Moving to Austria

[wigglebottom]

Morning all,

I dont tend to venture this far south on the main page often!

However I have just had a job offer in Austria (Graz) starting 1st Nov and this is the closest place to ask.

I will bring my UK car over till Christmas but how does it work out there - I dont know anything about road tax/MOT/insurance if I buy an Austrian car - I can speak the language but cant read German yet.

Luckily I'll have a flat for 6 months to sort myself out.

Anyone have any tips for living out there?

Thanks

Michael

[Google [bot]]

It's great here, you'll love it.

[wigglebottom]

That I'm sure of - It's a lovely city.

Are you still in Austria?

[German]

In my experience just about everyone in Germany and Austria speeks English....they do however like you to at least make an effort. You said you speak German, if you go and make an effort at a dealer id guarantee they'll sort it all in English for you.

Also, Graz? AVL perchance?

[German]

Ive just realised you said you're bringing a UK car until Xmas, be aware the rules on winter tyres apply regardless of where the car is registered. In Germany and Austria if there is snow/ice on the ground, its a legal requirement which will net you points and a fine. If your lack of snow tyres endangers anyone (pretty broad wording...stuck on a hill could be seen as dangerous) it can be up to EUR 5.000. The amount of UK cars going skiing (without snow tyres) means they'll pull anything plastic plates just to be sure.

Just a thought, also worthwhile as it snows quite a lot. Oh and make sure you drink as much beer as you can find while there, and book a train to Oktoberfest at some point....rude not to. If you want help with translations or sorting stuff at any point PM me, more than happy to help

[wigglebottom]

Hi German,

Yes I will be with AVL - is that where you are?

I've already thought about winter tyres - will get some on order this week as they are only £35 each (vredestein's I just have a very rubbish car at the moment) so that should see me through.

I am fluent pretty much as my mum is from Germany, I've just never learnt to read or write so will start lessons when I'm out there.

I did have a good look around the City when I went for the interview and its somewhere I'm looking forward to living.

The only thing that I really need to think about is all the stupid things like organising phone contracts/internet, insurances i.e. all the boring stuff!

I've had a look on Ebay for cars - anywhere else that would be good to look? whats the car insurance like? (I'm 26 in January)

[German]

wigglebottom said:

Hi German,

Yes I will be with AVL - is that where you are?

I've already thought about winter tyres - will get some on order this week as they are only £35 each (vredestein's I just have a very rubbish car at the moment) so that should see me through.

I am fluent pretty much as my mum is from Germany, I've just never learnt to read or write so will start lessons when I'm out there.

I did have a good look around the City when I went for the interview and its somewhere I'm looking forward to living.

The only thing that I really need to think about is all the stupid things like organising phone contracts/internet, insurances i.e. all the boring stuff!

I've had a look on Ebay for cars - anywhere else that would be good to look? whats the car insurance like? (I'm 26 in January)

Yup, based at BMW in Munich though Insurance is much cheaper for me, (early 20's) but the tax is more in my experience. There arent tax bands, there is a calculation based on power... Austria is not a pertolheads friend. I pay about 450 a year tax in Munich, Austria would want 864.60 (linky, just fill in either the KW or Ps and hit search, dont need anything else) http://www.nofate.at/kfz-steuer.htm
Look for insurance here, its like austrian go compare: https://www.versichern24.at/versicherungsrechner/k...

and here for cars, both are Europe wide: www.mobile.dewww.autoscout24.de

Happy hunting

[wigglebottom]

Thank you for those.

By looking at a quick insurance quote even a 330d Touring is going to be EUR700 for tax and EUR2000!! for insurance! with my 8 years no claims.

Maybe i'll just get an extended European use policy for a while until i've sorted myself out.

[German]

wigglebottom said:

Thank you for those.

By looking at a quick insurance quote even a 330d Touring is going to be EUR700 for tax and EUR2000!! for insurance! with my 8 years no claims.

Maybe i'll just get an extended European use policy for a while until i've sorted myself out.

Wow, that seems really high...I paid 1500 on my car, but thats without a no claims bonus...it was 900 euro this year. Unless Graz is somehow a hub of car crime (which I doubt slightly...) no idea why its so high?

[German]

What did you put for "Bonus-Malus Stufe" mate? Its not no claims, its the % category they put you in. You start in 9 (100% cost) and evey no years no claims reduces your category by 1, so you should be in 1, which is 40%.

Hope that helps

[NAS]

German,

You mind if I PM you with some questions on BMW?

[German]

NAS said:

German,

You mind if I PM you with some questions on BMW?

Cant promise I can answer, but yeah go for it

[RainerM]

@wigglebottom:

Hallo from Switzerland,

All the best for your new venture:-) Graz-Steiermark is (next year) high on our "to do/to drive"-list:-))
Is AVL somehow related to Magna?

Rainer and Dot

[wigglebottom]

Thanks for the help,

I have decided to keep the current car (winter tyres have just arrived) as any car I want would be mega money for a set of winters and I've only got a little Seat Arosa Diesel so makes sense to keep it till I dont need winters.

Then get something fun (which may well due to tax keeping a UK reg car there and driving back every few months).

Only a few weeks to go!