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Swiss Vignette: what it is and how to buy it
Discover how much it costs, where to buy it, and how to apply the Swiss Vignette
What is 'la vignette' for Switzerland?
'La Vignette', or vignette, is a colored sticker usually displayed on the windshield, which allows circulation on Swiss highways and national roads: it is an alternative to the toll system as organized in some European countries, for example Italy, Croatia, Portugal, France and Spain.
From 2024, the sticker is also available in digital form and can be purchased online. It is valid for 14 months, which means that the 2024 Vignette is valid from December 1, 2023 until January 31, 2025. Daily, weekly or monthly highway vignettes are not available.
What is the vignette for?
The Vignette is used to travel on the motorway network without incurring penalties. In other countries too, such as Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Romania, the motorway vignette purchase system is in force: each with specific rules, for example in Lithuania it is only necessary for heavy vehicles, and with customized graphics.
Switzerland was the first country, in 1984, to choose this mandatory payment method for users, designed to certify that those traveling have paid the usage tax for Swiss motorways and semi-motorways (second-order national roads).
In summary, the Swiss vignette is required to comply with the highway usage tax and to freely travel on the expressways of the Swiss country. If you don't purchase the vignette, you can still enter Switzerland and travel only on state and provincial roads for which the sticker is not required.
For which vehicles is the vignette required?
The Swiss vignette is mandatory for motor vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons and for motorcycles. For heavy vehicles, there is a separate tax, the amount of which is based on the mileage traveled between the starting point and destination: different rates are then applied depending on the type of vehicle.
Additionally, those traveling with motorcycle trailers or caravans will need to purchase an additional vignette, thus paying double the amount. This rule distinguishes the Swiss vignette from the Austrian one, where only one vignette is required for the towing vehicle.
How much does the Swiss vignette cost and where can you buy it?
The Swiss vignette has a cost of 40 Swiss francs, which is approximately equal to 42 euros at the current exchange rate. The sticker must be purchased before entering the country or, in any case, before accessing highways and second-level national roads.
Here's where you can buy the Swiss sticker:
- customs offices;
- service stations near the border;
- cantonal road traffic offices;
- post offices;
- Swiss Touring Club sections;
- online, through the Swiss Post website.
For those traveling in Switzerland without a vignette, or with an expired vignette, there are very heavy penalties in the form of hefty fines of 200 Swiss francs (about 212 euros) plus the cost of purchasing the sticker. Those who think they can escape the controls are mistaken: monitoring along the network where the obligation applies is thorough and implemented with mobile patrols and remote verification and video surveillance systems. For this reason, it's important to purchase it before driving and attach it correctly, simply by sticking it on like a normal adhesive, as required by current regulations.
Where should the Swiss vignette be placed?
To avoid fines and freely use the national highway network in Switzerland, remember to display the vignette clearly visible inside the vehicle. Controls are very strict and authorities are not inclined to accept excuses.
To position the vignette so that it is always readable, even with remote control systems, you can choose between: the upper left corner of the windshield (driver's side) or behind the rearview mirror. If the windshield is damaged during your trip, you are entitled to a new free vignette, provided you can prove with photos that the old sticker is damaged and illegible.
Finally, there is no obligation to remove expired vignettes, but it is recommended practice to avoid unpleasant situations where other stickers present are accused of hindering the correct visibility of the currently valid one.
How does the digital vignette work?
The new feature for 2024 regarding the Swiss vignette is its digitalization. Those who wish can purchase the physical sticker at designated points of sale, or the dematerialized version online on the official website E-Vignette by filling in the fields related to vehicle type, country of registration, and license plate number.
In fact, the electronic vignette is linked to the vehicle's license plate and this is a substantial difference compared to the adhesive one: one is tied to the license plate, while the other is tied to the vehicle and cannot be transferred to a different car. Therefore, those who choose the digital vignette and change cars while keeping the previous license plate, a procedure allowed in Switzerland, can continue to use the vignette for the entire validity period on the new vehicle as well.