Frequently asked questions about the Swiss vignette
Here you will find answers about the Swiss motorway vignette and our private registration service. They are based on the National Highways Charge Act, its ordinance and information from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). If your question is not covered, write to us via [support](/en/support/).
Vignette requirement and vehicles
Do I need a vignette for Switzerland?
Yes, if you use motorways or expressways. The requirement applies to all motor vehicles and trailers with a total weight of up to 3.5 t each, whether they are registered in Switzerland or abroad. You do not need a vignette on Class III national highways or any other roads. More: Driving without a vignette.
Do motorcycles need a vignette?
Yes, motorcycles need a vignette. We are not currently accepting orders for motorcycles. Motorcycle trailers and motorcycle sidecars do not need their own vignette.
Do I need a vignette for a caravan or trailer?
Yes. Trailers and caravans with a total weight of up to 3.5 t need their own vignette in addition to the towing vehicle's. If neither vehicle has a vignette, the fine is charged twice. Exemptions include motorcycle trailers and rigid trailers (Art. 4 NSAG). More: Vignette for trailers and caravans.
Do I need a vignette for a motorhome?
Motorhomes with a total weight of up to 3.5 t need the vignette. Motorhomes over 3.5 t pay the lump-sum heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) instead, which applies on all roads, not just motorways. If you bought a vignette by mistake for a motorhome over 3.5 t, the FOCBS will refund it. Details: Vignette and PSVA for motorhomes.
Do I need a vignette in a rental car?
Yes, on motorways and expressways you need one in a rental car too. Rental cars registered in Switzerland usually already have a vignette sticker, while cars hired abroad usually do not; ask your rental company. The e-vignette is tied to the number plate, which is often not known until you collect the car. More: Vignette in a rental car.
Roads, tunnels and transit
Do I need the vignette just to drive through?
Yes. Even a single journey on a motorway or expressway requires a vignette, including in transit. There is no vignette for a few days, only the annual vignette. The exceptions are the stretches between the border and the first exit at Basel-St. Louis, Rheinfelden and Kreuzlingen, if you leave the motorway there. More: Is there a short-term vignette?
Do I need a vignette for Liechtenstein?
Not for Liechtenstein itself: the country has no motorway and no roads that require a vignette. If you travel there on Swiss motorways, for example the A13, you do need the Swiss vignette.
Are tunnels included in the vignette?
The Gotthard road tunnel has no extra charge, and there is no general toll for mountain passes. The Great St Bernard Tunnel and the Munt la Schera Tunnel (access to Livigno) have their own charges. Car-carrying trains, for example at the Lötschberg, the Furka or the Vereina, are also paid for separately. More: Driving without a vignette.
Validity, checks and fines
How long is the vignette valid?
14 months, from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year. The 2026 vignette is valid until 31 January 2027, the 2027 vignette from 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2028. It does not renew automatically. More: Validity of the 2026 and 2027 vignettes.
When is the 2027 vignette available?
The 2027 vignette goes on sale on 1 December 2026 and is valid until 31 January 2028. So if you buy from 1 December, you get the full 14 months. Before that date, only the 2026 vignette is available, and it expires on 31 January 2027.
Do I need to take the confirmation with me?
No. What is checked is the entry for your number plate in the FOCBS system; you do not need to carry a sticker or any proof of purchase. Keep the emails anyway, for example in case of questions.
What does driving without a vignette cost?
The fine is a fixed CHF 200 (Art. 14 NSAG), and you must also buy the vignette on the spot. If neither vehicle in a combination has a vignette, the fine is charged twice. Random checks are carried out by the cantonal police and the FOCBS. If you are not resident in Switzerland and dispute the fine or do not pay it, you must pay a deposit of the amount or provide security.
E-vignette and number plates
What is the difference between the e-vignette and the vignette sticker?
Both are valid for the same period. The sticker goes on the windscreen and is only valid for that vehicle. The e-vignette is tied to the number plate and remains valid after a change of vehicle, as long as the number plate stays the same.
Can I change the number plate?
Yes, but only if the vehicle and keeper stay the same, for example after moving house or if the plates are lost. You need to submit a request with the old and new vehicle registration documents; the e-vignette only applies to the new number plate once the FOCBS has confirmed the change. The legal basis is Art. 5 NSAV. A change is not possible in connection with setting up or taking over a company, and there is no transfer for a new vehicle with a new number plate. More: Changing your number plate.
What if I made a typo in the number plate?
Contact our support team straight away and give your order number. An input error can only be corrected once, and for foreign number plates only within 24 hours of registration. Hyphens and spaces do not matter.
Is one e-vignette valid for interchangeable number plates?
With Swiss interchangeable plates, one e-vignette per plate covers all vehicles lawfully registered with that plate (Art. 7a(2) NSAG). German interchangeable plates (Wechselkennzeichen) result in two different complete registration numbers; whether one e-vignette covers both has not been confirmed. Check this with the FOCBS before you buy.
Ordering and payment
How can I pay?
You pay via PayPal, either with your PayPal account or by credit card without a PayPal account.
Can I pay in euros?
Yes. At checkout, you choose Swiss francs or euros.
Will I receive the vignette by post?
No. The e-vignette is not a sticker but an entry for your number plate in the FOCBS system. It is valid from registration, not only once something has arrived by post. You receive the confirmations by email.
How long does registration take?
Registration runs automatically right after your payment. You receive two emails: first the order confirmation, then straight after it the registration confirmation. If the second one does not arrive, write to us at [email protected] with your order number.
When can I start driving after buying?
Immediately. Your number plate is registered automatically right after payment, and the registration confirmation follows straight after by email. If you chose a later start date, the vignette is valid from that day. The number plate must be registered before you use a motorway or expressway for the first time.
Can I get my money back if I do not need the vignette?
As a rule, the FOCBS does not refund the vignette charge. The exceptions are a proven duplicate purchase, vignettes bought by mistake for a vehicle that does not need one (such as a motorhome over 3.5 t) and, for foreign vehicles, the replacement of a vignette sticker after a broken windscreen. If one of these applies to you, contact our support team with your order number.