Everything you need to know about the Swiss road pass — e-vignette purchase, price and validity, step-by-step guidance, and full coverage for foreign-registered vehicles.
The Swiss motorway vignette is a mandatory road use tax for all motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes travelling on Switzerland's national motorway and expressway network. Unlike most European countries, Switzerland operates no traditional toll booths — instead, a single annual flat-rate fee applies to all eligible vehicles.
The vignette is required on all Swiss motorways (Autobahn / Autoroute / Autostrada) and semi-expressways (Autostrassen). These roads are clearly marked with green road signs throughout Switzerland. No vignette means an immediate CHF 200 fine.
Switzerland operates a uniquely simple flat-rate system: one CHF 40 payment covers unlimited use of the entire national road network for the full validity period. There are no per-kilometre or per-section charges, no barriers, and no waiting.
Travellers can choose between the traditional physical adhesive sticker — affixed to the inside of the windscreen — or the modern digital e-vignette, which is linked to the vehicle's license plate and requires no sticker at all.
Introduced as a practical, fully paperless solution, the Swiss e-vignette offers all the same legal coverage as the physical sticker — with none of the hassle of affixing anything to your windscreen. It is purchased entirely online and linked directly to your license plate number.
Switzerland offers one of Europe's most straightforward motorway fee structures — a single flat-rate annual payment, with no daily, weekly, or monthly alternatives available regardless of trip length or frequency.
Buying the Swiss e-vignette online is a straightforward process that can be completed days before your trip. The steps below outline the standard purchase flow through the official Swiss government portal.
Navigate to via.admin.ch/shop — Switzerland's official government platform for road taxes, operated by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). This is the only official online purchase channel for the e-vignette.
Choose the "E-Vignette" option from the product list. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes should select the PSVA (heavy vehicle charge) option instead — also available through the same portal.
Input your vehicle's full license plate number and select your country. The portal supports plates from Switzerland and all major foreign countries. Double-check your entry — only one correction is permitted within 24 hours after purchase.
Before confirming, carefully review the plate number, country of registration, and vehicle type shown in the summary. Confirming incorrect details may result in an invalid e-vignette that cannot be used.
The portal accepts major credit and debit cards including Visa and Mastercard, as well as select digital payment methods. The price is CHF 40 per vignette. Payment is processed securely through the official government system.
After payment, a confirmation is sent to the email address provided. It is strongly recommended to enter an email address to retain your proof of purchase. The confirmation also contains your purchase reference number.
No further steps are required. Your plate is now registered in the system and valid for motorway use throughout Switzerland. Authorities verify compliance electronically — no physical document needs to be displayed in the vehicle.
Foreign-registered vehicles are fully subject to Swiss motorway vignette requirements. The good news is that both the physical sticker and the digital e-vignette are available for foreign plates, with several convenient purchase points available inside and outside Switzerland.
The online e-vignette fully supports foreign license plates from EU, EEA, UK, and most international countries. During purchase on the official Via Portal, simply select your country of registration and enter the full plate number. Activation is immediate.
The adhesive sticker vignette is available at Swiss border customs posts, petrol stations near the border, and main post offices. These locations accept cash and card. No pre-booking is required — simply stop before entering the motorway network.
Many Swiss car rental companies pre-purchase vignettes for their entire fleet. Before buying separately, review your rental agreement or contact the rental company directly to confirm whether a vignette is already included — avoid paying twice.
The e-vignette can be purchased online days before entering Switzerland — ideal for travellers planning ahead. The vignette activates immediately upon purchase, so there is no need to stop at the border or customs point for a digital version.
If you entered an incorrect plate number during the online purchase, the official Via Portal allows one correction within 24 hours of the transaction. After that window closes, the purchase is final and non-transferable.
For vehicles from countries not available in the Via Portal's country selector, the physical sticker purchased at a Swiss border customs post is the alternative option. Border customs posts are equipped to handle all international plates.
Switzerland's national road network spans approximately 1,820 km of motorways and expressways. Understanding which roads require a vignette — and which key exceptions exist — helps you plan your route with confidence.
| Route | From — To | Vignette Required |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Geneva — Lausanne — Bern — Zurich — St. Gallen | Yes |
| A2 | Basel — Lucerne — Gotthard Tunnel — Lugano | Yes |
| A3 | Basel — Zurich — Chur | Yes |
| A9 | Lausanne — Sion — Brig (Simplon) | Yes |
| A13 | Chur — Bellinzona (San Bernardino Route) | Yes |
| A16 | Biel — Delémont — Basel | Yes |
| Great St. Bernard Tunnel | Martigny — Aosta (Italy) | Separate Toll |
| Mountain Pass Roads | Grimsel, Furka, Susten, Julier, Maloja... | No |
| Cantonal & Local Roads | All roads not part of the A-road network | No |
Answers to the most common questions travellers have about the Swiss motorway vignette, the e-vignette system, fines, and exemptions.
The following links connect to authoritative sources on Swiss road requirements, official purchase channels, and travel planning resources.
swissvignetteguide.site is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Swiss Confederation, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA), or any other Swiss government body. For the official e-vignette purchase portal, visit via.admin.ch.
While every effort is made to ensure that the information published on this website is accurate and current, we cannot guarantee its completeness or applicability at any given time. Road tax regulations, pricing, validity periods, and purchase procedures may be updated by Swiss authorities without prior notice. Always verify current details through official Swiss government sources before making any travel or purchase decisions.
This website does not sell, process, or facilitate the purchase of Swiss motorway vignettes or any other road taxes. All purchase transactions must be made exclusively through the official Swiss government Via Portal at via.admin.ch or authorised physical retailers at border crossing points, petrol stations, and post offices.
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