fbpx

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. If you continue using this site, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies. Read our Cookie Policies to find out more.

Search Order

English (United Kingdom)

Slovakia by rental car

Slovakia Flag PNGSpeed Limit

The speed limit on the roads in town or city is 50km/h, out of town 90 km/h and on the motorway 130 km/h.

Highways in Slovakia

There are four main motorways (all paid) in Slovakia.

D1 starts in Bratislava and finishes on the border in Vysne Nemecke.
D2 starts in Brodske and finishes in Rusovce.
D3 starts in Hricovske Podhradie and ends in Skalite.
D4 starts in Kittsee Jarovce and finishes on the border with Austria.

Road Payment, Highway Toll

It is necessary to have a toll sticker (vignette) if you want to drive on the motorway in Slovakia. The price of toll sticker for one year is 50 Euros. One month toll sticker is 14 Euros and 10 day toll sticker costs 10 Euros. You can buy the toll ticket in post offices and on the gas stations.

Gas Stations & Average Price for Gas in Slovakia

The average price for one liter of 95 fuel is around 1.50 Euro, for diesel a bit less.

The gas stations are available in towns or on the outskirts of the towns, next to motorways and roads and also in some villages. They are open from the morning till evening; many of them are open nonstop.

Driving under Influence, Fines for Speed

The fines for higher than allowed speed out of towns are:

Speed above allowedMoney penalty
For more than 20 km/h cca 70 Euros (or more)
For more than 30 km/h cca 100 Euros (or more)
For more than 40 km/h cca 200 Euros (or more)
For more than 75 km/h cca 800 Euros

The drivers may pay the fines with credit cards. If the policemen do not have terminal and the driver does not have enough cash with him, his driving licence card may be held.

There is zero tolerance to alcohol. The fine for alcohol use is from 200 to 1000 Euros and prohibition of driving for to five years. Driving under the influence of one per mille of alcohol or under the influence of other addictive substances and refusal of the tests is a crime. Drunk driver can face one year in prison.

It is obligatory to have car lights on all year.

Do not use your phone while driving a car, it is forbidden.

Winter on Roads

There are a lot of mountains pass overs on the roads from the south to the north of Slovakia. Very problematic (usually causing snarl-ups) are mountains Donovaly(Ruzomberok - Banska Bystrica), Velky Sturec (Martin - Banska Bystrica) and Certovica(Liptovsky Mikulás - Brezno). Try to avoid them in winter if possible.

If there is snow or glare ice, it is good to use tire chain, especially for trucks.

Austria by rental car

Mandatory Winter Equipment

In winter conditions the use of four winter tires or snow chains on at least two tires is now mandatory in Austria between 1 November and 15 April.

All-season tires are also acceptable during the winter season.
Snow chains are not required but must be carried in areas under advisory. Snow chains on summer tires – as an alternative to winter tires - are only accepted if the entire road is heavily covered with snow and no damage to the road is caused by the snow chains. These winter provisions are strictly enforced and control points are common.

You must display a Vignette on the inside of the windshield of your vehicle as you enter Austria. The vignette must be stuck to your windshield in order to be valid. Failure to do so will mean a heavy, on-the-spot fine. Stickers can be obtained from the Austrian Automobile Clubs as well as post offices, newsagents and petrol stations. You can also purchase stickers in Austria's neighboring countries at petrol stations, borders and Automobile Clubs.

Toll Sticker Prices 2017:

Rates 2017 
Type of vehicle 10-day-toll sticker 2-month-toll sticker Annual toll sticker
Vehicle with a maximum gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 t € 8,90 € 25,90 € 86,40
Motorcycle € 5,10 € 13,00 € 34,40

                                           Tates in EUR, Prices include 20 % VAT, valid as 1st of December 2016

The toll tariff system based on emission categories concerns all motor vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight exceeding 3.5t and applies on all Austrian motorways and highways. These vehicles are required to attach a small adjustment - named the GO-Box - to their windscreen. Note that this includes larger private vehicles such as motor caravans that are above the weight limit. If your motor vehicle is close to the weight limit you are advised to carry documentation confirming the maximum permitted laden weight. If your registration documents do not clearly state this, you'll need to produce alternative certification e.g. from a weigh-bridge.

Drink Driving Limits
The legal drink driving limit in Austria is 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (the limit is10 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood if you have had your licence for two years or less and for coach and HGV drivers). Penalties for driving under the influence are severe.

Speed Limits

 

Urban kph (mph)

Open Road kph (mph)

Motorway kph (mph)

Car

50 (31)

100 (62)

130 (81)

Towing

50 (31)

80 (50)

100 (62)

Motorcycle

50 (31)

100 (62)

130 (81)

Get Visible
High visibility warning vests are required for all drivers. They need to be stored within reach of the driver and must be worn day or night when exiting the vehicle on the hard shoulder or in the event of breakdown. You must also have a first aid kit and a warning triangle inside the car in case you break down. Only 'hands free' mobile telephones can be used whilst driving.

Fuel
All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won't work at automatic pumps. At many garages in rural areas only automatic pumps are available at lunch time, during the evening and weekend, so make sure you're topped up.

Parking
For short-term parking (Kurzparkzone) you must buy a ticket from a local shop and fill in your time of arrival.  At night you must leave your sidelights on unless street lighting is provided.

Fines
On-the-spot fines are issued. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine.

Traffic Accident, Breakdown
Traffic accidents involving injury to persons must immediately be reported to the police; accidents involving material damage must only be reported when mutual identity has not been established. The ÖAMTC and ARBÖ Automobile Clubs operate a 24-hour emergency breakdown service, which may be utilized by anyone (non-members must pay a fee).

Emergency Numbers
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services.

Local Numbers:
Fire - 122
Police - 133
Ambulance - 144
Mountain Rescue - 140
Doctor (out of hours) - 141

Driving in Germany

At all times

Always have in your car your driver’s license and International Driver's Permit, car registration, insurance information, blue parking disk and emergency kit.

Speed limits

The standard speed limits are 50 km/h within the city limits and 100 km/h on rural roads, unless otherwise posted. The city limits are marked with a yellow sign which has the city name on it at the beginning of the city limits, and the same yellow sign with a red slash through it at the end of the city limits. When driving in the city, if you see a blue sign with white car, children and bike symbols on it, then you must drive at a walking speed.


The German Autobahn
On the Autobahn, you can drive as fast as you feel is safe; the German authorities recommend a "suggested" speed of 130 kmh (80mph).
You can only pass another car in the left lane. The right lane is for slower vehicles, and overtaking cars in the right lane is illegal.
Before you pull into the left lane to pass another car, make sure to check the rear view mirror carefully - some cars travel as fast as 200 kmh and approach very suddenly.

Speed control
Beware the cameras that will gladly take your picture if you are speeding – these cameras are in many areas along the Autobahn as well as in the cities.

Lane markings
Lanes going the same direction are separated by dashed white lines. A Solid white line separates the different directions. Yellow lines are to notate a change in the traffic flow in a construction area – not to separate the different sides of the road

Diving lanes
Stay in right lane whenever possible. After passing, go back to the right lane. The left lane should only be used for passing, especially on the Autobahn. If, while in the left lane, you see someone coming up behind you – get out of the way. 

Passing
When passing, pass only on the left, and at a faster speed than the car you are passing. Don’t pass at the same speed – speed up, pass, and then return to the speed you were going. A double white line in the middle means no passing. A solid white line beside a dashed line means passing on the dashed side only.
 
Traffic lights
The colors on the signals represent the same things in Germany as they do just about everywhere else. In Germany, prior to the light turning green, the yellow signal will come on with the red for a second. This indicates that the green signal is about to be actived, giving drivers a "get ready" warning.

Right on Red

You are not allowed to turn right on a red light. The only exception to this is when there is a specific signal with a green right arrow.

Traffic signs

These are usually posted on the right, so keep an eye out. The ADAC (the German national motor club) has made a very comprehensive list of traffic signs.

Right of way

When no traffic signal is at an intersection, follow these right of way rules: If you have a sign with a yellow diamond at an intersection, you have the right of way. If you have a sign which is a white triangle with a red border (yield sign), you must wait for the oncoming traffic to clear. If there is no sign, then a vehicle entering from the right has the right of way. There are no 3-way or 4-way stop signs. Likewise, there are also no flashing red lights. If you approach a flashing yellow light, proceed with caution – this does not automatically give you the right of way.

Merging

When merging, observe the “zipper rule” (Reißverschluß), which states that both lanes feed into the continuing lane, alternating cars from each lane. No one lane has priority over the other.

Pedestrian Crossings

Pedestrians crossing the street have the right of way, and you must stop for them. Also, when coming to a stop at an intersection, make sure you do not block the pedestrian crossing.

Traffic Jams

If you find yourself driving into a traffic jam, remember to turn on your hazard lights to warn the drivers behind you. (You can turn them off again once you have a few cars behind you.)

Stalled car

If something happens to your car that is not a serious accident, move it over as far as you can to the right, put your hazard and parking lights on, put your safety vest on and set the warning triangle 100 m (200 m on the highway) away from the car to warn oncoming traffic. Telephones are placed along the Autobahn in case assistance is needed.

Alcohol limit: 0.05%

Roadside Assistance Numbers:

Road Assistance ADAC +49 (0)1802 22 22 22
Road Assistance ACE +49 (0)711 530 34 35 36
Road Assistance AVD +49 (0)800 9909909

Driving in Poland

Some rules

 Traffic is on the right side.

Maximun speed: 50 kmh in towns from 5 AM to 11 PM and 60kmh from 11 PM to 5 AM, 90 kmh outside urban areas, 110 kmh on dual carriageways and 130 kmh on motorways

Permitted alcohol content in blood is 0.2 promilles.

Head lights must be used all year long.

Foreign drivers can use a driving license from their home country or an international driving license for up to six months after entering Poland. Afterwards they are obliged to pass the local examinations which presuppose the knowledge of the Polish language.

Seatbelts must be worn by both front seat and back seat passengers and it is prohibited to use hand-held mobiles while driving.

Children under 12 are obligated to sit in special child seats that should be installed on the back seat.

Cars must be equipped with a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit and a hazard-warning reflexive triangle.

Information for drivers

 Caution signs and plates explaining the type of obstacle and danger have a yellow background.

Pedestrians may use roads outside inhabited areas, where there is often poor visiblity.

Some roads are in a rather bad condition, despite the national renovation programme in progress.

There are a lot of unguarded railway crossings, which require the driver's attention.

Buses moving from a bus stop have the right of way.

Trams enjoy the right of way at equivalent intersections.

Big Polish cities are full of roundabouts, and the traffic is often coordinated by the police. There are some streets where only taxis and coaches are permitted to enter.Drivers are not very cautious and Poland has one of the worst road accidents statistics in Europe.

Polish fines range from 50-500 PLN (for speeding).

Driving in Hungary

flag hungaryDriving is on the right side of the road and overtaking only on the left side.
The minimum age for driving in Hungary is 18.
For driving either a rented or own car, the Third Part insurance is obligatory.
Speed limits are depended by types of roads: in urban areas, it is 50 km/h (31 mph); for dual carriageways, it is 110 km/h (65 mph); on a motorway, it is 130 km/h (80 mph).
Hungary has a zero tolerance policy on drink driving.
For driving outside of urban area, dipped headlights at all times are required.
For driving on motorways, it is necessary to obtain a special sticker (vignette) which is available from petrol stations. Following roads require presence of a vignette: Budapest – Hegyeshalom; Budapest -Gorbehaza – Nyiregyhaza; Budapest – Kiskunfelegyhaza – Szeged – Roszke; M0- Erd – Dunaujvaros; Budapest - Lake Balaton – Letenye; Emod – Miskolc; Gorbehaza-Debrecen.
Drivers must always give way to public transports such as buses and trams.
It is required by law to have in a car: a first aid kit, reflective jacket, warning triangle, and spare headlamp bulbs.
While driving, it is illegal to use cell phone; drivers may use only phones with hands- free systems.
Seatbelts are mandatory for a driver and all passengers from front and rear seats.
Children who are less than 150 cm tall must sit in the back seat. Children under three years of age must have an appropriate child seats.
Drivers may only use horns in cases of extreme danger.
Foreign drivers must have at all time while driving their original driving permits, International driver licenses, passports, car registration and insurance certificates.
Parking is permitted on the right-hand side of two-way streets and on both sides of one-way streets. Yellow line at side of road means no stopping
It is a rule to yield to the car coming from right.
The police phone number is 107.

 

 

Pin It
 

© All rights reserved  PLATFORMA s.r.o.

Яндекс.Метрика