The vignette for Switzerland in 2026 costs 40 CHF and is obligatory on Swiss motorways and expressways for cars, motorcycles, and trailers up to 3.5 t. It is available as a sticker or an e-vignette; the absence of a valid vignette means a fine of 200 CHF plus the purchase of a vignette, totaling 240 CHF.
Converted to Polish zloty, 40 CHF is approximately 186.84 PLN according to the exchange rate from 09.07.2026, but the price at Polish points of sale may be higher. If you are not driving your own car, check the rules for traveling abroad before booking; for a short trip, a practical starting point is short-term car rental, and plan the vignette for a specific license plate number.
What does the obligation to have a vignette in Switzerland mean?
The vignette is not a fee for entering the country itself. It is only required when you use the toll road network: primarily motorways and expressways. Official information on the rules is published by the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) and the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG).
For a driver from Poland, the three most important consequences are:
- one vignette covers only one vehicle or one trailer,
- in Switzerland, there is no one-day, weekly, or 10-day vignette,
- driving without a vignette on a toll section can cost a total of 240 CHF.
If you are using a rental car, check the consent for travel outside Poland, vehicle documents, and the license plate number before purchasing an e-vignette. We described this in more detail in our guide: car rental for holidays abroad. For longer routes from Poland, also calculate vignettes and tolls in transit countries - good car journey planning reduces the risk of costly mistakes.
E-vignette for Switzerland or traditional sticker?
Since August 1, 2023, the e-vignette has been operational in Switzerland. It has the same price and the same validity period as the sticker, but it is assigned to the license plate number, not to the vehicle's windshield.
| Feature | E-vignette Switzerland | Sticker vignette |
|---|---|---|
| Official price | 40 CHF | 40 CHF |
| Form | electronic record by license plate number | sticker on the vehicle |
| When it works | after purchase, no shipping | after proper adhesion |
| Good for | people buying online before departure | people buying at the border or at a station |
| Risk of error | typo in the license plate number | wrong place of adhesion or detachment |
| Transfer | not to another license plate number | not after adhesion |
For an e-vignette, enter the country of registration and license plate number exactly as they appear in the documents. After finalizing the purchase, do not assume the possibility of correcting the license plate number - an error usually means having to buy a new vignette. An exception may be a documented double purchase of the same e-vignette.
The sticker is affixed to the inside of the front windshield: near the left edge or behind the rearview mirror, so that it is visible for inspection and does not obstruct the field of view. Do not attach it with tape, film, or "temporarily". On a motorcycle or trailer, place it on a non-replaceable, easily accessible element.
Vignette for Switzerland - price 2026 in CHF and PLN
The official price of the Swiss vignette in 2026 is 40 CHF. There is no cheaper short-term version. Price differences seen in Poland usually result from exchange rates, commissions, service costs, or intermediary margins.
| Where you buy | What you get | Price in CHF | Approximate in PLN | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official online system | e-vignette | 40 CHF | approx. 186.84 PLN | conversion according to the exchange rate from 09.07.2026 |
| Border, petrol station, post office | sticker | 40 CHF | depending on the exchange rate and payment currency | when paying in EUR/PLN, the rate may be less favorable |
| PZM Travel in Poland | usually sticker | not always settled directly in CHF | e.g., 224 PLN | example price from 07.04.2026 |
| Online intermediary | most often e-vignette | 40 CHF + service fee | depending on commission | check the final price before payment |
For a passenger car + trailer set, you need two vignettes. In 2026, this means 80 CHF, which is approximately 373.68 PLN according to the exchange rate from 09.07.2026.
Where to buy a vignette for Switzerland: online and stationary?
The safest way to buy vignettes for Switzerland online is through the official Swiss e-vignette system, which can be accessed via federal administration websites, including FEDRO or BAZG. This is the simplest way to avoid intermediary service fees and problems with sticker shipping.
You can usually buy a vignette offline:
- at border crossings and customs points,
- at petrol stations near the border and in Switzerland,
- at selected post offices,
- at PZM Travel offices in Poland,
- from some tourist intermediaries.
When purchasing online, prepare the license plate number, country of vehicle registration, vehicle category, and vignette year. You cannot buy a vignette with a retrospective date - if you enter a toll road before purchasing, a later payment will not "fix" the journey.
Switzerland belongs to the Schengen area but is not part of the European Union, so customs controls at the border can still occur. Do not put off purchasing until the last minute, especially during the ski and holiday seasons.
Vehicles and validity period: when is one vignette needed, and when are two?
The Swiss vignette applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW, motorcycles, and trailers. Each element of the set requiring a vignette must have its own toll paid.
| Vehicle or set | How many vignettes are needed? | Cost in 2026 | Practical notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger car up to 3.5 t | 1 | 40 CHF | e-vignette assigned to the license plate or sticker on the windshield |
| Motorcycle | 1 | 40 CHF | sticker on a fixed, accessible element |
| Car + trailer | 2 | 80 CHF | separate vignette for the car and separate for the trailer |
| Camper up to 3.5 t | 1 | 40 CHF | the same rules apply as for a passenger car |
| Vehicle over 3.5 t | not a standard vignette | LSVA or PSVA | fees depend on vehicle category and usage |
The 2026 vignette is valid for a maximum of 14 months: from December 1, 2025, to January 31, 2027. If you buy it in July 2026, you will not get a new 14-month period - it still ends on January 31, 2027.
A longer stay abroad requires attention not only to the vignette but also to documents, authorizations, and the scope of vehicle use. For trips counted in months, a sensible organizational solution might be long-term car rental, with road tolls and rules for traveling abroad to be determined separately for each specific contract.
On which roads in Switzerland is a vignette mandatory?
The vignette is mandatory on Swiss national roads covered by the toll system, primarily motorways and expressways. In Polish descriptions, you will encounter the terms "drogi ekspresowe" and "drogi szybkiego ruchu" (expressways and fast roads); for a driver, the practical meaning is whether a given section belongs to the network designated as requiring a vignette.
To check the route, use official maps, e.g., swisstopo, and set your navigation to avoid toll roads if you want to drive without a vignette. However, such a route can be significantly slower, and in the Alps, it may depend on the seasonal availability of passes.
If you are traveling from Poland via the Czech Republic, separately check if a vignette for the Czech Republic will be needed along the way. The Swiss vignette does not replace vignettes or tolls in transit countries.
Additional fees beyond the vignette: tunnels and car train transport
The Swiss vignette does not cover all costs of crossing the Alps. Some tunnels and car train transports are paid separately, even if you have a valid vignette.
| Section or service | What it covers | Is a vignette enough? | What to check before departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munt la Schera Tunnel | passage in the Livigno region | no | price list, operating hours, shuttle traffic rules |
| Great St Bernard Tunnel | connection between Switzerland and Italy | no | vehicle categories and current tariff |
| Lötschberg, Simplon, Furka | car train transport through Alpine sections | no | timetable, ticket price, vehicle height limit |
Current tariffs for the Munt la Schera Tunnel can be checked on the official Livigno website, and for the Great St Bernard Tunnel on the operator's website letunnel.com. Prices for such sections depend on the vehicle category, direction, season, or ticket type, so do not add them "by eye" to the 40 CHF for the vignette.
Penalties for lack of vignette and errors that most often cost money
For the lack of a valid vignette on a road subject to the obligation, a fine of 200 CHF is imposed, plus the necessity to purchase a vignette for 40 CHF. This totals 240 CHF, which is approximately 1121.04 PLN according to the exchange rate from 09.07.2026.
The most common driver errors:
- purchasing an e-vignette for the wrong license plate number,
- confusing the country of registration,
- lack of a separate vignette for the trailer,
- detaching and re-using a sticker,
- affixing the sticker in a place not visible for inspection,
- assuming the vignette works retrospectively after a delayed purchase,
- buying from an intermediary without checking the final price.
After purchasing an e-vignette, keep the payment confirmation. In the official system, the status can be checked by license plate number if public visibility of data was chosen during purchase. If the status is not public, official control still works by license plate.
Road regulations that matter after crossing the border
Switzerland strictly enforces speed limits. For significant excesses, the matter may go beyond a simple fine and lead to further proceedings.
| Driving location | Standard speed limit |
|---|---|
| Built-up area | 50 km/h |
| Unbuilt-up area | 80 km/h |
| Expressways | 100 km/h |
| Motorways | 120 km/h |
A warning triangle should be in the car, easily accessible in case of a breakdown. In a car-trailer combination, ensure a separate triangle for each vehicle in the set. Also, adhere to seat belt regulations, rules for transporting children, and using a phone only in a manner consistent with regulations.
If your trip covers several countries, do not automatically transfer rules from Switzerland to other countries - for example, road tolls in the Netherlands look different. For a route through the Alps, also check assistance, deductible, and scope of coverage; a helpful point of reference is full car insurance.
FAQ - Switzerland vignettes 2026
How to pay for a Swiss vignette?
Online, you pay for an e-vignette in the Swiss administration system, providing the license plate number and country of registration. Offline, you pay at a point of sale, e.g., at the border, a petrol station, post office, or an intermediary's office.
Can I buy a vignette for 1 day or 10 days in Switzerland?
No. Switzerland has one annual vignette. In 2026, it costs 40 CHF, regardless of whether you are traveling in transit, for a weekend, or for a longer stay.
Do I need a separate Swiss vignette for a trailer?
Yes. If a car is towing a trailer, you need two vignettes: one for the car and one for the trailer. In 2026, the cost for such a set is 80 CHF.
Can I change the license plate number or the validity period of an e-vignette after purchase?
After purchase, do not plan to edit the license plate number or the validity period. An error in the license plate number usually means having to buy a new vignette. An exception may be a documented double purchase of the same e-vignette.
How to check if the e-vignette works after purchase?
Keep the purchase confirmation and check the status in the official system by license plate number, if public visibility of data was chosen during purchase. For a rented vehicle, ensure that the license plate number on the confirmation matches the car you are actually driving.
From what vehicle weight is a regular vignette not applicable?
A regular vignette applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW. Vehicles over 3.5 t are subject to other toll systems, such as LSVA or PSVA, depending on the type of vehicle and usage.
Does an electric car need a vignette for Switzerland?
Yes. The type of propulsion does not exempt from the obligation. An electric car up to 3.5 t must have a valid vignette on toll roads, just like a petrol or hybrid car.
Who is exempt from the vignette requirement?
A regular tourist driver, motorcycle, passenger car, camper up to 3.5 t, and trailer are not exempt. Exemptions apply to specific categories of vehicles defined in Swiss regulations, so they should not be assumed for a private trip.
Does the vignette transfer to another car?
Once affixed, the sticker is not transferable. The e-vignette is assigned to the license plate number, so a new payment is needed for a different license plate number.
The simplest scenario before a trip to Switzerland
The least risky option is to purchase an e-vignette in the official system only when you know the exact license plate number of the vehicle. Save the confirmation, check the trailer as a separate element of the set, factor in any tunnels, and do not assume that the vignette covers all Alpine sections.
If you travel to Switzerland more than once a year and need a car for a variable period, an flexible car subscription might be an organizational solution. Road tolls, vignettes, and permissions for travel abroad should still be planned separately for each specific route and vehicle.