Vehicle classes in Switzerland
If you are planning a trip to Switzerland, you will need either to purchase a vignette or pay a heavy vehicle charge in order to use motorways and certain roads. Which regulation applies to your vehicle depends in particular on the 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 must be taken into account.
Do you need a vignette?
Different toll regulations apply in Switzerland depending on the vehicle class. In general, vehicles with a 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. It should be noted that only an annual vignette is available in Switzerland; shorter or longer validity periods are not offered.
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 journeys on toll roads in Switzerland, provided the vehicle has a 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 depend on the respective weight of the trailer.
If the trailer's permissible gross weight does not exceed 3.5 tonnes, separate vignettes are required for both the towing vehicle and the trailer. This applies even if the towing vehicle itself weighs more than 3.5 tonnes and is therefore subject to the heavy vehicle charge. If, on the other hand, the trailer also exceeds the weight limit of 3.5 tonnes, a heavy vehicle charge must be paid for it as well.
An exception applies to trailers towed by a motorcycle – these are exempt from the vignette requirement.
Motorhomes
For motorhomes with a permissible gross 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 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. A heavy vehicle charge is mandatory for these vehicles.
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-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 traditional 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 gross weight
Trailers: Trailers up to 3.5 tonnes permissible gross weight
Please note: special toll routes
Additional fees apply for certain special toll routes in Switzerland. These must be paid even if a valid vignette is already held or a heavy vehicle charge has already 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), as well as 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 journey to Switzerland and hope you enjoy your exploration tour through 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 will of course be happy to help. Feel free to contact us at any time by email.
