Vehicle Classes

If you are planning to travel to Switzerland, the use of motorways and certain roads requires either the purchase of a vignette or the payment of a heavy vehicle charge. Which regulation applies to your vehicle depends primarily on its permissible gross weight. Below you will find an objective overview of whether a vignette is sufficient for your vehicle or whether a heavy vehicle charge must be taken into account.

Do you need a vignette?

In Switzerland, different toll regulations apply depending on the vehicle category. As a general rule, vehicles with a permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes require a vignette. Vehicles with a weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, on the other hand, are subject to the heavy vehicle charge. Please note that Switzerland currently offers only an annual vignette; other periods of validity are not available.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are subject to the vignette requirement in Switzerland. A valid vignette is therefore required to use the motorways.

Passenger cars

Passenger cars also require a vignette when travelling on toll roads in Switzerland, provided that the vehicle does not exceed a permissible gross weight of 3.5 tonnes. If the vehicle exceeds this weight limit, the vignette requirement does not apply and a heavy vehicle charge must be paid instead.

Combinations: passenger car (towing vehicle) with trailer

For combinations consisting of a passenger car and a trailer, the toll regulations depend on the respective weight of the trailer.

If the trailer does not exceed a permissible gross weight of 3.5 tonnes, separate vignettes are required for both the towing vehicle and the trailer. This also applies if the towing vehicle itself weighs more than 3.5 tonnes and is therefore subject to the heavy vehicle charge. If the trailer also exceeds the weight limit of 3.5 tonnes, a heavy vehicle charge must be paid for it as well.

Motorhomes

If you are travelling to Switzerland with a motorhome that has a permissible gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, the vignette requirement does not apply. In this case, a heavy vehicle charge must be paid instead.

Commercial vehicles over 3.5 t permissible gross weight, including trucks and motorhomes

All commercial vehicles with a permissible gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes are not subject to the vignette requirement. For these vehicles, payment of the heavy vehicle charge is mandatory.

What is the heavy vehicle charge?

For motor vehicles with a permissible gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, either the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) or the performance-based heavy vehicle charge (LSVA) applies in Switzerland. This charge must be paid at the border upon entry or in advance online via the Via portal. It is levied not only for driving on roads, but also when the vehicle is stationary, for example on campsites. Further information on the heavy vehicle charge can be found in our detailed guide.

Vehicle categories subject to the vignette requirement

With us, you can conveniently purchase your digital vignette from home and register it directly to your vehicle. Unlike the traditional adhesive vignette, there is no need to scrape it off the windscreen after your trip. The vignette requirement applies to the following vehicle categories:

• Motorcycles: vignette for motorcycles
• Motor vehicles: passenger cars, vans, articulated vehicles and work vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes permissible gross weight
• Trailers: trailers up to 3.5 tonnes permissible gross weight

Attention: special toll routes

Additional fees apply for the use of special toll routes in Switzerland. This means that even if you have a valid vignette or have already paid the heavy vehicle charge, you must pay extra for these routes. Additional charges apply, among others, for the Great St. Bernard Road Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy), the Munt la Schera Road Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy), as well as for certain Alpine passes.

The use of the Gotthard Tunnel as a crossing to Italy is included in the Swiss vignette, meaning that no additional fees are charged for this tunnel.

The Europamaut Team Wishes You a Pleasant Trip

We wish you a pleasant journey to Switzerland Republic and lots of enjoyment on your exploration tour through the country’s impressive landscapes. Please inform yourself in good time about the applicable toll regulations. In addition, our route planner is available to help you plan your trip optimally and display the relevant toll products. If you have any questions, we will of course be happy to assist you. You can contact us at any time by email.