Driving guide (Germany • Austria • Italy)

The rules and reminders that actually matter when you’re tired, navigating, and managing the back seat.

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Big ticket reminders

  • Austria vignette: check the windshield. If missing, buy a 10‑day digital vignette at the first gas station after leaving Munich (~€11.50).
  • Brenner Pass toll: separate toll (~€11). Pay at booth (cash/card).
  • IG‑L zones in Austria: speed drops to 100 km/h and fines are high.
  • Headlights: keep them ON in Austria and Italy during daytime on highways.

Costs & quick rules (from your guide)

Key costs

  • Austria vignette: ~€11.50 for a 10‑day digital vignette (buy at the first gas station after leaving MUC if the car doesn’t already have it).
  • Brenner Pass / Europabrücke toll: ~€11 (pay at booth; cash or card).
  • Fuel: often cheaper in Austria than Italy/Germany — top up in Austria when possible.

Parking & toll-road sanity

  • Italy: watch for ZTL (limited traffic zones) in towns — don’t follow the GPS into old centers unless you’re sure.
  • Pay & Display lots: keep a small stash of coins; always display ticket on the dashboard.
  • Autostrada tolls in Italy: take a ticket when entering, pay when exiting (cash/card). Keep the ticket accessible.

Speed limits & enforcement

  • Germany: Autobahn can be unlimited, BUT many segments are posted (often 120/130).
  • Austria: 130 km/h and strict enforcement. Watch for IG‑L zones (100 km/h) — fines are high.
  • Italy: 130 km/h on autostrada unless posted lower.

Safety / rules you’ll actually forget

  • In Italy and Austria: keep headlights ON during daytime on highways.
  • Winding Alpine roads: keep speeds conservative and plan for slower progress than GPS suggests.
  • Mountain weather swings: keep one warm layer accessible even in August (passes can be cold/windy).

Practical driving rhythm (family mode)

  • Plan a stop every ~90 minutes: bathroom + snack + “reset” keeps everyone happier.
  • When GPS says “2h”, assume “2h30” in the Alps (traffic + winding roads + photos).
  • Keep a small “front seat kit”: wet wipes, trash bags, tissues, a spare charging cable.

Want: I can add a dedicated “Road Trip Kit” packing list section.

Maps links

For each day, you can tap “Open in Maps” on timeline items to jump to Google Maps with the address pre-filled.