Auto Vignette for Motorway Driving in Switzerland
The Car Sticker You Need For Driving On Motorways In Switzerland
The Auto vignette on the left hand side above is an example of a typical vignette and the vignette on the left is the e-vignette.
New Year = New Auto Vignette for Motorway Driving
In Switzerland every January you need to make sure you have a new Auto Vignette for your car if you plan driving on the motorways in Switzerland. The vignettes actually go on sale on 1st December of the previous year.
When To Display Your Swiss Auto Vignette
You have until the end of January each year to have the vignette correctly displayed on your windscreen as “grace” but if you’re caught driving on a motorway without a valid vignette from the 1st February it could result in a CHF 200 fine. On top of the fine you would also have to buy a new Vignette for CHF 40 too!
Where to Place Your Swiss Auto Vignette on Your Car
Did you know that where you place your Auto Vignette on the windscreen is also very important ? Yes, seriously, if you display it incorrectly (i.e if you don’t take the backing off and stick it to the windscreen itself (even if you’re planning on selling the car soon, or it’s a temporary car that is also no excuse!), you would be in danger of getting a fine! Similarly, if you place the vignette in an “inappropriate spot” on your windscreen (which may for restrict or impede your visibility, for example) you could also get in trouble.
To make sure that no NewInZurich driver gets caught – here is a little diagram from the EZV showing the three “approved” locations for the vignette on your windscreen:
Photo: Courtesy of EZV, Eidgenoessische Zollverwaltung
Where to Get You Auto Vignette
The Autovignettes cost CHF 40 and they are available to purchase at the Post office, in service stations and at selected shops. You can also buy it at border crossings to neighbouring countries.
How To Get Rid Of Your Old Vignette
When you place your new vignette on your windscreen you can take the old one down. You can either use a razor blade (and some patience!) or you can buy a little kit from most garages which has all you need to remove the old one.
What If You Change Cars
If you change cars you are not allowed to remove a vignette you have on your old vehicle to your new one, even is you have interchangeable number plates.
The e-vignette was introduced in 2023
In 2023, the “e-vignette” was introduced. The e-vignette did not replace the adhesive vignette and both vignettes run in parallel. The e-vignette will be available via a web portal of the BAZG. The Via portal offers a fast and efficient way to buy e-vignettes for Swiss motorways, covering motor vehicles, trailers, and motorbikes. You simply select the vehicle category, country of registration, and number plate. All data is stored in Switzerland. The e-vignette is valid from the date of purchase, aligning with the sticker’s validity period (1st December of the previous year to 31st January of the following year). Both the sticker and e-vignette cost CHF 40.00.
Different Auto Vignettes Required in Austria
It’s also worth noting that when you are driving over the border into Austria, you also need to buy an “Auto Vignette” for their motorways too. In Austria they are available for purchase for shorter periods of time, even for a few days, and you can buy them at the border or at petrol stations.
For the other countries bordering Switzerland, France, Germany and Italy, there are no auto vignettes but you may pay tolls on certain motorways.
Some Useful Driving Info
Overtaking On The Right Permitted in the following situations:
- traffic jams
- accidents
- slow downs
However you are only permitted to overtake on the right as part of the traffic flow. It is still against the law to go into the right lane simply to overtake a vehicle.
Emergency Corridors:
Drivers will be expected from now on to go as far as possible to the edge of their lane to create an emergency corridor to allow emergency vehicles to pass, but without actually going into the emergency lane.
Caravans:
Caravans are permitted to drive at 100 km/h if they weigh 3.5 tons or less.
Merging Lanes:
It is mandatory to allow vehicles in merging lanes come into the remaining lane, with one merging car at a time between two cars in the remaining lane.
Changes To Driving Licence
You can apply for a learner driver permit from the age of 17. However, anyone under 20 must have had at least one year’s driving experience with the permit before taking the practical test.
Driving Theory Test:
If you have passed your drivers licence theory test, it is now valid for an unlimited period of time.
Change of Age Eligibility for Motorbikes and Scooters:
(Cat. A1) motorbikes and scooters up to 125 cc capacity can be driven in Switzerland from the age of 16 rather than 18 years old.
For more information on Motorbike driving please see here.
Children and Bikes
Children up to the age of 12 are allowed to ride their bikes on the pavement, although pedestrians still have the right of way.
Reimbursement for Journeys By Public Transport
If your journey by public transport is delayed by more than an hour, you are entitled to 1/4 of the fare in compensation.
If your journey by public transport is delayed by more than 2 hours, you are entitled to 1/2 of the fare in compensation.
Season ticket holders are also entitled to claim.
However, compensation amounts below CHF 5 are not paid out. See details: sbb.ch
Season ticket holders, such as those with GA or travelcards, are also entitled to compensation. For delays of 60 minutes or more, they receive either the pro-rata daily value of their travelcard or CHF 5, whichever is higher.
To claim compensation, passengers should complete the online form on the SwissPass website or fill out a paper form available at rail travel centers. Claims must be submitted within 30 days of the incident. See details: swisspass.ch
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