Vehicles Classes
If you are planning a trip to Switzerland, using motorways and certain roads requires either purchasing a vignette or paying a heavy vehicle charge. Which regulation applies to your vehicle depends in particular on the maximum permissible gross 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?
In Switzerland, different toll regulations apply depending on the vehicle category. As a general rule, vehicles with a maximum permissible gross 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 Switzerland only offers an annual vignette; 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
Passenger cars also require a vignette for travel on toll roads in Switzerland, provided the vehicle has a maximum permissible gross 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 consisting of a car and a trailer, the toll regulations are based on the respective weight of the trailer.
If the trailer's maximum permissible gross weight does not exceed 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 3.5-tonne weight limit, a heavy vehicle charge must also be paid for it.
Motorhomes
For motorhomes with a maximum 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 GVW: including lorries and motorhomes
All commercial vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes are not subject to the vignette requirement. A heavy vehicle charge is mandatory for these vehicles.
What is the heavy vehicle charge?
For motor vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, Switzerland levies either the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) or the distance-based heavy vehicle charge (LSVA). 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 is, for example, parked at a campsite. 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 have it registered directly to your vehicle. Unlike the traditional adhesive vignette, there is no need to remove it from the windscreen later. The vignette requirement covers the following vehicle categories:
Motorcycles: vignette for motorised two-wheelers
Motor vehicles: cars, vans, articulated lorries, and working vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross weight
Trailers: trailers up to 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross weight
Attention: special toll routes
Additional charges apply for certain special toll routes in Switzerland. These must be paid even if a valid vignette is already in place or a heavy vehicle charge has been paid. Additional costs apply, among others, for the Grand St. Bernard Road Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy), the Munt la Schera Road Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy), and selected Alpine passes.
Transit through the Gotthard Tunnel, however, is included in the Swiss vignette, so no separate charges apply for it.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey
We wish you a pleasant trip to Switzerland and hope you thoroughly enjoy your exploration of the country's impressive natural landscapes. Please make sure to inform yourself in good time about the applicable toll regulations. In addition, our route planner is available to help you plan your journey optimally and display the relevant toll products. If you have any questions, we are of course happy to assist. Feel free to contact us at any time by email.
