Skip to content

Driving in Switzerland from the UK: vignette and rules

Switzerland uses an annual motorway vignette only: CHF 40, valid for 14 months (1 December to 31 January of the year after the one shown). Buy the e-vignette, linked to your number plate, on the official federal Via portal (e-vignette.ch); it is valid immediately. There is no short-stay vignette. Carry a warning triangle and drive with lights on.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in CHF unless shown otherwise

Toll system
Vignette
Vignette
RequiredMotorway vignette (e-vignette or adhesive vignette)
Low-emission zones
None listedSee the section below
Currency
CHF
On this page

Do I need a vignette in Switzerland?

All Swiss motorways (Nationalstrassen) require a vignette for vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 t. It comes as an e-vignette registered to the number plate or as a traditional windscreen sticker; both cost CHF 40 and run for 14 months. The Great St Bernard road tunnel to Italy charges its own toll.

Motorway vignette (e-vignette or adhesive vignette)

Required. Applies to: All Swiss motorways, for motor vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 t (including motorhomes up to 3.5 t and classic cars). Trailers need their own vignette, except trailers towed by motorbikes.

Vignette prices for 2026

  • Annual (2026 vignette, valid 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027)

    40.00 CHF[2]

    Vehicle: Car and other vehicles up to 3.5 t

Vignette prices for 2027

  • Annual (2027 vignette, valid 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2028)

    40.00 CHF[2]

    Vehicle: Car and other vehicles up to 3.5 t

The vignette price is fixed at CHF 40 and FOCBS states it for the vignette in general, not for a named year; the 14-month validity rule means the 2027 vignette runs 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2028 (checked 11 Nov 2026).

Buy from the official shop: FOCBS Via portal (e-vignette.ch) (opens in a new tab)

This is the official seller. EuroTolls does not sell vignettes and earns nothing from this link.

Vignette rules

  • Valid for 14 months: from 1 December of the year before the year shown on the vignette to 31 January of the year after it.[2]
  • There is no short-stay vignette: even for a single visit you need the annual vignette.[2]
  • The e-vignette is valid immediately after purchase. Swiss law gives no right of withdrawal for online purchases.[2]
  • The e-vignette is linked to the number plate; the adhesive vignette is linked to the vehicle and is only valid when correctly stuck on.[1]
  • You cannot use the motorway to the first exit without a vignette, except when entering at the Basel/St Louis, Rheinfelden or Kreuzlingen motorway customs offices and leaving at the first exit.[2]
  • The e-vignette does not renew automatically each year; a user account can send a reminder.[2]

Warnings from the official operator

  • Third parties may add handling fees when they register or sell a vignette. FOCBS recommends using only trustworthy providers or its official webshop because of the risk of online fraud. Paying by card from abroad may add currency conversion fees.[2]
  • Driving on a motorway without a vignette can lead to a large fine.[5]

Who runs the roads

How to pay

  • Buy the e-vignette on the FOCBS Via portal (short address e-vignette.ch) with your vehicle category, country of registration and number plate. You do not need to carry a receipt.[1]
  • The adhesive sticker is sold at Swiss post offices, most petrol stations and garages, TCS outlets and vehicle licensing offices, abroad through automobile clubs, and exceptionally at some customs offices at the border.[2]
  • Great St Bernard Tunnel: pay in EUR only on the Italian side and in CHF only on the Swiss side.[3]

Extra tolls on top of the vignette

  • Great St Bernard Tunnel, one way (prices since 1 February 2026)

    32.00 CHF[3]

    Vehicle: Class A2: vehicle with 2 or more axles, height at front axle under 1.30 m, total height not over 2 m (car)

  • Great St Bernard Tunnel, one way, paid on the Italian side (prices since 1 February 2026)

    33.50 EUR[3]

    Vehicle: Class A2 (car)

  • Great St Bernard Tunnel, return (prices since 1 February 2026)

    51.00 CHF[3]

    Vehicle: Class A2 (car)

  • Great St Bernard Tunnel, return, paid on the Italian side (prices since 1 February 2026)

    53.50 EUR[3]

    Vehicle: Class A2 (car)

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Low-emission zones and stickers

No low-emission zone rules for visiting cars were checked on official Swiss pages.

What must I carry in Switzerland?

  • Warning triangle.[4]
  • Daytime running lights (or headlights) must be on while driving.[4]
  • FCDO advice: alpine winters make driving difficult; equip your car with winter tyres and snow chains, and carry water, food, warm clothing and medicines.[5]
  • A valid vignette (e-vignette registered to your plate, or sticker on the windscreen).[2]

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Speed limits and alcohol

Built-up areas
50 km/h[4]
Outside built-up areas
80 km/h[4]
Motorways
120 km/h[4]
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l (mg/ml); 0.1 g/l for drivers with a probationary licence and professional drivers.[4]

Expressways 100 km/h. Running lights are compulsory in daytime.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What UK drivers need

  • You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Switzerland. With an old paper licence you may need to update it or also get the 1968 international driving permit (IDP).[5]
  • Traffic police strictly enforce speed limits, alcohol rules and child safety rules; a serious breach can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment. If you have an accident, use the orange emergency phones to ask for help.[5]
  • You do not need an IDP to drive in Switzerland with a UK photocard licence.[6]
  • Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Cover or remove any old GB sticker.[7]
  • Take your log book (V5C) and insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.[8]
  • You do not need a green card to drive in Switzerland, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.[9]

For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.

  1. 1.
    E-Vignette and adhesive vignette (opens in a new tab)

    Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS / BAZG), Swiss Confederation, bazg.admin.ch. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  2. 2.
    FAQ: vignette and e-vignette purchase (opens in a new tab)

    Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS / BAZG), Swiss Confederation, bazg.admin.ch. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  3. 3.
    Prices since 01.02.2026 (opens in a new tab)

    Great St Bernard Tunnel (SISEX SA and SITRASB S.p.A., tunnel operating companies), letunnel.com. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  4. 4.
    Road rules and safety - Switzerland (opens in a new tab)

    European Commission, Your Europe (content supplied by Swiss authorities, last checked by them 18/09/2024), europa.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  5. 5.
    Switzerland travel advice: Safety and security (updated 11 August 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (FCDO), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  6. 6.
    Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  7. 7.
    Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (DVLA), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  8. 8.
    Driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  9. 9.
    Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.