In the coming year, many things will be more expensive for drivers. The experts at the ÖAMTC provide information on the most important innovations.
The year 2022 brings numerous innovations for everyone who is traveling in Austria. The ÖAMTC experts give an overview of what is already known.
Refueling is getting more expensive
Due to the eco-social tax reform, fuel prices at the petrol pumps will rise in July 2022. The liter of diesel will then be around nine cents more expensive, the liter of gasoline around eight cents more expensive. “In addition to the mineral oil tax, companies that manufacture fuels in Austria or import them to Austria will have to pay additional CO2 emissions from burning these fuels from July onwards. In 2022, the price will be 30 euros per tonne of CO2,” says ÖAMTC -Transport economics expert Martin Grasslober. Although this pricing is carried out via a national emissions certificate trade, due to the legally prescribed prices in the first few years – 2023: 35, 2024: 45, 2025: 55 euros – the surcharge basically corresponds to a mineral oil tax increase. As is usual with the latter, sales tax must also be paid on the additional CO2 pricing. From July 2022, motorists will implicitly pay 192 euros per tonne of CO2 through the mineral oil tax alone and the new national emissions certificate trading system if they drive a diesel, and 256 euros per tonne for a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Regional climate bonus as compensation
To compensate for the burdens caused by the eco-social tax reform, politicians are planning a regional climate bonus from next year. This consists of two parts: a basic amount of 100 euros and a regional compensation, which is intended to relieve those who are dependent on the car. People under the age of 18 each receive half. Depending on how well or poorly the place of residence is connected by public transport and how good the infrastructure in general is, such as hospitals, schools or authorities, adults with their main residence in Austria either receive no regional compensation at all or an additional 33, 66 or 100 euros per year . “Those who have their main place of residence in Vienna do not receive any regional compensation and therefore only receive the basic amount of 100 euros. Those who live in Mellau in Vorarlberg, for example, receive the basic amount plus the full regional compensation of 100 euros”, calculates Martin Grasslober . People with disabilities who have restricted mobility receive a total of 200 euros regardless of where they live.
The regional climate bonus is to be paid out via the Climate Protection Ministry (BMK). How exactly must first be determined in detail.
The NoVA will continue to get more expensive
The standard consumption tax (NoVA) – which has to be paid once for new vehicles – continues to get more expensive every year. Already at the turn of the year it will increase for all new cars that emit more than 109 grams of CO2 per kilometer. For orientation: This corresponds to a standard consumption of around four liters of diesel or five liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. In those cases where it becomes more expensive, the NoVA rate increases by one percentage point. For a car around 30,000 euros net, this usually means an increase of 300 euros compared to 2021.
It will also be more expensive for more fuel-efficient cars: in 2022, all cars that emit more than 185 grams of CO2 per kilometer will have to pay a penalty (in 2021 the limit was 200 grams of CO2 per kilometer). This measure affects cars that consume more than around seven liters of diesel or around eight liters of gasoline. In 2022, a penalty of 60 euros will be due for every gram above the limit value (in 2021 it was 50 euros).
In addition, the maximum tax rate for the percentage NoVA for cars will be increased to 60 percent at the beginning of the year. This cap had already been increased from 32 to 50 percent in mid-2021. This measure affects cars that consume more than around 14 liters of diesel or around 16 liters of gasoline – almost three times as much as the average new combustion engine. Small trucks can also become more expensive because here, too, there are similar tightening of the NoVA as for cars, but only if they consume more vehicles than for cars.
Anyone who concluded an irrevocable written purchase contract for a new vehicle before December 1, 2021 is not affected by these increases, provided the vehicle is delivered before April 1, 2022. In addition, the transitional regulation for the increases from mid-2021 will be extended due to corona: Anyone who signed an irrevocable purchase contract for a new vehicle before June 1, 2021 that has not yet been delivered will have even longer time to do so. If the delivery takes place before May 1, 2022, the legal situation from the first half of 2021 can still be applied. In the case of small trucks, this means that no NoVA has to be paid.
Motor-related insurance tax
The motor-related insurance tax (mVSt) is 34.56 euros per year higher for almost all cars that are registered for the first time from January 1, 2022 than for a first registration today. Only with more efficient or less powerful cars is there a lower or no tax increase at all. “Important to know: There will be no changes to the taxation for vehicles that have already been registered,” explains the ÖAMTC expert. Since November 29, 2021, an exemption from motor-related insurance tax for people with disabilities has also been possible for registered ownerships with people without disabilities. The prerequisite is that all registered owners have their main residence in the same household.
Company car use
There is a tightening of benefits in kind for the private use of company vehicles: Anyone who also uses a company vehicle for private purposes must pay taxes for it. The monthly amount that is taxed for this depends on the acquisition costs and the CO2 emissions of the vehicle. If, according to the papers, the CO2 emissions exceed a certain limit value, two percent instead of 1.5 percent of the acquisition costs per month must be taxed. For company vehicles that will be registered for the first time in 2022, the previous CO2 limit will be reduced to 135 grams per kilometer (according to WLTP for cars and WMTC for motorcycles). For vehicles that were previously registered for the first time, the respective limit value at the time of initial registration continues to apply. There is still no benefit in kind for e-vehicles.
Change in warranty law
Changes in warranty law will come into force as early as January 1, 2022. “The reversal of the burden of proof in favor of buyers will be extended from the current six to twelve months in the future. This applies to the purchase of used cars, for example. In addition to the two-year warranty period that continues to exist, there is three months to assert claims in court,” explains the head of the ÖAMTC legal services, Martin Hoffer. In addition, for goods with digital elements – such as smartphones, automated vehicles, etc. – an additional obligation for corresponding software updates will be introduced following the two years have elapsed.
Private e-charging points made easier
The establishment of charging points in private living areas is made easier. The first step is to adapt the Condominium Act (WEG) to the need to tie so-called slow charging of up to around 5.5 kilowatts per charging point to simpler approval requirements. “The express written consent of all apartment owners is then no longer required. Up until now this was a difficult hurdle to overcome for many renovations,” emphasizes Martin Hoffer.
Digital driver’s license
The so-called digital driving license will be introduced in spring. “It is not a replacement for the existing documents, but an addition by saving it on the smartphone so that the original document does not have to be carried with you,” explains the ÖAMTC lawyer. The driver’s license on the cell phone does not cost anything. The prerequisite is the so-called eID, which is also the basis for the electronic passport.
From April, the extension of health-limited driving licenses will be cheaper. The state application and issuance fee does not apply. You only have to pay for the necessary medical examination and the production of the credit card.
E-Mobility Promotions
The purchase of vehicles with alternative types of drive will once more receive financial support in 2022. “A total funding budget of 167.2 million euros is available for the new year. There has never been such a high level of funding in the field of electromobility funding – in 2021, following an increase in the middle of the year due to the enormous demand, it was a total of around 100 million euros”, explains ÖAMTC e-mobility expert Markus Kaiser.
The e-mobility offensive 2022 starts in February. From today’s perspective, sufficient funds from the e-mobility offensive 2021 are still available for January 2022. Funding applications can therefore be submitted continuously, but you should still keep an eye on the budget available.