New Year New happiness? Hopefully, but at least there are innovations that affect drivers. Many of these affect people’s wallets in Austria: NoVA, fuel and taxes are getting more expensive. But other things are also changing.
Together with the ÖAMTC, we provide an overview of what is already known or to be expected.
Fuel prices rise less than planned
The extra CO2 price, which came into effect in October, will be further increased at the beginning of this year. An increase from 30 to 35 euros per tonne of CO2 was planned. However, due to the enormous price increases for fossil fuels, the law now provides for a halving of the planned increase to 32.5 euros per ton. As a result, prices at the pump will rise by 0.75 cents per liter of diesel and 0.68 cents per liter of petrol (note: cents, not euros!).
The climate surcharge depends on where you live
The amount of the regional climate bonus, which is intended to absorb the burden of extra CO2 pricing, will most likely depend on where you live in 2023. Depending on the connection to public transport and the general infrastructure (hospitals, schools etc.) people with their main residence in Austria receive more or less money. The Minister of Climate Change and the Minister of Finance have yet to jointly determine the actual amount. Young people under the age of 18 receive half of the regional climate bonus; Disabled persons with reduced mobility, the maximum amount of the regional climate premium.
Increased amounts for travel allowances for commuting and euros for commuting will be phased out
The temporarily increased amounts of the travel allowance and the euro commuting due to the high fuel prices should only be valid until June 2023.
Tightening of the NoVA
The standard fuel tax – which, among other things, must be paid once for new vehicles – will increase by one percentage point for all new cars that emit more than 104 grams of CO2 per kilometer (corresponds to a standard consumption of four liters of diesel or about 4.6 liters of petrol). ).100 kilometers). For a car of, for example, 30,000 euros net, this means an increase of 300 euros compared to 2022.
It will be even more expensive for more economical cars: Cars that emit more than 170 grams of CO2 per kilometer (2022: 185 grams of CO2 per kilometer) will pay a fine from 2023. This measure affects cars with a consumption of more than approximately 6.5 liters of diesel or approximately 7.5 liters of petrol. In addition, in 2023 you will have to pay a fine of 70 euros for every gram above the limit (2022: 60 euros).
In addition, the maximum tax rate for the NoVA percentage for passenger cars will be increased to 70 percent at the beginning of this year (2022: 60 percent). This measure affects cars with a consumption of more than 15 liters of diesel or almost 18 liters of petrol and more – about three times as much as an average new internal combustion engine. Small trucks can also become more expensive, because NoVA is also being tightened here, albeit only if consumption is higher.
Transitional arrangement: Anyone who has concluded an irrevocable written purchase contract for a new vehicle before 1 December 2022 will not be affected by the NoVA increases if the vehicle is delivered before 1 April 2023.
Higher motor vehicle tax (mVSt)
The VAT for almost all cars that are registered for the first time from 1 January 2023 is 34.56 euros per year higher than for a first registration in 2022. A lower or no tax increase applies only to more fuel-efficient or less powerful cars. Important: Nothing changes for already registered vehicles.
Lower tax for motorhomes from June 2023
Good news for owners of a motorhome with body type SA (up to 3.5 tons maximum permissible weight), where the base vehicle is a class N motor vehicle. For these vehicles, the basis for calculating the motor vehicle tax will change as of 1 June 2023. The CO2 emissions are no longer relevant, because the tax base of these vehicles from 1 June 2023 will again only be the power of the combustion engine in kW. This also applies to mobile homes registered for the first time after 30 September 2020.
Tightening for private company car use
The advantages in kind for the private use of company cars are becoming stricter: anyone who also uses a company car for private purposes must pay tax on it. According to the newspapers, if CO2 emissions exceed a certain limit, two instead of 1.5 percent of the purchase costs per month usually have to be taxed. For commercial vehicles registered for the first time in 2023, the previous CO2 limit will be reduced to 132 grams per kilometer (according to WLTP for cars and WMTC for motorcycles). For vehicles previously registered for the first time, the relevant limit applies at the time of the first registration. There are still no non-cash benefits for e-vehicles.
Improvements for e-commercial vehicle users
If employees receive a compensation from the employer for charging an e-company car (but also company e-bikes, etc.), then this must be exempt from income tax and levies in the future. From 2023, employers will also have to bear the costs of setting up a Charging facility (wallbox, etc.) for employees at home up to 2000 euros free of wage tax and levies.
eQuote must be owned by the owner of the e-car
Evidence of using renewable electricity to charge an e-car and the associated CO2 savings can be sold today. This “eQuote”, which is achieved as a consumer when charging the e-car at home, currently “belongs” to the electricity supplier with whom a supply contract has been concluded. With a planned fuel regulation change, the eQuote should be available to registration holders from 2023. Broadly speaking, e-car owners can earn instant cash over the next year by charging their vehicles.
New at the “Pickerl”: QR code and consumption data recording
From February 2, 2023, the §57a report, the so-called “Pickerl”, will have a new layout and will also receive a QR code. This means that an electronic version of the report can be retrieved from the central database.
From May 20, 2023, the mileage and consumption data of vehicles registered for the first time from January 1, 2021 must be recorded as part of the §57a assessment. This data, including the vehicle identification number, is sent to a central database of the BMK (Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology) and from there forwarded to the European Environment Agency. First objective: To determine whether the consumption values measured during the vehicle inspection are complied with.
Vehicle parts relevant to theft accessible to all workshops
SERMI is expected to go online in August 2023. SERMI (Security Related Repair and Maintenance Information) is intended to give independent workshops standardized access to the repair of theft-related parts (keys, locks, immobilizer). This is a milestone in preserving free workshop choice, as access restrictions to vehicle electronics make the work of independent workshops increasingly difficult.
StVO amendment: Vehicle confiscation planned for extreme frenzy
In the coming year, with the 34th StVO amendment, the vehicle confiscation already rumored in the media and the auction could go into extreme frenzy. However, this amendment raises many questions, both in terms of state law and circumvention, and it will likely be a long time coming.
Vignette and parking fees more expensive
As every year, the motorway vignette will become more expensive in accordance with legal requirements. In 2023, the annual car vignette will cost 96.40 euros and that for motorcycles will cost 38.20 euros. The two-month vignette costs €29 or €14.50, the ten-day vignette costs €9.90 or €5.80.
In Vienna, the parking fee (parking ticket fee) is increased by EUR 0.15 per half hour. In that case, 1.25 euros will be charged per half hour.
Vignettes are more expensive in Hungary and Slovakia, e-vignettes in Switzerland
Around the turn of the year there were sometimes sharp price increases for motorway vignettes in neighboring countries. In Hungary, the monthly vignette for cars has increased in price by 70 percent to 8,900 forints (about 21 euros), the weekly vignette now costs 5,500 forints (converted about 13 euros), an increase of 44 percent. The price increase for the annual vignette, which now costs 49,190 forints (119 euros), is relatively moderate at five percent.
In neighboring Slovakia, the price of the ten-day vignette has risen from ten to twelve euros, the monthly vignette from 14 to 17 euros and the annual vignette from 50 to 60 euros.
Switzerland will receive an electronic vignette in the course of 2023. As in Austria, parallel operation is planned – both sticker and e-vignette will then be available.
Croatia: euro and no border controls
The innovations for Croatia in 2023 are a relief for many travelers: no more money exchange and border controls are a thing of the past to the same extent. Because: Croatia will join the Schengen area on January 1, 2023 and the euro will replace the kuna as the currency. Both currencies can be used in parallel until January 14, from January 15 only payments in euros will be accepted.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
