Does my trailer or caravan need its own vignette?

Because the charge is payable for motor vehicles and trailers, i.e. for each vehicle in the combination (Art. 3 NSAG). What counts is the total weight of the trailer itself, not that of the whole combination.

Motor vehicles and trailers with a total weight of up to 3.5 t each require a vignette. The limit therefore applies to each vehicle separately. What counts is the total weight entered in the vehicle registration document; if there is no such entry, the operating weight including load applies. This is set out in section 3.3.1 of Regulation R 15-01 issued by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).

This applies to caravans as well as to other trailers up to 3.5 t, such as luggage or boat trailers, unless an exemption applies. The calculator above shows how many vignettes your combination needs.

Motorcycle trailers, motorcycle sidecars and rigid trailers do not need a vignette (Art. 4(1)(i) NSAG). Trailers over 3.5 t usually do not need one either, as they are subject to the heavy vehicle charge. The exception is work trailers over 3.5 t that are not subject to the heavy vehicle charge: they do require a vignette.

The motorcycle itself, however, needs a vignette.

They do not need a vignette but are subject to the heavy vehicle charge. If a light motor vehicle tows such a trailer, the lump-sum heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) is levied on the trailer load.

Unlike the vignette, the PSVA applies on the entire road network, not just on motorways. For vehicles registered abroad, it is paid via the FOCBS Via application, for 1 to 30 days, 1 to 11 months or a calendar year. The rates are shown in the Via portal; the minimum amount per payment is CHF 25 (FOCBS information sheet Form. 15.94).

Whether the towing vehicle itself needs a vignette in this case depends on the vehicle registration document: light motor vehicles which, according to the entry in their registration document, are authorised to tow a trailer subject to the heavy vehicle charge are exempt from the vignette (Art. 4(1)(k) NSAG). It is best to check your case with the FOCBS before you travel. Heavy motorhomes are covered in the guide Motorhome.

The e-vignette is registered to the trailer's number plate, separately from the towing vehicle's. The vignette sticker goes on the trailer itself.

E-vignettes exist for motor vehicles, trailers and motorcycles; each registration includes the vehicle category, country of registration and number plate. A combination therefore needs two registrations with two number plates.

The vignette sticker is affixed to an accessible part of the trailer that cannot easily be replaced. A trailer vignette stuck on the towing vehicle will result in a fine. If there is no suitable place on the trailer, the FOCBS tolerates the vignette being stuck on a copy of the vehicle registration document and carried in the vehicle (R 15-01, sections 6 and 11.1).

The FOCBS FAQ and Regulation R 15-01 say nothing about this. For trailers without their own number plate or with a repeater plate, the vignette sticker on the trailer is the safe option, or you can clarify the registration with the FOCBS in advance.

The e-vignette is tied to a number plate. If the trailer only carries the towing vehicle's number plate as a repeater plate, the FOCBS information does not make clear whether and how it can get its own e-vignette.

You can get information from the FOCBS information office, Monday to Friday on +41 58 467 15 15 or via the contact form on bazg.admin.ch.

Every vehicle in the combination that requires a vignette needs its own. If both the towing vehicle and the trailer are without one, the CHF 200 fine is charged twice.

The fine is fixed (Art. 14(1) NSAG), and the missing vignettes must also be bought on the spot. For a combination with no vignettes at all, the fines therefore come to CHF 400. More about checks in the guide Driving without a vignette.