Independent information portal · Updated for 2026

Swiss Motorway Vignette: the Complete Neutral Guide

Everything drivers need to know about the obligatory vignette for Swiss motorways and expressways — price, validity, the e-vignette, purchase options and the rules that apply on the road.

How to buy Read the FAQ

This website is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with the Swiss government or any official authority.

CHF 40
Annual vignette price
14 months
Validity period
CHF 200
Fine for driving without one
Since 2023
Digital e-vignette available
Guide

What is the Swiss vignette?

The vignette is a mandatory charge for using Swiss motorways and expressways (the roads marked with green directional signs). It applies to motor vehicles and trailers with a total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes each. Heavier vehicles pay a separate heavy vehicle fee instead.

Both formats cost the same and provide identical rights. Switzerland only offers an annual vignette — there are no daily, weekly or monthly options for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

Adhesive Swiss vignette on a car windscreen with Alps view Classic sticker vignette · CHF 40 / year
Digital e-vignette on a smartphone
Since 2023

E-vignette (digital)

Registered digitally to your license plate. Nothing on the windscreen — validity is checked automatically. Valid immediately after online purchase.

Travel documents and vignette for a Swiss road trip
Classic

Adhesive sticker (paper)

The classic paper vignette must be visibly attached inside the windscreen before you enter a motorway. Same price, same rights.

Car on a Swiss alpine mountain road
Alpine roads · Valid vignette required
Swiss Alps and mountain lake
Panorama & motorways
Swiss motorway through the Alps
Swiss motorway network
Vehicle types

Who needs a vignette?

The requirement depends on the vehicle type and how you travel.

Required

Cars up to 3.5 t

All passenger cars using Swiss motorways and expressways need a valid vignette, including electric and hybrid vehicles.

Required

Motorcycles

Motorbikes and scooters require their own vignette at the same annual price of CHF 40.

Required

Trailers & caravans

Trailers and caravans need a separate vignette in addition to the one for the towing vehicle.

Different system

Vehicles over 3.5 t

Heavy vehicles such as large motorhomes and lorries pay the performance-related heavy vehicle fee (HVF) instead of the vignette.

Usually included

Swiss rental cars

Cars rented inside Switzerland are normally already equipped with a vignette. Confirm this with the rental company before departure.

Usually not included

Foreign rental cars

Cars rented outside Switzerland generally do not have a Swiss vignette. You will need to purchase one yourself.

Costs

Price and validity

One product, one price — valid for up to 14 months.

Product Price Validity
Annual vignette 2026 (e-vignette or sticker) CHF 40.– 1 December 2025 – 31 January 2027
Trailer / caravan vignette CHF 40.– Same period, registered separately
Short-term vignette (day / week / month) — Not offered in Switzerland
Buying the digital e-vignette online E-vignette online · valid immediately
Step by step

How to buy the vignette

Four straightforward and official ways to get covered.

Buy the e-vignette online

Purchase the digital vignette via the official online portal of the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security. You will need the vehicle's license plate number and country of registration. The e-vignette is valid immediately after purchase.

At the border

Vignettes are sold at Swiss border crossings. Follow the signs for customs and purchase points when entering the country.

Petrol stations, post offices and garages

The adhesive sticker is widely available at petrol stations, post offices, garages and touring clubs in Switzerland and in neighbouring countries near the border.

Check before you drive

Make sure the vignette is valid and correctly registered (or attached) before entering a motorway. For the e-vignette, the license plate entered at purchase must exactly match the vehicle.

Ready to drive in Switzerland?

Check price, validity and purchase options — and avoid the CHF 200 fine for driving without a vignette.

See the price Read the FAQ
Legal

Controls and fines

What happens if you use a motorway without a valid vignette.

Driving without a valid vignette The fine is CHF 200, and you will additionally be required to purchase the vignette. Checks are carried out by the border authorities and police, both with mobile patrols and with automatic camera systems that read license plates. Misused, manipulated or transferred stickers can lead to higher penalties.
Good to know

Additional tolls to be aware of

The vignette does not cover a small number of special routes.

Great St Bernard Tunnel

The road tunnel between Martigny (CH) and Aosta (IT) charges a separate passage fee in addition to the vignette.

Munt la Schera Tunnel

The tunnel connecting the Engadin valley with Livigno (IT) requires a separate toll.

Car shuttle trains

Car-carrying trains such as Lötschberg and Furka charge their own transport fees, independent of the vignette.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions drivers ask most often.

Do I need a vignette for Switzerland?
Yes, if you plan to drive on Swiss motorways or expressways with a vehicle (or trailer) up to 3.5 tonnes. Ordinary cantonal and municipal roads do not require a vignette.
How much does the Swiss vignette cost?
The annual vignette costs CHF 40, both as an e-vignette and as an adhesive sticker. There are no cheaper short-term variants.
How long is the vignette valid?
The annual vignette is valid for 14 months: from 1 December of the year before the vignette year until 31 January of the following year. The 2026 vignette, for example, is valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027.
What is the difference between the e-vignette and the sticker?
Both cost CHF 40 and give the same rights. The e-vignette is registered digitally to your license plate, so nothing needs to be attached to the windscreen. The sticker must be visibly fixed to the inside of the windscreen before entering a motorway.
Does my rental car already have a vignette?
Cars rented in Switzerland usually have one; cars rented abroad usually do not. Always confirm with the rental company before crossing the border.
Do motorcycles and trailers need a vignette?
Yes. Motorcycles need their own vignette, and trailers or caravans require a separate vignette in addition to the towing vehicle.
What happens if I drive without a vignette?
You face a fine of CHF 200 plus the obligation to buy the vignette. Controls are carried out by patrols and automatic camera systems.
Can I transfer the vignette to another vehicle?
No. The e-vignette is tied to a specific license plate, and the adhesive sticker is only valid for the vehicle it is attached to. Transferred or reused stickers are considered invalid.
Contact

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Swiss Vignette Guide is an independent information project. We are happy to receive corrections, suggestions and general feedback about the content of this site.

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8001 Zurich, Switzerland
Response time
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