Driving in Switzerland

Lynne Roy

Lynne Roy

Joined
Sep 19, 2016
Posts
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Llyn Peninsula
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45,203
MH
Dethleffs Globebus t7
Exp
Four years
I have read that you need to buy a ticket to go on National roads and motorways, is it possible to avoid these roads or is it best to buy one , advice needed please
 
Straight from the horse's mouth🇨🇭🐎😷

www.ch.ch

Motorway vignette

In Switzerland, your car must have a special vignette (sticker or e-vignette) if you want to use certain roads. It costs CHF 40. The 2024 vignette is valid from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2025.
www.ch.ch www.ch.ch
 
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There are different systems depending on if you are below or over 3.5t. You don't need to comply under 3.5t as we were and we crossed Switzerland avoiding motorways but I don't recommend this approach. Very twisty and some narrow roads. On the upside the Swiss roads are in good condition, you will find roadworks everywhere :)

Above 3.5t I don't think you have any choice but I may be wrong. :)
 
Thank you we are just under 3.5 ton. Maybe wise to buy one anyway thank you 🙏
 
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If you enter at a motorway border you can buy one there. In my experience at busy times customs officers sell them without you needing to get out of the van. Otherwise you go into the office to buy one.

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Where will you be crossing into Switzerland?

If you are under 3.5t MGW you need what is called a Vignette to stick on your windscreen. We crossed from France at Basle on the motorway. Very easy as there will be border guards who will be checking to see if you have a vignette. If you do not they will show you where the kiosks are where you buy one. They accept credit cards, Euros or Swiss Francs
 
Stick to the speed limit!
We got pulled just off the motorway. Officer Moritz (The b’dard!) jumped out of a hedge to stop us and yes, he was in a hedge with his speed gun! And massive fine later, we were allowed to go on our way. 😭🤬
 
Lynne Roy said:
Thank you we are just under 3.5 ton. Maybe wise to buy one anyway thank you 🙏
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The over 3.5 tonne one is in a good cheap option for italy croatia etcr. You buy any 10 days in a year, you have a self declaration form where you note which days you are in Switzerland so if you are traveling out and back within a year . Switzerland is a lovely country but its eyewateringly expensive. Buy all you nee d before you enter
 
jongood said:
The over 3.5 tonne one is in a good cheap option for italy croatia etcr. You buy any 10 days in a year, you have a self declaration form where you note which days you are in Switzerland so if you are traveling out and back within a year . Switzerland is a lovely country but its eyewateringly expensive. Buy all you nee d before you enter
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For over 3.5 tonne there is an app called Via for your smartphone. In English. Very simple to pay the PSVA ( Pauschale Schwerverkehrsabgabe für ausländische Fahrzeuge) (Heavy Foreign Vehicle Tax).
10 day period = 25.00CHF
10 individual days nominated by driver = 32.50CHF
1 month = 58.50CHF
Annual = 650CHF
As jongood says the 10 nominated days option is the most flexible.

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Lynne Roy said:
Thank you we are just under 3.5 ton. Maybe wise to buy one anyway thank you 🙏
Click to expand...

Get the vignette, off of the motorways the roads are generally tedious and slow.
 
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Although the OP's MH is under 3.5t the thread has expanded into the over 3.5t category.

Just to clarify some points on the requirements for that.

It is required for use on any roads not just motorways.

A day inside witzerland counts to the total authorised, whether the vehicle is moving or not.

The days it covers do not have to be selected in advance - one just enters the date for any day one is in SW

As said the vignette for under 3.5t is quite good value as one could drive around SW m/ways all year for the price.

The over 3.5t for 10 days can be good value if one is transitting out and back as it can be used up to one year.

The people who really miss out are MHs over 3.5t who want to use a campsite for a fortnight and have to pay for every stationary day. The authorities probably thought that it was reasonable that any commercial vehicle if inside SW would be on the move every day to earn its keep, but took no account of private vehicles over 3.5t.

My other observation is that neither system takes account of kilometres covered and therefore cannot be justified on wear and tear caused to the road system.. So although it appears to be a 'permit' to drive, it is really just a tax.

Geoff
 
Chrisvh said:
For over 3.5 tonne there is an app called Via for your smartphone. In English. Very simple to pay the PSVA ( Pauschale Schwerverkehrsabgabe für ausländische Fahrzeuge) (Heavy Foreign Vehicle Tax).
10 day period = 25.00CHF
10 individual days nominated by driver = 32.50CHF
1 month = 58.50CHF
Annual = 650CHF
As jongood says the 10 nominated days option is the most flexible.
Click to expand...

not easy to find so here is a link

Via – Pay lump-sum heavy vehicle charge (PSVA) online

www.ezv.admin.ch www.ezv.admin.ch
 
Lynne Roy said:
I have read that you need to buy a ticket to go on National roads and motorways, is it possible to avoid these roads or is it best to buy one , advice needed please
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I wouldn’t risk trying to avoid motorways in Switzerland- just pay for the 40 euros- you can buy online through the Swiss Via App. Trailers need one too and if you’re over 3.5tons you need an HGV one which is charged on a daily rate ( you don’t need the sticker with the HGV one you keep the ticket in an App on your phone. There can be long queues at the border so buy beforehand. ( you can also buy at motorway petrol stations on way to Switzerland)

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It's difficult to avoid non ticket roads. You are on one as you enter most crossings. CHF 40 is not a bad price really. It lasts 12 months. If you are really careful you could remove it and sell it on but they are difficult to remove.
 
We drive to Switzerland frequently with either car or MO and if you want to go anywhere on a motorway a vingnette is essential or get a fine. As already mentioned the cost is chf40 but it lasts until the end of the year you bought it plus one months grace to buy another if required, ie the following January. Vingettes are available at post offices and garages. If you enter the country via a motorway you will not be allowed in without buying one. I enter over the Jura mountains and drop down to lake Geneva for an easy and free entry.
Have a good trip.
 
Thanks everyone we will spend the money. I flew to Basle for Christmas markets with my daughter and grandsons and fancy a trip in the Motorhome
 
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Lynne Roy said:
Thanks everyone we will spend the money. I flew to Basle for Christmas markets with my daughter and grandsons and fancy a trip in the Motorhome
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Go for it. Switzerland is a stunning place. 👌

332.jpg
PA121512.jpg
 
SpeedyDux said:
The vignette must be one of the cheapest things you can buy in Switzerland! :whistle2:
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yup it's cheap because you didn't pay the road tax here :oops:

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If buying at the boarder go into the office to pay, because if you pay cash to one of the guys standing there you will get change in Swiss Francs which is a pain if you are just passing through.
 
nicholsong said:
Although the OP's MH is under 3.5t the thread has expanded into the over 3.5t category.

Just to clarify some points on the requirements for that.

It is required for use on any roads not just motorways.

A day inside witzerland counts to the total authorised, whether the vehicle is moving or not.

The days it covers do not have to be selected in advance - one just enters the date for any day one is in SW

As said the vignette for under 3.5t is quite good value as one could drive around SW m/ways all year for the price.

The over 3.5t for 10 days can be good value if one is transitting out and back as it can be used up to one year.

The people who really miss out are MHs over 3.5t who want to use a campsite for a fortnight and have to pay for every stationary day. The authorities probably thought that it was reasonable that any commercial vehicle if inside SW would be on the move every day to earn its keep, but took no account of private vehicles over 3.5t.

My other observation is that neither system takes account of kilometres covered and therefore cannot be justified on wear and tear caused to the road system.. So although it appears to be a 'permit' to drive, it is really just a tax.

Geoff
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good point Geoff but if you're going to spend a fortnight there the cost of the vignette is the least of your worries. I remember buying 2 coffees at a market stall for £10 !!
 
It’s worth stocking up the van with food before you go as Swiss supermarkets are expensive. Though Aldi and Lidl can be found in some towns.
 
Robert Clark said:
It’s worth stocking up the van with food before you go as Swiss supermarkets are expensive. Though Aldi and Lidl can be found in some towns.
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He's dead right, fill your van before entering but keep in mind the 1kg cap on meat before taxes although the chances of getting caught is very low.
 
Ridgeway said:
He's dead right, fill your van before entering but keep in mind the 1kg cap on meat before taxes although the chances of getting caught is very low.
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I think they’re on the look out for Swiss shopping elsewhere and bringing stuff back

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When my son and his family shop at a French hyper market then go home to Switzerland, they aim to get an unmanned customs crossing. If stopped the rule seems to be you can bring as much food back that is a reasonable amount to feed the number of occupants in the car. Bulk shopping is classified as excessive and it will be taxed. Over the years we always fill up with both food and fuel before entering with the MO knowing that the border crossing we use is either unmanned or we just get waved through. Hopefully I haven’t spoken too soon as we’re back out there next month :rolleyes:
 
Robert Clark said:
I think they’re on the look out for Swiss shopping elsewhere and bringing stuff back
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yes but the same rules apply unless you can prove you are going to consume it outside of CH.

But as Notts Archer said in general you'll be fine, meat is one of the things they look for as the limit is only 1kg before taxes apply. We usually risk it when we're on the way back from the UK as we often buy several pieces at Asda or the likes otherwise we can't afford beef here, it's off the menu:(
 
nicholsong said:
I know SW is not EU but I thought they were signed up with EU for free trade of goods.

Geoff
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Yes but the importation of food products is strongly protected, as mentioned especially meats. In theory most of the meat you find in a CH supermarket will be high cost CH produced, there are a few exceptions but that only makes up a small percentage. This is what keeps the meat prices high, especially beef (Rib eye was about £120 and Entrecôte £140 p/kg at the weekend in COOP)
 
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