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 its 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 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 to travel on toll roads in Switzerland, provided that 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 consisting of a car and a trailer, the toll regulations depend on the 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, 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 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, Switzerland applies either the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) or the performance-related heavy vehicle charge (LSVA). The PSVA is paid online before entry via Via, the portal of the FOCBS; the LSVA is recorded via an on-board unit (NETS/EETS) or by registering in Via. It is levied regardless of whether the vehicle is actively being driven on the road or is, 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 later remove it from the windscreen. The vignette requirement covers the following vehicle classes:
Motorcycles: vignette for motorcycles
Motor vehicles: cars, vans, semi-trailer trucks and working vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes permissible total weight
Trailers: trailers up to 3.5 tonnes permissible total 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), and for car shuttle trains (e.g. Lötschberg, Furka, Vereina, Simplon).
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 great enjoyment on your exploration of 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 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.
