Driving in Switzerland

Driving to Switzerland? You'll need a motorway vignette before you use any Swiss motorway, a warning triangle kept inside the car, and snow chains wherever the signs tell you.

Checked on 17 October 2026 against GOV.UK and the RAC guides. Rules change, so check the official sources at the bottom before you travel.

What you must have

  • UK sticker on the rear if your number plate doesn't show the UK identifier
  • Motorway vignette (windscreen sticker, or the official e-vignette)
  • Warning triangle, kept inside the car rather than in the boot (RAC)
  • Headlamp beam deflectors or adjusted headlamps
  • Snow chains where road signs tell you to fit them

Worth packing

  • Spare glasses if you wear them (RAC)
  • Hi-vis vests (not compulsory, but useful at the roadside)
  • Winter tyres (recommended, not compulsory: RAC)
  • First aid kit

Documents

  • Your full UK driving licence (photocard). If you still have a paper licence, GOV.UK says you may need to update it to a photocard or get an international driving permit.
  • Your V5C logbook. If the car is hired or leased in the UK, you need a VE103 certificate instead.
  • Your motor insurance certificate. Check with your insurer that you're covered abroad.
  • Your passport.
  • UK sticker: you need one unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. An old GB sticker must be covered or removed (GOV.UK).

Clean-air zones and stickers

No low-emission sticker scheme for cars in the RAC guide or on GOV.UK.

Official sites:

Tolls and vignettes

You need a vignette to use Swiss motorways. Buy it at border crossings, petrol stations, post offices or online from the official Swiss government shop. No vignette: CHF 200+ fine and you must buy one (GOV.UK, RAC).

Winter rules

Winter tyres recommended, not compulsory. Snow chains compulsory where signed. Roads and mountain passes can close in snow, even in summer at altitude (RAC, GOV.UK).

Speed limits (cars)

Road Limit
Motorways 120 km/h
Outside built-up areas 80 km/h (100 km/h on some roads as signed)
Built-up areas 50 km/h

Signs always take priority over these general limits.

Drink-driving limit

The limit is 0.5 g/l of blood (0.05%), and 0.1 g/l for drivers with under 3 years' experience (RAC). The limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 0.8 g/l.

Fines to know about

  • No vignette: CHF 200+ plus buying one (RAC)
  • Speeding: from CHF 20 (under 5 km/h over on a motorway) up to CHF 3,000 (RAC)
  • Radar detectors illegal to carry; switch off sat-nav fixed-camera alerts (RAC)
  • Mobile phone CHF 100; red light CHF 250 (RAC)

Shop the kit

We don't currently stock UK stickers, headlamp beam deflectors, spare bulb kits or breathalysers. Ferry ports, Eurotunnel and most motoring shops sell them, so pick them up before you cross. Where signs require snow chains, check that snow socks are accepted on your route before relying on them.

See the full Driving abroad range. Clean-air stickers, vignettes and toll passes come only from the official sites linked above. We don't sell them.

FAQs

Do I need a Swiss motorway vignette?

Yes, to use any national motorway. You can buy one at the border, petrol stations, post offices, or online as an e-vignette from the official Swiss government shop.

Are winter tyres compulsory in Switzerland?

No, they're recommended. Snow chains are compulsory wherever road signs say so.

Where should I keep the warning triangle?

The RAC says inside the car, not in the boot, so you can reach it straight away.

Can I use speed camera alerts in Switzerland?

No. Radar detectors are illegal to carry, and you must switch off sat-nav alerts for fixed cameras.

Do I need spare glasses?

The RAC advises carrying a spare pair if you normally wear glasses or contact lenses.

Sources

Checked 17 October 2026:

This page is a general guide for UK-registered cars, not legal advice. Always check the official sources before you travel.