Frequently asked questions about the Swiss e-vignette
Frequently asked questions about the Swiss e-vignette
Here you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Swiss e-vignette and motorway vignette – from price and validity to number plates and foreign vehicles, as well as motorhomes, motorcycles and trailers.
Key information at a glance:
Official vignette price: CHF 40
Vignette valid for 2026: 1st December 2025 to 31st January 2027
E-vignette: linked to the registration number
Tax disc is fitted to the vehicle
Short-term vignette isn't there
General questions about the Swiss vignette
What is the Swiss e-vignette?
The e-vignette is the digital alternative to the traditional Swiss adhesive vignette.
Instead of attaching a vignette to the windscreen, the e-vignette is linked electronically to the Country of registration and registration number linked.
During its period of validity, it entitles the holder to use the corresponding Swiss motorways and semi-motorways subject to the vignette requirement.
Find out more: [Switzerland E-Vignette 2026]
What is the difference between the e-vignette and the sticker vignette?
Both versions have the same official price and the same period of validity.
The most important difference is:
E-vignette:
linked to the registration number
Tax disc
physically attached to the vehicle
With the e-vignette, nothing has to be stuck to the windscreen and later removed.
Do I need to buy an e-vignette?
No.
You can still choose between the traditional adhesive vignette and the electronic e-vignette.
Both variants are valid forms of the Swiss motorway vignette.
Price and validity
How much does the Swiss vignette cost for 2026?
The official price of the Swiss motorway vignette is CHF 40.
This price applies to both the electronic vignette and the sticker vignette.
When ordering via a third-party provider, an additional service or processing fee may apply.
Find out more: [Price & Validity of the Swiss Vignette]
How long is the 2026 vignette valid?
The 2026 vignette is valid from:
1st December 2025 to 31st January 2027
Valid.
It thereby has a validity period of 14 months in total.
Is the 2026 vignette still valid in January 2027?
Yes.
The 2026 vignette remains valid up to and including 31 January 2027 Valid.
You will only need the 2027 vignette for vignette-required roads from 1st February 2027.
Is there a daily, weekly or monthly vignette?
No.
In Switzerland, there is no such thing for the standard motorway vignette:
- Daily vignette
- weekly vignette
- 10-day vignette
- monthly vignette
- transit vignette
Even for a short journey, the standard annual vignette is required if you are using roads subject to the vignette requirement.
Is there a cheaper vignette just for transit?
No.
The official price is independent of whether you use the Swiss motorways once or during the entire validity period.
Ordering and activation
What information do I need for an e-vignette?
For registration, you will need in particular:
- Vehicle category
- Country of authorisation
- number plate
When ordering via Digivignette, we also require your email address so that we can send you information about the order and the confirmation after processing.
How do I order an e-vignette from Digivignette?
The ordering process takes just a few steps:
- Select vehicle type
- Select country of registration
- Enter licence plate
- Reconfirm licence plate
- Provide email address
- Check details
- Pay for order
- Received confirmation after successful processing
Find out more: How ordering works
When am I allowed to use the motorway?
Do not use a Swiss motorway or main road requiring a vignette until the required vignette is valid or your e-vignette has been successfully activated.
When ordering via Digivignette, you will receive a corresponding confirmation by email once processing is complete.
Do I need to print out the e-vignette?
No.
The e-vignette is registered electronically and does not need to be printed out or attached to the windscreen.
It is nevertheless advisable to keep your confirmation or proof of purchase.
Do I need to create a customer account?
No complicated customer account is required for ordering via Digivignette.
You enter the vehicle, licence plate and contact details required for processing directly during the order process.
Vehicle registration number and vehicle data
Why is the number plate so important?
The e-vignette is purchased with the registration plate and the country of registration Registered.
Therefore, this information must be correct.
Before completing your order, please check in particular:
- Country of authorisation
- Letters
- Numbers
- prescribed spelling of the registration plate
Digivignette lets you enter the registration number twice to avoid accidental typing errors as much as possible.
Do I need to enter hyphens or spaces?
The spelling of number plates differs depending on the country of registration.
Therefore, please follow the instructions shown to you in the order form after selecting your country.
Do not simply enter the registration plate according to the rules for another country.
What happens if I enter the registration number incorrectly?
An incorrect entry can result in the e-vignette not being correctly assigned to your vehicle.
Therefore, please check all details carefully before completing your order.
If you notice an error after placing your order, please contact us as soon as possible before using any road subject to the vignette requirement.
What happens if my registration number changes?
Under certain conditions, an existing e-vignette can be transferred to a new licence plate.
An important prerequisite is fundamentally that the vehicle and the registered keeper remain identical both before and after the change.
Not every change of vehicle or registration plate therefore automatically entitles you to a transfer.
Can I check if an e-vignette is already registered for a licence plate?
The Swiss Via Portal offers a public query option based on Country of registration and registration number.
However, an e-vignette only appears there if public visibility was enabled during its registration.
Therefore, a missing display does not necessarily mean that no valid vignette is present.
publicly viewable
When registering an e-vignette, the public visibility of the vignette status can be activated.
With this option enabled, the country of registration and license plate can be used to check whether a corresponding valid e-vignette is available.
This can be useful, for example, with hired or rented vehicles.
Foreign vehicles
Can I buy a Swiss e-vignette for a German vehicle?
Yes.
Select Germany as the country of registration and then enter the licence plate number in accordance with the instructions on the order form.
The Swiss vignette requirement also applies to foreign vehicles.
Does that also apply to vehicles from France, Italy or Austria?
Yes.
The e-vignette can also be registered for vehicles with foreign licence plates.
What is decisive is the actual Country of registration and registration plate of the vehicle.
Find out more: [Swiss vignette for foreign vehicles]
Do I need a Swiss vignette as a tourist?
Not solely because you are a tourist.
You need a vignette if you use the relevant Swiss motorways or semi-motorways with a vehicle subject to the vignette requirement.
It does not matter how long you stay in Switzerland.
Do I need a vignette if I'm just driving through Switzerland?
Yes, if your route takes you via Swiss motorways or expressways that require a vignette.
This applies to many journeys, for example:
- Germany → Italy
- Italy → Germany
- France → Austria
- Netherlands → Italy
- Belgium → Italy
There is no special transit vignette.
Vehicles
Does a normal car need a vignette?
Yes, if you use a corresponding Swiss motorway or semi-highway with a vignette-required passenger car.
Find out more: [Who needs a vignette in Switzerland?]
Does a motorcycle need a vignette?
Yes.
Motorcycles also require a vignette on Swiss motorways and expressways where tolls apply.
An e-vignette can also be used for motorcycles.
Does a motorhome need a vignette?
For motorhomes, the maximum authorised mass is important.
Motorhome up to 3.5 t:
basically a standard motorway vignette
Motorhome over 3.5 t:
essentially heavy vehicle fee (HVFV) instead of standard vignette
Find out more: [Vignette for motorhome, motorcycle & trailer]
Does a caravan need its own vignette?
Yes.
As a general rule, a caravan subject to vignette requirements needs its own vignette in addition to the vignette for the towing vehicle.
Example:
Car 1 Vignette
Caravan 1 Vignette
Does a trailer need its own vignette?
As a general rule, a trailer that requires a vignette needs its own vignette.
An important exception is trailers pulled by motorcycles. These are exempt from the vignette requirement.
Does an electric car need a special vignette?
No.
There is no special motorway vignette for an electric car. For a normal passenger car, the same vignette rules generally apply regardless of the type of propulsion.
Hire car
Does a hire car need a Swiss vignette?
If you use Swiss roads that require a vignette with the hire car, a valid vignette must be present for the vehicle.
However, do not automatically buy a new vignette.
First, check whether the hire car has already:
- a valid tax disc or
- a valid e-vignette
owns.
Find out more: [Swiss vignette for hire cars]
How do I check the e-vignette of a hire car?
You can check using the country of registration and number plate in the Swiss Via portal whether a publicly accessible e-vignette is available.
Also check with the car hire company, as a non-publicly visible e-vignette or a sticker vignette might be present.
Streets and routes
Do I need a vignette on every road in Switzerland?
No.
The motorway vignette is required for the relevant Swiss motorways and semi-motorways that are subject to the vignette requirement.
If you use exclusively other roads, you do not need a motorway vignette solely for entering Switzerland.
Find out more: [Motorway toll roads in Switzerland]
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.
Can I drive through Switzerland without a vignette?
Basically yes, provided you do not use any motorways or motor vehicle roads that require a vignette during the entire journey.
However, such a route can be significantly longer.
Ensure that your satellite navigation system does not accidentally direct you onto a route that requires a vignette.
Do I need a vignette for normal country roads?
For normal roads, you do not need a motorway vignette simply because you use them.
What is decisive is whether the specific route is subject to the national motorway charge.
Fines and inspections
What happens if I drive on the motorway without a vignette?
Anyone who uses a Swiss national road subject to the vignette requirement without a valid vignette risks a Fine of CHF 200.
Additionally, a valid vignette must be purchased.
Therefore, you should make sure that your vehicle has the required vignette before using a road that requires one.
How is a digital vignette checked?
Since the e-vignette is registered with the country of registration and license plate, it can be checked electronically during a police check whether a valid e-vignette exists for the corresponding license plate.
You therefore do not need to display an e-vignette on the windscreen.
Order Swiss e-vignette online
If you need a Swiss e-vignette for your trip, you can easily enter the necessary vehicle data online.
You will need:
Vehicle type
Country of authorisation
number plate
Email address
Please check the country of registration and license plate particularly carefully before completing your order.
