Is a motorway vignette required for driving in Switzerland?

Yes — but only if you stick to secondary roads. The Swiss motorway vignette is required for driving on motorways and semi-motorways, which are marked by green road signs. If you avoid these roads and use only national or cantonal routes, you can drive without a vignette.

However, be aware that road checks are frequent, and if you are caught without a valid vignette on a motorway, you risk a fine of 200 CHF, plus the immediate purchase of the vignette (total cost of 240 CHF).

If you plan to avoid motorways, make sure to set your GPS or navigation app to “avoid toll roads and motorways”.

If you’re considering a longer stay or regular border crossings, it might be worth exploring the broader picture — including the pros and cons of living in Switzerland when it comes to transport, cost of living, and quality of life.

You’ll need a vignette as soon as you enter a Swiss motorway with a motor vehicle under 3.5 tonnes (including cars, motorcycles, and campervans). This also applies to certain border road sections near customs checkpoints.

• Planning to use Swiss motorways? → A vignette is required.

• Crossing the country or heading to the mountains via secondary roads? → A vignette may not be necessary.

Importantly, trailers and caravans must each have their own vignette, even if they’re being towed by a vehicle that already has one.

Buying a vignette is one of the small but essential steps to plan ahead — especially if you cross the border frequently. For anyone considering a move, check out our full 2025 Guide to Moving to Switzerland.

No — the vignette is not required to enter Switzerland, but it becomes mandatory as soon as you use a motorway. Technically, you can enter the country without a vignette if you stick to secondary roads.

However, be aware that many border crossings from France to Switzerland — such as Bardonnex, Vallorbe, or Basel Saint-Louis — lead directly onto motorway sections. In these cases, you must have the vignette before driving on those roads.

To avoid any issues, it’s best to buy your vignette in advance, either online or at a petrol station near the border.

The official price of the Swiss motorway vignette is 40 Swiss francs (CHF), which is approximately €42 to €45, depending on the current exchange rate.

You can purchase the vignette in two formats:

• Sticker vignette: available at petrol stations, border crossings, and automotive shops.

• E-vignette (electronic version): available online via the official Via Portal of the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (OFDF).

No — only an annual vignette is available in Switzerland.

The vignette is valid for 14 months, from 1 December of the previous year until 31 January of the following year.

There are no short-term options such as daily, weekly, or monthly passes.

Yes — a separate vignette is required for each trailer or caravan, even if it is being towed by a vehicle that already has a valid vignette.

Exception: Trailers towed by motorcycles do not require an additional vignette.

If you are using the physical sticker vignette, the answer is no — the vignette is directly linked to the vehicle it was purchased for and cannot be transferred.

However, if you have an interchangeable licence plate (used for multiple vehicles registered under the same plate), the e-vignette linked to that plate can cover all vehicles associated with it.