg, provided that the holder has completed seven sessions of theory and practical training (no test required)  (Code 96)
  • Vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of over 3,500 kg, but not exceeding 4,250 kg, provided that:
    • they are vehicles with alternative drive systems;
    • they are used for freight transport;
    • they are not used to tow a trailer;
    • the mass exceeding 3,500 kg is due exclusively to the additional weight of the propulsion system compared with the propulsion system of vehicles of the same dimensions equipped with conventional spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines
    • the loading capacity is not increased compared to these vehicles
    • the driver has held category B for at least two years without interruption.
    This licence only applies to travel within Austria.

  C1

  • Vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of over 3,500 kg, but not exceecing 7,500 kg, that do not fall under category D1 or D
  • Towing a light trailer (maximum authorised mass of 750 kg), in accordance with the applicable motor vehicle legislation

  C

  • Vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of over 3.500 kg that do not fall under category D1 or D
  • Special vehicles
  • Vehicles in category D1 or D (provided that no passengers are carried) within Austria, if the driver was issued a group C driving licence before 1 November 1997 or the driver is at least 21 years of age and has held a category C licence for at least two years, and if the vehicle is being driven for the purpose of test or inspection drives to determine the technical state of the vehicle or for the purpose of removing a bus from a hazard area
    Important: This authorisation no longer applies if it was already applicable before 19 January 2013.
  • Towing a light trailer (maximum authorised mass of 750 kg), in accordance with the applicable motor vehicle legislation

  D1

  • Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats in addition to the driver’s seat and with a maximum length of eight metres that are designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers
  • Towing a light trailer (maximum authorised mass of 750 kg), in accordance with the applicable motor vehicle legislation

  D 

  • Vehicles with more than eight passenger seats
  • Special vehicles
  • Towing a light trailer (maximum authorised mass of 750 kg), in accordance with the applicable motor vehicle legislation
  BE
  • Unless otherwise specified in the vehicle approval, category B towing vehicles plus a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.500 kg
  C1E
  • Category C1 towing vehicles plus a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 12.000 kg
  • Category B towing vehicles plus a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorised mass of over 3.500 kg, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 12.000 kg
  CE
  • Unless otherwise specified in the vehicle approval, category C towing vehicles plus a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kg
  D1E
  • Unless otherwise specified in the vehicle approval, category D1 towing vehicles plus a trailer with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kg
  DE
  • Unless otherwise specified in the vehicle approval, category D towing vehicles plus a trailer with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kg
  F
  • Tractors and motorised carts with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h
  • Self-propelled machinery with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h
  • Self-propelled agricultural machinery with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h
  • Motorised transport carts with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h
  • Single-axle tractors that are connected to another vehicle or device in such a way that they form a single vehicle unit corresponding in terms of dead weight and maximum design speed to a tractor with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h
  • Special vehicles

Licence category G ceased to exist on 1 October 2002. Category G licences issued before 1 October 2002 are treated as category F licences.

The programme of EU-wide recognition of national driving licences also involved the harmonisation of the different licence categories across all Member States. An overview of the vehicle categories applicable in Austria can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

Detailed information about driving licence codes can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

Legal basis

section 2 of the Führerscheingesetz (FSG)

Translated by the European Commission
Last update: 3 April 2024

Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology