Driving & Vignette

Traveling through Switzerland by car is scenically spectacular — but expensive and impractical in cities. The public transport system is so good that many Swiss don't own a car. However, for rural areas and mountain passes, a rental car can be useful.

⚠️ Motorway Vignette — Mandatory!

On all Swiss motorways and expressways, a vignette is mandatory. Since 2023, there is the E-vignette (linked to the license plate) alongside the classic adhesive vignette.

Type	Price	Validity
E-Vignette	40 CHF (approx. 42 €)	14 months (1.12. – 31.1. following year)
Adhesive Vignette	40 CHF	14 months

Purchase: Online at e-vignette.ch, at gas stations near the border, ADAC offices, or at the Swiss border.

Additional Tunnel Fees

Unlike in Austria, most tunnels in Switzerland are included in the vignette — there is no special toll for Gotthard, San Bernardino, or Lötschberg car transport. The only exception: the Great St. Bernard Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy, 29 CHF one way).

Driving Tips

• Speed Limit: Motorway 120 km/h, outside urban areas 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h (increasingly 30 km/h in cities). Speed cameras are extremely frequent and fines are draconian!
• Fines: 20 km/h over the limit in urban areas = 250+ CHF. Over 25 km/h: report with fine based on income! Switzerland shows no leniency.
• Winter Tires: No general obligation, but in accidents with summer tires on snow, co-liability threatens. De facto obligation November–April.
• Parking: Expensive in cities — Zürich 3–5 CHF/hour, parking garages 25–40 CHF/day. P+R on the outskirts and use public transport is cheaper.
• Alcohol: 0.5 per mille limit. For newcomers (< 3 years) 0.1 per mille.
• Passes: Many alpine passes are only open May–October (Gotthard, Grimsel, Furka, Susten, Nufenen). Current status: tcs.ch.