Vehicle classes in Switzerland

If you are planning a trip to Switzerland, using 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 in particular on the permissible total weight. Below you will find a factual overview of whether a vignette is sufficient for your vehicle or whether a heavy vehicle charge needs to be taken into account.

Do you need a vignette?

Switzerland has different toll regulations depending on the vehicle class. In principle, vehicles with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes require a vignette. Vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, on the other hand, are subject to the heavy vehicle charge. Please note that in Switzerland only an annual vignette is offered; shorter or longer validity periods are not available.

Motorcycles

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

Cars

Cars also require a vignette for journeys on toll roads in Switzerland, provided the vehicle has a permissible total weight of no more than 3.5 tonnes. If the vehicle exceeds this weight limit, the vignette requirement no longer applies and a heavy vehicle charge must be paid instead.

Combinations: car (towing vehicle) with trailer

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

If the trailer does not exceed a permissible total 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, however, the trailer also exceeds the weight limit of 3.5 tonnes, a heavy vehicle charge must also be paid for it.

Motorhomes

For motorhomes with a permissible total weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, the vignette requirement no longer applies. In this case, a heavy vehicle charge must be paid instead.

Commercial vehicles over 3.5 t permissible total weight: including trucks and motorhomes

All commercial vehicles with a permissible total weight of more than 3.5 tonnes are not subject to the vignette requirement. A heavy vehicle charge must be paid for these vehicles without exception.

What is the heavy vehicle charge?

For motor vehicles with a permissible total weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, either the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) or the performance-related heavy vehicle charge (LSVA) applies in Switzerland. The charge must be paid upon entry at the border or in advance online via the Via portal. It is levied regardless of whether the vehicle is actively participating in road traffic or, for example, parked at a campsite. Further information on the heavy vehicle charge can be found in our detailed guide.

Vehicle classes subject to the vignette requirement

With us, you can conveniently purchase your digital vignette from home and have it registered directly to your vehicle. Unlike the classic sticker vignette, there is no need to remove it from the windscreen afterwards. The vignette requirement covers the following vehicle classes:

• Motorcycles: vignette for motorcycles

• Motor vehicles: cars, vans, semi-trailer trucks, and work vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes permissible total weight

• Trailers: trailers up to 3.5 tonnes permissible total weight

Attention: special toll routes

Additional fees apply for certain special toll routes in Switzerland. These must be paid even if a valid vignette is already available or a heavy vehicle charge has been paid. Additional costs arise, among other things, for the Great St Bernard road tunnel (Switzerland–Italy), the Munt la Schera road tunnel (Switzerland–Italy), and for selected Alpine passes.

Passage through the Gotthard Tunnel, on the other hand, is included in the Swiss vignette, so no separate fees apply for this.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey

We wish you a pleasant trip to Switzerland and much enjoyment on your exploration tour through the country's impressive natural scenery. 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 corresponding toll products. If you have any questions, we will of course be happy to help. Feel free to contact us at any time by email.