The Swiss vignette is the motorway charge required for most cars, motorcycles, campers, and trailers using Switzerland’s vignette-charged motorways and expressways. Drivers can choose either the traditional adhesive sticker or the electronic e-vignette. Both cost the same and cover the same annual validity period.
Quick Answer
The 2026 Swiss vignette costs CHF 40 and is required for most vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 tonnes using vignette-charged Swiss motorways and expressways. It is available as a sticker or e-vignette and is valid from December 1, 2025, through January 31, 2027. There are no short-term vignettes.
Last checked: October 1, 2026. Dates and figures were verified against official sources.
Key Takeaways
- The official price is CHF 40 for either a sticker or an e-vignette.
- The 2026 vignette is valid from December 1, 2025, through January 31, 2027.
- A sticker is tied to the vehicle and cannot be removed and transferred to another vehicle.
- An e-vignette is linked to the licence plate, which can make vehicle changes easier when the same plate is retained.
- Driving on a vignette-required road without a valid vignette can mean a CHF 200 fine plus the CHF 40 vignette.
Who Needs a Swiss Vignette?
You generally need a Swiss vignette when a motor vehicle or trailer with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes uses a motorway or expressway subject to the motorway charge. This includes cars, motorcycles, delivery vans, smaller motorhomes, caravans, and most ordinary trailers.
The Swiss authorities’ motorway vignette guidance confirms that the requirement applies to vehicles such as cars, motorbikes, trailers, caravans, vans, and campers up to 3.5 tonnes. Vehicles above 3.5 tonnes are normally covered by a separate heavy-vehicle charge instead of the standard vignette.
If your car is towing a caravan or other chargeable trailer, the trailer normally needs its own vignette as well. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security notes an exception for trailers attached to motorcycles.
The charge does not apply to every road in Switzerland. It applies to the national motorways and expressways designated as vignette-required roads, so you can still travel on other public roads without buying a vignette if your route avoids the charged network.
Swiss Vignette 2026 Cost and Validity
The official Swiss vignette price for 2026 is CHF 40. The price is the same whether you choose the physical sticker or the electronic version, and Switzerland does not offer daily, weekly, or monthly alternatives.
| Item | 2026 Swiss Vignette |
|---|---|
| Official price | CHF 40 |
| Validity begins | December 1, 2025 |
| Validity ends | January 31, 2027 |
| Short-term option | None |
A Swiss vignette is valid for 14 months: from December 1 of the year before the year printed on it through January 31 of the following year. The FOCBS vignette FAQ confirms the CHF 40 price, the 14-month validity period, and the absence of short-term vignettes.
This means buying a vignette late in its cycle does not extend its expiry date. For example, a 2026 vignette purchased in autumn 2026 still expires on January 31, 2027.
How to Purchase a Swiss Vignette
You can buy either an e-vignette online or a physical sticker from authorized sales locations. If you want to avoid stopping near the border, the e-vignette is usually the simplest option because it becomes valid immediately after a successful purchase.
Buying the e-vignette
The official e-vignette is sold through the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security’s Via Portal. You enter the vehicle category, country of registration, and licence plate number; there is no physical sticker to display.
The official FOCBS e-vignette page confirms that the government charges CHF 40 and warns buyers about fake websites, phishing messages, and third-party sellers that may add service fees.
Warning: Check that you are using the official Swiss government e-vignette service before entering your licence-plate or payment details. Fraudulent and misleading e-vignette websites have been reported.
The e-vignette is valid immediately after a successful purchase. You do not have to carry a printed receipt while driving, although keeping your purchase confirmation can still be useful if you later need help with a plate change or purchase issue.
Buying the adhesive sticker
Physical vignettes are sold at Swiss post offices, many petrol stations and garages, vehicle-licensing offices, and other authorized outlets. Sticker sales are also available at certain border locations, although availability can depend on the crossing.
Buy the vignette before you use a road where it is required. The FOCBS states that you generally cannot simply enter a Swiss motorway without a vignette and continue to the first exit, although narrowly defined exceptions exist at a few border crossings.
Sticker vs E-Vignette: What Is the Difference?
The sticker and e-vignette cost the same and cover the same roads for the same validity period. The main difference is what each one is linked to: the sticker belongs to the physical vehicle, while the e-vignette belongs to the registered licence plate.
| Feature | Sticker vignette | E-vignette |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 price | CHF 40 | CHF 40 |
| Linked to | Vehicle | Licence plate |
| Physical display | Must be correctly attached | None |
| New vehicle with same plate | New sticker required | Existing e-vignette remains valid |
The e-vignette can be especially convenient if you replace a vehicle but keep the same licence plate. For interchangeable Swiss plates, the plate-linked format can also avoid buying separate stickers for each vehicle using that plate.
Where to Display the Swiss Vignette
If you buy the adhesive version, place it directly on the inside of the windscreen where it can be clearly seen from outside. There is no rule requiring it to be on the passenger side, and you should not attach it using tape, removable film, or another temporary method.
For vehicles without a windscreen, including motorcycles and trailers, the sticker must be placed on an accessible, non-removable part of the vehicle. It must be attached properly so that removing it destroys or invalidates it.
The e-vignette needs no physical display because enforcement is based on the registered licence plate.
Can You Transfer a Swiss Vignette to Another Vehicle?
You cannot peel a physical vignette from one vehicle and reuse it on another. An adhesive vignette is tied to the vehicle, and the FOCBS states that a detached sticker is invalid.
The e-vignette works differently because it is tied to the licence plate. If you change vehicles but keep the same plate, the e-vignette automatically remains valid for the new vehicle.
If the licence plate itself changes, a transfer is allowed only in specific circumstances. The FOCBS generally requires the vehicle and holder to remain the same and may require the old and new registration documents as proof.
A damaged windscreen is another important difference. If a windscreen carrying a valid sticker has to be replaced, the FOCBS provides a replacement process rather than requiring the driver simply to buy another vignette.
Penalties for Driving Without a Swiss Vignette
Driving on a vignette-required Swiss motorway or expressway without a valid vignette can result in a CHF 200 fine. You must also buy the CHF 40 vignette, bringing the immediate cost to CHF 240.
The same practical problem applies if a physical sticker is not correctly attached. Buying a sticker but leaving it loose in the vehicle does not satisfy the requirement to display it properly.
For an e-vignette, check the licence plate carefully before completing the purchase. The FOCBS provides limited correction options for entry errors, but the rules differ between Swiss and foreign plates.
Speed Limits on Swiss Highways
The general maximum speed for passenger cars is 120 km/h on Swiss motorways and 100 km/h on expressways, unless signs impose a lower limit. Temporary and electronic signs can reduce the permitted speed because of traffic, construction, weather, or other conditions.
There is no blanket national rule reducing every motorway to 100 km/h whenever it rains. Instead, you must obey the posted limit and reduce your speed further whenever visibility, grip, traffic, or weather makes the posted maximum unsafe.
The Switzerland Tourism traffic-rules guide lists the standard 120 km/h motorway limit and also summarizes other basic driving requirements, including daytime lights and the general alcohol limit.
Vehicles towing trailers may be subject to different limits, and heavier vehicles have their own restrictions. Always follow the signs that apply to your vehicle and road section.
Overtaking and Lane Discipline on Swiss Highways
On Swiss motorways, keep to the right and use the middle or left lanes to overtake. Signal before changing lanes, check your mirrors and blind spots, and return to the right when the overtaking manoeuvre is complete.
The Federal Roads Office motorway rules make an important distinction between passing traffic on the right and actively overtaking on the right. If traffic forms a queue in the left or middle lane, vehicles may cautiously continue past it in the right lane. Moving right specifically to overtake and then immediately moving left again remains prohibited.
When motorway traffic slows to walking pace or stops, drivers must also form an emergency corridor for rescue vehicles. On two lanes, the corridor is between the two lanes; on roads with three or more lanes, it is between the far-left lane and the lane immediately to its right.
Parking and Rest Areas on Swiss Highways
Use designated rest areas, service areas, and parking spaces when you need a break. Motorway shoulders are for emergencies rather than routine stops, so do not use them as informal parking or rest areas.
Facilities vary by location. Some provide only basic parking and toilets, while larger service areas may have fuel, food, shops, or electric-vehicle charging. On a long trip, take breaks before fatigue affects your concentration rather than waiting until you feel exhausted.
Important Driving Rules for Visitors to Switzerland
Visitors should know a few Swiss road rules beyond the vignette itself. The most useful ones involve lights, alcohol, winter conditions, required equipment, lane discipline, and distraction behind the wheel.
- Use lights during the day. Daytime running lights are acceptable on equipped vehicles; otherwise use dipped headlights.
- Respect the alcohol limit. The general threshold is 0.5 per mille, equivalent to 0.05% blood alcohol concentration.
- Do not let a phone or other device distract you. Swiss motorway guidance stresses that your hands and attention belong on driving.
- Carry a warning triangle. According to TCS guidance, the warning triangle is mandatory equipment in Switzerland.
- A reflective vest and first-aid kit are sensible additions. TCS states that a reflective vest is not generally mandatory in Switzerland, although it is recommended for roadside emergencies.
- Prepare for winter conditions. Switzerland does not impose a general nationwide winter-tire mandate, but you remain responsible for keeping control of the vehicle in snow, ice, and other poor conditions.
The Swiss authorities’ winter-tire guidance confirms that winter tires are not generally compulsory. However, causing an accident because the vehicle was not suitably equipped for the conditions can have legal and insurance consequences.
For emergency equipment, TCS guidance on required vehicle equipment identifies the warning triangle as mandatory in Switzerland while describing a high-visibility vest as recommended rather than compulsory.
Mountain conditions can change quickly, particularly away from the main lowland motorways. Allow more space in rain or snow, use engine braking appropriately on long descents, and follow temporary signs or closures rather than relying only on your navigation app.
The original article also linked to an article about Asian melon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Swiss vignette?
A Swiss vignette is the motorway charge required for most motor vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 tonnes that use designated Swiss motorways and expressways. You can use either the adhesive sticker or the electronic e-vignette.
How long is the 2026 Swiss vignette valid?
The 2026 Swiss vignette is valid from December 1, 2025, through January 31, 2027. The same validity period applies to both the physical sticker and the e-vignette.
How much does a Swiss vignette cost?
The official Swiss vignette price is CHF 40. The sticker and e-vignette have the same official price, although third-party sellers may add their own service or payment charges.
What are the main rules for driving on Swiss highways?
Keep right, normally overtake on the left, obey posted speed limits, use daytime lights, and form an emergency corridor when motorway traffic becomes very slow or stops. The general motorway speed limit for passenger cars is 120 km/h unless a lower limit is posted.
What should visitors know before driving in Switzerland?
Visitors should check whether their route needs a vignette, use lights during the day, carry a warning triangle, and prepare the vehicle for the weather. The general alcohol limit is 0.05%, and winter tires are not subject to a blanket nationwide requirement.
What is the difference between the sticker and the e-vignette?
The sticker is attached to and linked with the vehicle, while the e-vignette is linked to the licence plate. Both cost CHF 40 and have the same annual validity period.
Can I transfer a Swiss vignette to another vehicle?
You cannot remove an adhesive vignette and transfer it to another vehicle. An e-vignette remains valid when you change vehicles but retain the same licence plate, while licence-plate changes are allowed only under specified conditions.
Can I buy a one-day or short-term Swiss vignette?
No. Switzerland does not offer daily, weekly, or monthly motorway vignettes. Even a visitor using the chargeable motorway network only once must normally buy the annual vignette.
Sources
- Swiss authorities: Motorway vignette: 2026 price, validity, vehicle categories, fines, and purchase information.
- Federal Office for Customs and Border Security: Vignette FAQ: sticker and e-vignette rules, trailers, transfers, validity, refunds, and display requirements.
- Federal Office for Customs and Border Security: E-vignette: official online purchase process, CHF 40 price, immediate validity, and fraud warning.
- Federal Roads Office: Motorway basic rules: keeping right, overtaking, passing queues on the right, distraction, and emergency corridors.
- Switzerland Tourism: Traffic rules: motorway speed, alcohol limit, and daytime lighting requirements.
- Swiss authorities: Winter tires: winter-tire requirements and driver responsibility in winter conditions.
- Touring Club Switzerland: Mandatory vehicle equipment: warning-triangle requirement and reflective-vest guidance.
