Driving licence lost abroad: replacement document and Austrian authority route

The official information on driving licence duplicates states under section 15 FSG that no duplicate of an Austrian driving entitlement can be issued in the country where the licence was lost or stolen. The foreign police may record the incident or issue confirmation. That record proves the reported event, but it does not replace the Austrian replacement document.

The documents and temporary solution accepted by the travel state depend on its rules. Ask the Austrian representation and the responsible authorities in the travel state before driving on without the original card.

Report the loss or theft to the competent authority in the travel state where that procedure is available. Keep the report, confirmation, reference number, date, place and any copy of the lost document together.

A foreign report answers what happened and when. It does not automatically establish permission to drive in a particular country. Further requirements of the travel state, transit states and the insurer may still apply.

Apply for the Austrian driving licence duplicate at a driving licence authority in Austria. The official information names every driving licence authority in the country. Check in advance which office will accept the application and whether an appointment is required.

For loss or theft, the required documents include an official photo ID, the loss or theft report and a photograph measuring 35 mm by 45 mm. A registration confirmation may facilitate the procedure. The guide to the driving licence authority explains the Austrian authority route.

After the application, a temporary driving licence may be issued in cases of loss or theft. It contains the key data of the entitlement, including classes, time limits, restrictions and conditions.

The temporary licence is valid for no more than four weeks from the date it is handed over, together with an official photo ID and only within Austria. It is therefore not a document for driving from the holiday destination to Austria. The period cannot be extended. Clarify the actual return journey with the representation and the relevant carrier.

The duplicate replaces the lost card and records the existing driving entitlement. It does not create a new class or expand an existing entitlement. Compare the classes, time limits, restrictions and conditions on the new card with the documents you already hold.

A seizure or withdrawal procedure abroad is a different situation. The guide to loss and theft explains the report in Austria. A foreign measure requires separate review of the foreign document and the Austrian authority position.

• Report or confirmation from the travel state with date, place and reference number
• Copy or photograph of the lost licence where available
• Official photo ID
• Photograph measuring 35 mm by 45 mm
• Correspondence from the Austrian representation and foreign authorities
• Application, acknowledgement and new card from the Austrian driving licence authority

If a foreign authority treats continued driving, seizure or another measure differently from what you expected, preserve every document. The guide to driving licence duplicates helps distinguish loss, invalidity and replacement.

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