Who needs a vignette?
Who needs a vignette in Switzerland?
Anyone driving a vehicle onto the Swiss motorways and semi-motorways subject to the vignette is travelling, in many cases requires a Swiss motorway vignette.
As a general rule: Motor vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 tonnes, which are not subject to the heavy vehicle fee, require a vignette to use the corresponding Swiss national roads.
This affects, among other things:
- car
- Motorcycles
- Van
- Motorhomes and campers up to 3.5 tonnes
- trailer
- Caravan
It does not matter whether the vehicle is registered in Switzerland or abroad.
You can choose between the classic tax disc and the digital E-Vignette choose.
Do I need a vignette for my car?
Yes, if you are driving a normal car with a Swiss motorway or expressway requiring a vignette want to use.
This applies both to vehicles with Swiss registration plates and to vehicles registered in, for example, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Belgium or another country.
As a general rule, the same vignette regulations apply to a foreign vehicle as to a Swiss vehicle.
If you do not use roads subject to the vignette requirement, you do not need a vignette simply because you are entering Switzerland by car.
Therefore, what is crucial above all is, which roads you would like to use.
Find out more: [Motorway toll roads in Switzerland]
Do foreign vehicles need a Swiss vignette?
Yes.
The Swiss vignette requirement also generally applies to vehicles registered abroad.
For example, if you drive from Germany, France, Italy or Austria into Switzerland and use a motorway or semi-motorway that requires a vignette, you need a valid vignette for your vehicle.
With the e-vignette, the foreign licence plate is registered electronically along with the country of registration.
Therefore, please pay particular attention to the following when ordering:
- the correct country of registration
- the correct spelling of the number plate
- Numbers and letters of the registration plate
Find out more: Swiss vignette for foreign vehicles
[ORDER AN E-VIGNETTE FOR A FOREIGN VEHICLE]
Does a motorcycle need a vignette?
Yes.
Ouch Motorcycles require a Swiss motorway vignette, if they drive on motorways and expressways subject to a vignette.
For motorcycles, a choice can also be made between the e-vignette and the adhesive vignette.
With the e-vignette, registration is done electronically via the licence plate. As a result, no physical vignette needs to be attached to the motorcycle.
Does a motorhome need a vignette?
This depends in particular on the maximum authorised mass of the motorhome.
Motorhome up to 3.5 tonnes
A motorhome or campervan with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3.5 tonnes generally requires a vignette if a motorway or semi-highway subject to vignette requirements is used.
Motorhome over 3.5 tonnes
For heavy motorhomes with a maximum permissible weight of more than 3.5 tonnes different rules apply.
You are fundamentally not subject to the normal motorway vignette, but rather the Swiss one heavy vehicle fee. For heavy motorhomes, the flat-rate heavy vehicle fee (PSVA) generally applies.
If your motorhome weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, you should therefore not simply order a normal e-vignette, but first check which heavy vehicle fee applies to the vehicle.
Find out more: [Vignette for campervan, motorcycle & trailer]
Does a trailer need its own vignette?
Yes.
A vignette-required vehicle Trailer requires a separate vignette.
The towing vehicle's vignette does not automatically apply to the trailer.
A classic example:
Car without trailer
Car 1 Vignette
Car and caravan
Car 1 Vignette
Caravan 1 own vignette
So, in this case you will need a total of two vignettes.
If you choose the e-vignette, the trailer's vignette is registered with its own licence plate.
Does a caravan need its own vignette?
Yes.
A caravan is a trailer and fundamentally requires a own vignette, if it is carried on a Swiss motorway or dual carriageway subject to the vignette requirement and is not subject to another toll regulation.
The towing vehicle and the caravan are considered separately in this process.
Example:
Car own vignette
Caravan own vignette
Therefore, when travelling with a caravan, remember to consider not only the car's registration plate, but also the caravan's registration plate.
Does a van need a vignette?
A van up to a maximum authorised mass of 3.5 tonnes generally requires a vignette if it uses Swiss national roads subject to the vignette requirement.
By contrast, the heavy vehicle fee regulations may apply to heavier vehicles.
The details in the vehicle registration document or vehicle papers are authoritative.
What applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes?
For vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 tonnes special rules apply.
Such vehicles are generally subject to a Swiss heavy vehicle fee instead of the normal motorway vignette.
Depending on the vehicle and type of use, this is:
- the distance-related heavy vehicle fee (LSVA) or
- the flat-rate heavy vehicle fee
For example, the PSVA applies to certain heavy motorhomes and coaches.
Therefore, if your vehicle weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, you should check before your journey which toll applies to your vehicle.
Do I need a vignette if I'm just driving through Switzerland?
Yes, if your route leads via motorways or main roads requiring a vignette.
It does not matter whether you:
- have a holiday in Switzerland
- spend only a few hours in Switzerland
- driving from Germany to Italy
- drive from France to Austria
- only use Switzerland as a transit country
As soon as you use a corresponding Swiss national road with a vehicle subject to the vignette, you require a valid vignette.
There is no special transit, daily or short-term vignette.
Find out more: [Price & validity of the Swiss vignette]
Do I need a vignette if I'm not using the motorway?
Not automatically.
The vignette is used for the use of the Swiss national roads subject to the vignette – in particular motorways and semi-motorways – Required.
If your entire route runs exclusively via roads that are not subject to the vignette requirement, you do not need a motorway vignette for this journey.
If you wish to travel without a vignette, you should therefore plan your route carefully and make sure you do not accidentally drive onto a road that requires one.
Find out more: [Motorway toll roads in Switzerland]
Do I need a tax disc for a rental car?
When you collect a hire car in Switzerland, a valid vignette is often already present. However, you should check this when taking over the vehicle.
With a hire car that you outside of Switzerland take over and then drive to Switzerland, you should also check whether a valid Swiss vignette is already present.
Do not automatically purchase an additional vignette without first checking whether the vehicle already has a valid sticker or e-vignette.
Find out more: [Swiss vignette for hire cars]
Does every vehicle with interchangeable number plates need its own e-vignette?
The e-vignette is linked to the registration plate and not with a specific vehicle Connected.
For vehicles with a Swiss interchangeable registration plate, this can be an advantage: if the same registration plate is lawfully used for different vehicles, basically only one e-vignette is required for this registration plate.
With a sticker vignette, this is different, as the sticker vignette is physically tied to a specific vehicle.
Are there any exemptions from the vignette requirement?
Yes. There are statutory exceptions for certain special types of vehicles and uses.
However, for most travellers, these basic rules are the most relevant:
Vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes + motorway/expressway subject to vignettes = vignette generally required.
Vehicle over 3.5 tonnes = generally heavy vehicle fee instead of standard vignette.
For special vehicles or specific operational purposes, the respective applicable regulations of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security should be checked.
Which vignette do I need?
Cars up to 3.5 t
Vignette required: Yes, on roads subject to a vignette
Motorbike
Vignette required: Yes, on roads subject to a vignette
Vans up to 3.5 t
Vignette required: Yes, on roads subject to a vignette
Motorhome up to 3.5 t
Vignette required: Yes, on roads subject to a vignette
Motorhome over 3.5 tonnes
Standard vignette: As a rule, no
Instead: Check heavy vehicle fee
Trailer up to 3.5 tonnes
Own vignette required: Yes, subject to tax if applicable
Caravans up to 3.5 tonnes
Own vignette required: Yes, subject to tax if applicable
Frequently asked questions about vignette requirements
Does every tourist have to buy a Swiss vignette?
No. What matters is not whether you are a tourist, but whether you are using a Swiss motorway or expressway requiring a vignette with a vehicle subject to the vignette requirement.
Do I need a Swiss vignette with a German car?
Yes, if you use Swiss roads subject to the vignette requirement with the vehicle. The vignette requirement also applies to vehicles registered abroad.
Does a motorcycle need a vignette in Switzerland?
Yes. Motorbikes also need a vignette to use motorways and main roads subject to the vignette requirement.
Does a caravan need its own vignette?
Yes. A caravan subject to toll sticker requirements fundamentally requires its own toll sticker in addition to the toll sticker for the towing vehicle.
Does a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes need an e-vignette?
Heavy motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes are generally subject to the heavy vehicle fee rather than the normal motorway vignette. Therefore, check the fee applicable to your vehicle before setting off.
Do I need a vignette just to drive through Switzerland?
If you use a motorway or semi-motorway that requires a vignette in the process, yes. There is no cheaper transit or short-term vignette.
Does an electric car need a different vignette?
For a normal passenger car, the vignette requirement depends on the vehicle category and road use. There is no separate e-vignette specifically for electric vehicles.
Still no Swiss e-vignette?
If your vehicle requires a vignette, you can already provide the necessary details before your trip to Switzerland record online.
For the order you will need:
- Vehicle type
- Country of authorisation
- number plate
- Email address
Please check the country of registration and number plate particularly carefully before completing your order.
