Switzerland lies on the main routes from Central Europe to Italy and France – whether you are heading for the Alps, the Italian lakes or the Mediterranean, you will most likely use Swiss motorways.
To drive on Swiss motorways and expressways you need a valid vignette. Since August 2023 it is also available as an electronic vignette (e-vignette) linked directly to your vehicle registration number – nothing is stuck on the windscreen.
Price of the Swiss vignette
Which vehicles require a Swiss vignette?
- Passenger cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes.
- Motorcycles – they need a vignette of their own.
- Motorhomes and minibuses up to 3.5 tonnes. Above 3.5 tonnes, the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) applies instead.
- Trailers and caravans – each needs its own vignette. Trailers towed by a motorcycle are exempt.
Where is the Swiss vignette required?
The vignette is required on the whole network of Swiss national roads – the motorways and expressways marked with green signs. The most frequently used routes include:
- A1 – Geneva – Lausanne – Bern – Zurich – St. Gallen
- A2 – Basel – Lucerne – Gotthard road tunnel – Chiasso (Italian border)
- A13 – St. Margrethen – Chur – San Bernardino tunnel – Bellinzona
- A9 – Vallorbe – Lausanne – Montreux – Sion
The Gotthard and San Bernardino road tunnels are covered by the vignette. Separate fees apply to the Great St Bernard tunnel, the Munt la Schera tunnel and the car-carrying trains (Lötschberg, Furka, Vereina). At the Basel/St-Louis, Rheinfelden and Kreuzlingen border crossings, no vignette is needed if you leave the motorway at the first exit.
What should you check before travelling to Switzerland?
Traffic rules in Switzerland are strictly enforced and fines are high. Before departure, check that your vehicle carries the required equipment and that you know the local rules.
In Switzerland, the following applies:
- a warning triangle is mandatory and must be within easy reach
- headlights (dipped beam or daytime running lights) must be on at all times, including during the day
- a first aid kit and a reflective vest are not mandatory, but strongly recommended
- winter tyres are not mandatory, but a driver whose vehicle is not fit for winter conditions and obstructs traffic can be fined; snow chains may be required where signs say so
- radar detectors and navigation functions that warn of speed cameras are prohibited
Driving on a motorway without a valid vignette is punished with a fine of CHF 200, and you must also buy the vignette on the spot.
Practical information for travelling in Switzerland
- Switzerland only has an annual vignette – there are no daily, weekly or monthly ones. Each vignette is valid for 14 months, from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year.
- The e-vignette is tied to the registration number, not to the vehicle. If you change vehicles but keep the same plate, the vignette remains valid. With interchangeable plates, one e-vignette covers every vehicle using that plate.
- Switzerland is not in the EU – carry your passport or ID card and observe the customs allowances when crossing the border.
Speed limits:
- 120 km/h on motorways
- 100 km/h on expressways, 80 km/h outside built-up areas
- 50 km/h in built-up areas
Vehicles with a trailer may drive at most 80 km/h on motorways and expressways. Speeding is punished very strictly in Switzerland – even small excesses are fined, and serious ones can lead to criminal proceedings.
The values shown are general maximum speed limits. If road signs indicate a lower speed, the local restriction always applies.
Switzerland
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