Tolls in Switzerland – guide
Tolls have been collected in Switzerland since 1985 and apply to all vehicles that Swiss motorways and toll bridges and tunnels drive on. With the revenue from the toll, the motorways, bridges and tunnels in Switzerland are maintained and expanded – as was originally planned in Germany. In this country, however, the car toll will not be implemented for the time being.
The type of payment and the amount of the toll differ for drivers of one Vehicle under 3.5 tons (Car or motorcycle) or above. Anyone who drives on the autobahn with their car or motorcycle pays the cost of the toll by means of a vignette. A Flat rate for all vehicles under 3.5 tons paid. Driver one truck however, since 2001 they no longer need a vignette – they pay a so-called performance-based one Heavy vehicle tax (HVF). In contrast to the toll for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, the costs for the truck toll in Switzerland apply not only to motorways, but to all roads. The amount of the costs is calculated from the kilometers driven, the gross vehicle weight and its emission class. The kilometers driven are automatically recorded by the on-board unit, which must be in every truck. This is also used to pay the toll fees.
What does the toll cost in Switzerland?
For vehicles under 3.5 tons, you can only buy vignettes for the entire year in Switzerland. The costs are 38.50 euros (40 CHF).
| category | costs | punishment |
|---|---|---|
| All vehicles up to 3.5 t (additional vignette for trailers) | 38.50 € (40 CHF) | approx. 180.00 € (200 CHF) |
If you are checked without a vignette or if you have attached it incorrectly to your vehicle, you will get one Fine of 200.00 CHF (approx. 180 euros). In addition, a new vignette must be purchased – in contrast to Austria, the fine does not count as a so-called “substitute toll”.
Avoid the fine by getting your Vignette properly on your car or motorcycle attach. The best place to do this is in the upper left corner on the inside of your windshield – or in the middle of the inside of the windshield, behind the rearview mirror. There she can immediately see the police who are carrying out the checks. Make sure, however, that you do not affix the vignette behind any tint strips on your windshield. Are you traveling with one Motorcycle or trailer, attach the vignette so that it is clearly visible. However, the prerequisite for its validity is that the vignette is on a permanently installed part of the vehicle attached (on a motorcycle, for example, on the tank or the fork leg).
A Vignette may not be transferred from one vehicle to another – Otherwise there is a risk of a high fine here too. Once attached, it must not be removed until the expiry date. In this case, however, it must be removed from the vehicle immediately, because the driver may be fined even if the vignette has expired. The vignette can also lose its validity if it is affixed by other means than the self-adhesive technique intended for it.
Where can I get a vignette for Switzerland?
You can buy your vignette from various providers online before you start your journey, for example at the ADAC or tolltickets. Alternatively, it is also possible to purchase it at petrol stations or customs offices directly in front of the Swiss border. In the interior of the country, in addition to petrol stations, post offices and road traffic offices also offer the stickers. Incidentally, the vignette for 2021 is green, there is currently no electronic vignette in Switzerland.
With the camper through Switzerland: What does the toll cost?
Is the total weight of your Motorhomes under 3.5 tons, costs the vignette 38.50 Euro (40 CHF). It is valid for 14 months – from December of the previous year to January of the following year. From a weight of more than 3.5 tons must be a flat-rate heavy vehicle fee (PSVA). This depends on the length of the stay. A minimum amount of around 22.00 euros (25 Swiss francs) is due for each payment. Should you take a trip with your Caravan planning through Switzerland, you have to for this one additional vignette to buy. The fee is payable before entry via the app Via or on site at the border crossings.
This is how much the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) for motorhomes over 3.5 t GVW costs:
Per year: 650 CHF
For 1 to 11 consecutive Months: per month 58.50 CHF,
For 1 to 30 consecutive Days: CHF 25 to CHF 58.50,
For 10 individual days of your choice within a year: 32.50 CHF
What else you should know before your trip
Speed limit in Switzerland
- Speed limit motorway: 120 km / h (car)
- Fine at <20 km / h too fast: approx. 18 € to approx. 240 €
- Penalty at> 25 km / h too fast: fines or imprisonment, if applicable
Emergency numbers in Switzerland
- Area code: +41
- Fire department: 118
- Police: 117
Fines in Switzerland
- Wrong parking: from approx. 35 € (40 CHF)
- Mobile phone at the wheel: approx. 90 € (100 CHF)
Light duty during the day in Switzerland
- Light duty during the day: Yes
- Penalty for violation: approx. 37 € (40 CHF)
Incidentally, according to the independent “European Road Safety Council” in Brussels, the Swiss motorways are the safest motorways in Europe (according to the number of road deaths). You can read more about this in our article on motorway safety.
Sources: ADAC, Bussgeldkatalog.org, Herman-unterwegs.de, admin.ch
All statements without guarantee
