Driving in Switzerland - requirements...
Discussion
You will need a Vignette, 40 chf for the year. Have a look here for links to buy online, although you can buy at Swiss tolls when entering the country. 200 chf fine if you don't have one 
https://www.ch.ch/en/travel-and-emigrate/holidays-...
https://www.ch.ch/en/travel-and-emigrate/holidays-...
Always carry..
Full, valid UK (EU) driving licence
Proof of ID (passport, EU ID card)
Motor insurance certificate
V5 registration document
Vignette (as above) for Motorways
Advisable to have Breakdown cover (we had a loose wheel fixed at Bellinzona services)!
& what ever you do, DO NOT SPEED!
Full, valid UK (EU) driving licence
Proof of ID (passport, EU ID card)
Motor insurance certificate
V5 registration document
Vignette (as above) for Motorways
Advisable to have Breakdown cover (we had a loose wheel fixed at Bellinzona services)!
& what ever you do, DO NOT SPEED!
Use waze for camera warnings so you know what they look like and be aware of varying speed limits in built up areas. E.g some 50Kph zones become 30 after 10pm.
Pedestrians have right of way at every crossing other than those with traffic lights and absolutely will not look to check before stepping into the road.
If traveling on any of the routes leading to/from the border passes, especially late at night, you might encounter a police stop on foreign plates. Had this a couple of times now, always friendly.
Pedestrians have right of way at every crossing other than those with traffic lights and absolutely will not look to check before stepping into the road.
If traveling on any of the routes leading to/from the border passes, especially late at night, you might encounter a police stop on foreign plates. Had this a couple of times now, always friendly.
There is no legal requirement for winter tyres (there is for you to have chains on certain a roads which are marked). However, if you cause an accident in bad weather or block the road you can be fined. Hire cars always have snow tyres in Switzerland because of this….if you hire a car from the French side of Geneva airport it will have normal tyres but the Swiss side always have winters. I know as I found out the hard way once…..
I’ve driven a lot there, it is generally a lovely place to drive with some awesome roads but they have become proper zealots in some places on speeding. Some of the Autoroutes are littered with cameras (often plain grey boxes so easy to miss). I was there with some friends in June driving the passes and we saw only once police car all week and no cameras on the roads we went there to drive.
I’d keep an eye out on the weather if you’re going and don’t have winter tyres personally.
I’ve driven a lot there, it is generally a lovely place to drive with some awesome roads but they have become proper zealots in some places on speeding. Some of the Autoroutes are littered with cameras (often plain grey boxes so easy to miss). I was there with some friends in June driving the passes and we saw only once police car all week and no cameras on the roads we went there to drive.
I’d keep an eye out on the weather if you’re going and don’t have winter tyres personally.
I’ve also been caught out by hiring a ‘cheap’ car from the French side, the upgrade to one fitted with winters was quite a sting in the wallet.
I believe the wording in CH is that winters aren’t mandatory but your vehicle must be roadworthy for the conditions. Hence in addition to the above you can be fined if stopped when the temps have dropped.
All season tyres are allowable though and snow socks are cheap and widely available.
French rules for winters have kicked in already but vary by department, so check those if you plan to stay / drive through anywhere mountainous on the way.
One more note on cameras, away from the motorways and town centres I don’t really see that many. Friend lives in Lausanne and I visit as often as I can, some really wonderful scenic roads with not much traffic to bimble about on. Depending where you plan to go and in what timeframe, consider setting your nav to avoid the highways, the scenery can be simply stunning.
I believe the wording in CH is that winters aren’t mandatory but your vehicle must be roadworthy for the conditions. Hence in addition to the above you can be fined if stopped when the temps have dropped.
All season tyres are allowable though and snow socks are cheap and widely available.
French rules for winters have kicked in already but vary by department, so check those if you plan to stay / drive through anywhere mountainous on the way.
One more note on cameras, away from the motorways and town centres I don’t really see that many. Friend lives in Lausanne and I visit as often as I can, some really wonderful scenic roads with not much traffic to bimble about on. Depending where you plan to go and in what timeframe, consider setting your nav to avoid the highways, the scenery can be simply stunning.
My wife’s sister married a Swiss Customs guard and has lived in Switzerland near the Rheinfalls since the mid seventies. We’ve been on driving holidays and trips for family events there regularly since 1978. I’ve never found the police to be over zealous but it’s common sense to drive sensibly and don’t speed, particularly on the motorways. The Swiss seem to have a reputation for being boring and efficient and not interested in cars but whenever we’ve been over in a Lotus people have often wanted to have a chat.
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