Swiss motorway vignette: a simple guide for drivers crossing the border

One price, one year, no exceptions

Switzerland sells a single type of vignette: a calendar-year pass that costs the same flat fee whether you're driving through for one day or three months. It runs from 1 December of the previous year through 31 January of the following year, so a vignette bought in November already covers you into the next January.

There's no weekly or monthly option like you'll find in Austria or Hungary. If you're only passing through for an afternoon on your way to Italy, you still pay the full annual price. It's a strange system for tourists, but it's the same rule for everyone, Swiss residents included.

Sticker or digital, your choice

You can still buy the traditional paper sticker, sold at borders, petrol stations, and post offices, and stick it to your windscreen. Since 2023, Switzerland also sells a digital vignette tied to your license plate, bought online in advance, which is usually the easier option if you're planning ahead rather than buying at the border.

The digital version has one quirk worth knowing: it takes a few days to become valid in the system after purchase, so buying it the morning you leave isn't a safe bet. If you're planning a trip with a tight departure date, buy it at least a few days ahead, or fall back on the physical sticker at the border if you're already short on time.

What it covers, and what it doesn't

The vignette covers Switzerland's motorway and expressway network. It does not cover the country's mountain tunnels and passes that charge separately, and it has nothing to do with tolls in neighboring countries. If your route continues into Austria or Italy, you'll need to sort those out on their own terms.

Trailers and caravans need their own vignette in addition to the one on the towing vehicle, which catches a lot of people off guard. Motorcycles need one too, at a slightly lower price than cars.

What happens if you skip it

Random checks happen, mostly near border crossings, and cameras also catch plates without a valid digital vignette on file. The fine is well above the cost of the vignette itself, and you still have to buy the vignette on top of it. There's no advantage to skipping it and hoping for the best.

The practical takeaway

If you know you're driving through Switzerland at all, even briefly, buy the vignette before you go. There's no cheaper option for a short visit, so there's no reason to wait until you're at the border weighing it up. Buy it once, keep the confirmation or sticker somewhere you can find it, and it's one less thing to think about for the rest of the year.