Motorway toll roads in Switzerland

Anyone driving through Switzerland by car, motorbike, campervan or with a trailer often asks themselves:

On which roads do I need a Swiss vignette?

The Swiss motorway vignette is used for the use of national highways subject to a vignette – motorways and expressways – required. For vehicles subject to the standard vignette requirement, a valid sticker or e-vignette must be obtained before using such a route.

If you use exclusively roads that are not subject to the vignette requirement, you do not need a vignette simply because you are entering Switzerland.

In short:

motorway or vignette-required road: Vignette required
Standard main and secondary roads: generally no motorway vignette required
Vehicle over 3.5 t: check alternative tax arrangements

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Which roads require a vignette?

The national motorway tax is charged for the use of the corresponding Swiss motorways and dual carriageways raised.

These include major transport axes that connect cities, regions, and border crossings.

For travellers, this affects important connections towards, for example:

  • Basel
  • Zurich
  • Bern
  • Lucerne
  • Geneva
  • Lausanne
  • Lugano
  • Ticino
  • Gotthard
  • St. Gallen
  • Grisons

If your satnav routes you via a Swiss motorway or a dual carriageway subject to the vignette requirement, you should assume that a vignette is needed and check the specific route before setting off.

How do I recognise a Swiss motorway?

The routing on Swiss motorways uses green signs. That differs, for example, from Germany, where motorway signs are blue. The Federal Roads Office confirms the green colouring of Swiss motorway signage.

Green guide signs are therefore a helpful indication for foreign travellers that they are on or heading towards a motorway or comparable dual carriageway.

However, for the question of whether a specific route is subject to the vignette requirement, the official classification of the road is decisive.

Do I need a vignette on the A1?

The A1 is one of the most important Swiss motorway connections.

Among other things, it connects the regions:

Geneva – Lausanne – Bern – Zurich – St Gallen

If you use the relevant vignette-obligatory sections of the A1 with a vehicle subject to the national highway charge, you require a valid Swiss vignette.

This is relevant, for example, to travellers driving from France via Geneva or from Germany towards Zurich, Bern or western Switzerland.

Do I need a vignette on the A2?

Yes, for the sections of the A2 subject to the vignette requirement, corresponding vehicles need a Swiss motorway vignette.

The A2 is particularly important for international travellers because it forms a central north-south connection through Switzerland.

It leads, among other things, via:

Basel – Lucerne – Gotthard – Bellinzona – Lugano – Chiasso

This makes it one of the most important routes for travellers between:

  • Germany and Italy
  • the Netherlands and Italy
  • Belgium and Italy
  • Northern Switzerland and Ticino

If you use this route, you will generally already need a valid vignette for the Swiss motorway.

Do I need a vignette for the Gotthard?

If you about the A2 and the Gotthard road tunnel drive, you need a Swiss motorway vignette for a vehicle subject to vignette requirements.

For the Gotthard road tunnel there is no separate normal car toll in addition to the motorway vignette.

Driving on the A2 is subject to the general Swiss vignette regulations.

For a standard passenger car up to 3.5 tonnes, this means:

valid Swiss vignette required

For example, if you are driving from Germany to Milan via Basel, Lucerne and the Gotthard, you should already have the vignette before using the Swiss motorway.

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Do I need a vignette for the drive to Zurich?

That depends on your route.

If you drive to Zurich via a motorway that requires a vignette, you will need one.

That applies to many common routes.

For example:

Basel → Zurich via the motorway: Vignette required

Bern to Zürich via motorway: Vignette required

Germany → Zurich via the Swiss motorway: Vignette required

If you choose exclusively a route via roads not subject to a vignette, the situation may be different.

So the crucial point is not the destination of Zurich, but which roads you use on the way there.

Do I need a vignette for Geneva?

Here too, the chosen route is crucial.

Anyone driving on a vignette-required motorway to Geneva or through the Geneva region needs a valid Swiss vignette for any vehicle subject to the vignette requirement.

Anyone who, by contrast, uses exclusively roads that are exempt from the vignette requirement does not need a motorway vignette simply for staying in Geneva.

Do I need a vignette for Basel?

Not solely because you are going to Basel.

However, if you drive directly into Switzerland or to Basel via a motorway and use a Swiss route that requires a vignette, you will need one.

Travellers from Germany in particular should be aware of this, as international motorway connections can lead directly into the Swiss motorway network.

If you do not have a motorway toll sticker, you should not simply follow a motorway route across the border, but check your route in advance.

Do I need a vignette for Lugano or Ticino?

If you are driving via the A2 to Lugano or into Ticino, you need a Swiss motorway vignette for a vehicle subject to the vignette requirement.

This applies, for example, to journeys:

  • Basel to Lugano
  • Lucerne → Lugano
  • Zurich to Lugano
  • Germany → Lugano
  • Germany → Italy via the Gotthard

The same applies in the opposite direction for travellers from Italy entering Switzerland via Chiasso and the A2.

Do I need to have a vignette when I cross the border?

Not every border crossing automatically means that you need a vignette.

The decisive factor is, which street you use after entry.

If the border crossing leads directly onto a Swiss motorway that requires a vignette, you must have a valid vignette before using this route.

If, on the other hand, you continue your journey via a normal border crossing on roads that do not require a vignette, you do not need a motorway vignette simply because you have crossed the border.

This is particularly important if you want to drive through Switzerland deliberately without a vignette.

Can I drive through Switzerland without a vignette?

Basically yes – if you do not use any motorways or main roads subject to the vignette charge during the entire journey.

You can choose a route via normal roads.

However, you should bear a few things in mind while doing so:

  • the journey can take significantly longer
  • Satellite navigation systems can recalculate the route
  • You might be accidentally directed onto a motorway
  • Villages can have more traffic
  • Mountain and pass roads may be subject to seasonal restrictions

If you want to drive without a vignette, you should activate the corresponding setting on your navigation system.

Depending on the navigation app, this is called, for example:

„Avoid toll roads“
or
„Avoid motorways“

Check the proposed route before departure anyway.

Take care with satellite navigation systems

Do not rely blindly on a navigation app.

A navigation system can, due to:

  • I am staying
  • Roadworks
  • accidents
  • Road closures
  • faster alternative route

suggest a new route.

This can result in you suddenly being directed onto a motorway where a vignette is required.

If you are travelling without a vignette, you should therefore take special care to ensure that the route option to avoid motorways or toll roads remains active.

Are standard country roads subject to vignette requirements?

The Swiss motorway vignette is a National highway charge for the corresponding motorways and expressways.

An autobahn vignette is not required for normal main roads, cantonal roads, local roads and secondary roads solely on account of their use.

It is therefore generally possible to travel through Switzerland without a motorway vignette, provided you do not use any roads on which a vignette is required.

Do I need a vignette for mountain passes?

An ordinary mountain pass does not require a motorway vignette simply because it represents an alpine crossing.

The classification of the specific road used remains the decisive factor.

Please note, however, that for certain special roads, tunnels, car shuttles or private transport services separate charges can apply. These are not to be confused with the Swiss motorway vignette.

A motorway vignette does not automatically replace such separately levied charges.

Vignettes and tunnels – what are the rules?

Not every tunnel in Switzerland is treated the same.

If a tunnel is located on a motorway or expressway subject to a vignette, you need a vignette to use that particular route.

A well-known example is the Gotthard Road Tunnel on the A2.

Other tunnels or transport connections may, by contrast, be subject to their own toll regulations.

Therefore, for special routes, additionally check the respective route conditions.

Vignette for transit from Germany to Italy

Many travellers drive through Switzerland on their way to Italy.

A typical motorway route goes:

Germany → Basel → Lucerne → Gotthard → Lugano → Chiasso → Italy

This route goes via the Swiss A2.

For a standard car subject to the vignette requirement, you need a valid Swiss motorway vignette for this.

It makes no difference whether you are staying overnight in Switzerland or simply passing through the country.

There is no transit or short-term vignette.

Find out more: [Vignette for foreign vehicles]

France – Switzerland – which routes need a vignette?

Anyone driving from France to Switzerland can either get straight onto a motorway or use ordinary roads first, depending on the border crossing.

For travellers heading:

  • Geneva
  • Lausanne
  • Bern
  • Basel
  • Zurich

many fast routes run via the Swiss motorway network.

If you use such routes that require a vignette, you need a vignette.

Italy – Switzerland – which routes need a vignette?

For travellers from Northern Italy, the connection via is particularly Chiasso and the A2 relevant.

Anyone driving from Italy via Lugano and the Gotthard towards Lucerne, Basel or Germany is using a major Swiss motorway connection and needs a valid vignette for any vehicle subject to the vignette requirement.

Which vehicles need a vignette on these roads?

Generally speaking, the national highway tax applies to motor vehicles and trailers that are not subject to the heavy vehicle fee. Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes typically require a vignette.

These include, for example:

  • car
  • Motorcycles
  • Vans up to 3.5 t
  • Motorhomes up to 3.5 t
  • Caravan
  • trailers subject to vignette toll

For heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, different heavy vehicle fee regulations apply depending on the type of vehicle.

Find out more: [Who needs a vignette in Switzerland?]

How much does the vignette cost?

The official price of the Swiss motorway vignette is CHF 40.

The 2026 vignette is valid from:

1st December 2025 to 31st January 2027

Valid.

There is no daily, weekly or monthly vignette.

When ordering via a third-party provider, additionally indicated service or processing fees may apply.

Find out more: [Price & validity of the Swiss vignette]

Frequently asked questions about roads subject to vignette requirements

Do I need a vignette on every road in Switzerland?

No. The vignette is required for the corresponding Swiss motorways and main roads. Anyone using exclusively other roads does not need a motorway vignette solely for entering or driving through Switzerland.

Do I need a vignette for the A2?

For the toll-paying sections of the A2, relevant vehicles require a valid Swiss motorway vignette.

Do I need a vignette for the Gotthard Tunnel?

If you use the Gotthard road tunnel via the A2, you need a Swiss motorway vignette for any vehicle subject to the vignette requirement.

Can I drive from Germany to Italy without a Swiss vignette?

In principle, you can choose a route that does not use Swiss motorways or expressways subject to a vignette. However, such a route can be significantly longer and should be planned carefully.

Do I need a vignette if I'm only driving to Basel?

Only if you use a route subject to vignette requirements while doing so. The travel destination itself does not determine the vignette requirement.

Do I need a vignette for normal country roads?

The motorway vignette is valid for the corresponding motorways and expressways. Normal roads do not require a vignette simply for using them.

Can I buy the vignette only after entering the motorway?

You should not use a motorway or semi-motorway requiring a vignette until you already have a valid vignette for your vehicle.

Is there an official map of the roads subject to the vignette?

Yes. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security provides an official overview of motorways and main roads subject to the vignette. This official overview should be used for planning a specific route.

Are you driving on a Swiss motorway?

If your journey takes you via a Swiss motorway or expressway subject to the vignette, you can provide the necessary details for your e-vignette even before the journey record online.

For the order you will need:

Vehicle type
Country of authorisation
number plate
Email address

Check the country of registration and license plate carefully before completing the order.

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