Switzerland

Swiss Motorway Vignette — Complete Guide 2026

Everything about the Swiss e-vignette: what it is, what it costs, which roads require it, exemptions, penalties and how to register online.

What is the Swiss Motorway Vignette?

The Swiss motorway vignette (Autobahnvignette) is a mandatory toll system for using national roads in Switzerland. Every motor vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes must have a valid vignette when driving on Swiss motorways.

Since 2024, Switzerland has fully switched to the electronic vignette (e-vignette). The physical sticker has been completely abolished. Your vehicle's registration plate is now the only proof — stored in the Federal Customs Administration database.

The e-vignette costs the same as the former sticker: CHF 40 per year

Swiss Vignette Price 2026

Annual Vignette Only option available
Swiss government fee (BAZG) Check on via.admin.ch
Important: Switzerland only offers an annual vignette. There are no daily, weekly or monthly variants. If you drive even a single day on a Swiss motorway, you need the full annual vignette (CHF 40).

Validity Period

The 2026 Swiss annual vignette is available for purchase from 1 December 2025 and remains valid until 31 January 2027 — giving up to 14 months of motorway access.

Available from

1 December 2025

Valid until

31 January 2027 (14 months coverage)

Swiss Alpine Tunnels — Vignette or Extra Toll?

Switzerland has three major road tunnels through the Alps. The annual vignette covers some — but one requires a separate toll in addition to the vignette.

St. Gotthard Road Tunnel FREE with vignette
MotorwayA2 (E35)
Length16.9 km
RouteAirolo ↔ Göschenen

The St. Gotthard Road Tunnel is the main north-south artery through the Alps connecting Central Switzerland (Uri) with Ticino. Fully covered by the annual vignette — no additional toll.

San Bernardino Tunnel FREE with vignette
MotorwayA13 (E43)
Length6.6 km
RouteHinterrhein ↔ Mesocco

The San Bernardino Tunnel on the A13 is the main alternative to the Gotthard for reaching Ticino from the east. Fully covered by the annual vignette — no additional toll.

Great St. Bernard Tunnel EXTRA TOLL required
RoadE27 / A21
Length5.8 km
RouteBourg-St-Pierre ↔ Aosta

The Great St. Bernard Tunnel connects the Swiss canton of Valais with the Italian Aosta Valley. This tunnel requires a separate toll in addition to the Swiss vignette:

One-way: CHF 29 (~€32)
Return: CHF 46 (~€50)

The annual vignette is still required on the Swiss side of A21. The tunnel toll is separate and paid at the tunnel entrance.

Summary: Gotthard (A2) and San Bernardino (A13) — free with vignette. Great St. Bernard — vignette + separate tunnel toll required.

Which Roads Require a Vignette?

The vignette is required on all national roads (Nationalstrassen) in Switzerland, marked with green motorway signs.

Vignette required

  • All A-road motorways (A1–A26)
  • Green-signed expressways
  • National road bypasses
  • Lake tunnel roads (e.g. A2 through Gotthard)

Free — no vignette

  • Cantonal roads
  • Town and local streets
  • Non-motorway roads (yellow signs)
  • Mountain pass roads
  • Private roads

Note: Some mountain tunnels have separate toll fees (e.g. Great St. Bernard tunnel).

Vehicles Exempt from the Vignette

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Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes

Pay the LSVA heavy vehicle levy instead

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Emergency vehicles

Police, fire service, ambulances — exempt

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Military vehicles

Swiss Armed Forces

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Agricultural vehicles

Tractors, farm machinery

Note: Motorcycles and trailers are not exempt — each requires its own separate vignette.

Penalty for Missing Vignette

CHF 200 on-the-spot fine

Driving on Swiss national roads without a valid e-vignette results in an immediate fine of CHF 200.

Automated licence plate recognition cameras and mobile scanners are used. Enforcement is comprehensive.

How to Register via Vignette Register

1

Enter vehicle details

Registration plate (with country code), vehicle type and country of registration.

2

Confirm validity period

Annual vignette only. Select your desired start date.

3

Enter personal details

Your name and email address for registration confirmation.

4

Optionally add travel insurance

Protect your trip for €2.30/person/day.

5

Review and submit

Your vignette will be activated within minutes in the Swiss customs database.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Switzerland offers only an annual vignette (CHF 40). There are no short-term options for motorway use. If you enter Switzerland even for a single day on the motorway, you need the full annual vignette.

The current Swiss vignette is valid from the moment of purchase until 31 January 2027 at 23:59:59. This means every vignette registered now covers until 31.01.2027 regardless of when you register.

Yes. Motorcycles require a valid Swiss e-vignette to use national roads, the same as passenger cars. Trailers also require their own separate vignette — the vignette of the towing vehicle does not cover the trailer. Only vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are exempt (they pay the LSVA heavy vehicle fee instead).

Driving without a valid vignette on Swiss motorways results in an on-the-spot fine of CHF 200, plus you will be required to obtain a vignette immediately.

Your vehicle registration plate number is linked to the vignette in the official Swiss Customs database. Police can verify validity instantly by scanning your plate — no paper or sticker is required.

All national roads (Nationalstrassen / routes nationales) designated with the green motorway sign require a vignette. This includes all motorways (A-roads). City ring roads and cantonal roads generally do not require a vignette.

Yes. The Swiss vignette applies to all passenger vehicles up to 3.5t regardless of country of registration. You simply provide your foreign vehicle registration plate number during the registration process.

Purchase directly at the official BAZG portal: via.admin.ch. The official annual vignette costs CHF 40 (~€43.40). No registration is needed in advance — just visit the official site.