Vignette for foreign vehicles
Swiss vignette for foreign vehicles
You are travelling with a foreign-registered vehicle into SwitzerlandAs soon as you use a corresponding Swiss motorway or semi-motorway with a vehicle subject to the vignette requirement, you generally need a valid Swiss motorway vignette.
This applies, for example, to vehicles from:
- Germany
- Austria
- France
- Italy
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- the Netherlands
- Great Britain
- Poland
- and other countries
You can choose between the traditional sticker vignette and the digital one Swiss e-vignette choose.
For travellers with a foreign vehicle, the e-vignette is particularly practical: it is linked electronically to the Country of registration and registration number Registered. There is no need to display a tax disc on the windscreen.
[ORDER E-VIGNETTE FOR FOREIGN VEHICLE]
Do foreign vehicles need a vignette in Switzerland?
Yes, if you with the vehicle a Swiss motorway or expressway requiring a vignette use.
Whether the vehicle is registered in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy or another country fundamentally does not change the requirement to display a vignette.
The crucial factors are:
- the vehicle type
- the maximum permissible mass
- the used streets
For most passenger cars up to 3.5 tonnes, you need a motorway vignette on Swiss national highways subject to the vignette requirement.
Find out more: [Who needs a vignette in Switzerland?]
What details do I need for a foreign vehicle?
To register an e-vignette, you only need a few vehicle details.
Of particular importance are:
Vehicle category
Select the applicable vehicle type, for example a car, motorcycle or trailer.
Country of authorisation
Select the country in which your vehicle is registered.
For example:
Germany – DE
Austria - AT
France – FR
Italy – IT
Belgium – BE
Luxembourg – LU
Netherlands – NL
Great Britain – GB
registration plate or licence plate
Then enter the official registration number of your vehicle.
The Country of registration and licence plate must be correct, as the e-vignette is registered with these details.
e-vignette with German registration plate
Are you driving into Switzerland in a car registered in Germany?
If you use a Swiss motorway or main road subject to the vignette requirement, you generally need a Swiss vignette.
When ordering, you choose:
Country of authorisation: Germany
and then enter your German registration number in accordance with the instructions on the order form.
Before completing your order, carefully check the entered registration number again against your vehicle or vehicle documents.
Example
You are driving from Stuttgart to Zurich and use the Swiss motorway in the process.
For a standard passenger car, you generally need a valid Swiss vignette for this.
e-vignette with Austrian registration number
Vehicles with Austrian registration also require a Swiss vignette as soon as the relevant Swiss roads subject to vignette requirements are used.
Please select when ordering:
Country of authorisation: Austria
and then enter your Austrian registration number according to the instructions shown.
Please note that an Austrian motorway vignette not valid in Switzerland is.
To use the corresponding Swiss motorways, you need a Swiss vignette.
E-vignette with French registration plate
If you enter Switzerland in a vehicle registered in France and use a motorway or semi-motorway where a vignette is required, you will generally also need a Swiss vignette.
When ordering, you choose:
Country of authorisation: France
and then enter your vehicle's French registration number.
This is relevant, for example, for journeys from:
- Lyon to Geneva
- Annecy in Switzerland
- Mulhouse to Basel
- France via Switzerland to Germany or Italy
e-vignette with Italian registration plate
The Swiss vignette requirement also applies to vehicles registered in Italy.
If your journey takes you via a Swiss motorway subject to vignette requirements, you generally need a Swiss motorway vignette.
Select:
Country of authorisation: Italy
and then enter the Italian registration number of your vehicle.
This applies, for example, to travellers journeying from Northern Italy through Switzerland to Germany or France.
Do I need a Swiss vignette just for transit?
Yes, if you during the passage a motorway or dual carriageway requiring a vignette use.
It doesn't matter whether Switzerland is your actual destination or whether you are merely driving through the country.
This affects travel, for example:
- from Germany to Italy
- from Italy to Germany
- from France to Austria
- from France to Italy via Switzerland
- from the Netherlands to Italy
- from Belgium to northern Italy
Even if you spend only a few hours in Switzerland, you generally need an annual vignette for any route that requires one.
There is no 1-day, weekly, 10-day or transit vignette available in Switzerland.
Find out more: [Price & validity of the Swiss vignette]
How much does the Swiss vignette cost for foreign vehicles?
The official price of the Swiss motorway vignette is CHF 40.
There is no higher official vignette price for foreign-registered vehicles.
E-vignette and physical vignette have the same official price and period of validity.
When ordering via a third-party provider, an additional service or processing fee may apply.
Vignette 2026
Official vignette price: CHF 40
Valid from: 1st December 2025
Valid until: 31 January 2027
Do I need to buy a vignette at the Swiss border?
No.
With the e-vignette, you can already complete the required registration before your journey do online.
So you don't have to wait to buy the sticker vignette at a petrol station, point of sale or at the border.
This can be particularly practical for longer holiday trips: you sort out the vignette before departure and receive a confirmation by email after processing.
Do not use a Swiss road subject to vignette requirements until your e-vignette has been successfully activated.
Do I need to print out the e-vignette?
No.
The e-vignette is electronically linked to the Country of registration and registration number linked.
You must:
- do not print anything
- Do not stick anything to the windscreen
- not having a physical vignette in the vehicle
However, it is advisable to keep your confirmation or proof of purchase during the trip.
How do I order the e-vignette for a foreign vehicle?
The order is placed in just a few steps.
1. Select vehicle
Select the appropriate vehicle category.
2. Select country of registration
Select the country in which your vehicle is registered.
3. Enter registration number
Enter your vehicle registration number in accordance with the instructions on the form.
4. Confirm licence plate
Enter the registration number again. This reduces the risk of a typo.
5. Enter email address
At this address you will receive information about your order and the confirmation after activation.
6. Check details and pay
Please check in particular once more:
Country of registration + licence plate
and then complete the order.
7. Received activation confirmation
Once processing is complete, you will receive a confirmation email.
Why do I need to specify the country of registration?
A number plate alone is not sufficient for the unambiguous registration of an e-vignette.
The same or a similar registration plate can theoretically occur in different countries.
Therefore, the e-vignette is linked with two essential pieces of information:
Country of registration + licence plate
Therefore, make sure to select not only the registration number, but also the correct country of registration.
What happens with a false number plate?
Since the e-vignette is linked to the entered registration number, correct entry is particularly important.
Check before completing your order:
- every single letter
- each number
- the country of registration
- the required spelling
It is best to compare the details directly with your vehicle or the vehicle documents.
At Digivignette, the registration number is requested twice to avoid accidental typing errors as much as possible.
Can I check whether an e-vignette already exists?
For certain e-vignettes, the Swiss Via Portal can be used to check whether, for a combination of Country of registration and registration number an e-vignette is already registered.
Whether a public query is possible depends on the corresponding setting during registration.
This feature can be useful for rental or leased vehicles, for example.
What happens if my foreign registration number changes?
Since the e-vignette is linked to the licence plate, a change of registration number may be relevant.
Under certain conditions, an existing e-vignette can be transferred to a new number plate. A key condition is that vehicle and registered keeper remain identical.
Such a case can occur, for example, in:
- Loss of the registration plate
- Theft
- House move
- official change of registration number
occur.
The conditions should be checked in each individual case before travel.
Does a foreign trailer need its own vignette?
Yes, a trailer that requires a vignette generally needs a own vignette.
Example:
You are travelling from Germany to Switzerland by car and caravan.
Then you will generally need:
Car 1 Vignette
Caravan 1 Vignette
With an e-vignette, each vignette is registered to the respective licence plate.
Find out more: [Vignette for motorhome, motorcycle & trailer]
What applies to foreign motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes?
For motorhomes and other specified vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 tonnes different rules apply.
Such vehicles generally do not require the standard Swiss motorway vignette, but are instead subject to a Swiss, depending on the vehicle type heavy vehicle fee.
For foreign heavy motorhomes, the flat-rate heavy vehicle fee (PSVA) typically applies.
Therefore, if your motorhome weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, check which toll applies to your vehicle before ordering.
Frequently asked questions about foreign vehicles
Can I buy a Swiss e-vignette with a German number plate?
Yes. For registration, select Germany as the country of registration and then enter your vehicle's license plate.
Can I buy the e-vignette before entering the country?
Yes. The e-vignette can be registered online before your trip to Switzerland.
Is the Swiss vignette more expensive for foreign vehicles?
No. The official vignette price is CHF 40, even for foreign vehicles. Third-party providers may charge additional service fees as stated.
Do I need a vignette if I'm only driving to Zurich?
If your route takes you via a Swiss motorway or dual carriageway where a vignette is required, you generally need a vignette. The deciding factor is the road used, not the distance travelled or the length of stay.
Do I need a Swiss vignette for a journey from Germany to Italy?
If your route through Switzerland includes motorways or semi-motorways that require a vignette, yes.
Is there a short-term vignette for tourists?
No. Switzerland does not offer a daily, weekly, monthly or special tourist vignette.
Do I need to stick an e-vignette to the windscreen?
No. The e-vignette is registered electronically using the country of registration and the number plate.
Does the Swiss e-vignette also apply to hire cars?
Yes, it can generally also be used for hire vehicles. However, before purchasing a new one, please check whether a valid Swiss vignette is already available for the vehicle.
Order e-vignette before travelling to Switzerland
If you are travelling to Switzerland in a foreign-registered vehicle and wish to use motorways or main roads subject to the vignette requirement, you can purchase your e-vignette online before your journey.
You only need:
Vehicle type
Country of authorisation
number plate
Email address
Check the country of registration and license plate particularly carefully before completing the order.
Here’s how you can prepare for your journey before you reach the Swiss border.
