Since 1 August 2023, people wishing to acquire a Swiss motorway sticker can choose between the following two formats:
- self-adhesive sticker, to be attached directly to the vehicle’s windscreen, which can be purchased in one of the usual outlets (post offices, petrol stations and garages, cantonal vehicle registration offices);
- electronic sticker (e-sticker), which can be purchased on the “Via” portal of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières, OFDF) (https://via.admin.ch/shop/dashboard).
The main difference between these two formats is that the self-adhesive sticker is associated with the vehicle and the e-sticker with the registration plate. The latter solution is useful for people who live in Switzerland and possess interchangeable plates (the same registration plate for several vehicles) and for those who buy a new vehicle during the year, as the e-sticker will then be allocated to that registration number.
In the event of a change of registration number due to a move to a different canton, theft or loss, the electronic sticker can be transferred to the new registration plate using the Via portal or by filling out an online form.
Vehicles registered in France are not eligible for the transfer of the electronic motorway sticker because their registration number is unique and unmodifiable until the vehicle is destroyed or exported. Nonetheless, if you purchase an e-sticker, you will not have to purchase a new one if your vehicle’s windscreen is shattered.
Please note that the period of validity of the e-sticker is identical to that of the self-adhesive sticker, whatever the date of purchase (from 1 December of the previous year until 31 January of the following year). For example, the 2023 sticker is valid from 1 December 2022 until 31 January 2024, while the 2024 sticker, which can be purchased as of 1 December 2023, will be valid until 31 January 2025. The sticker costs 40 Swiss francs, whatever the format chosen.
Driving on a Swiss motorway or semi-motorway (« route nationale ») without a sticker is punishable by a fine of 200 Swiss francs plus an additional 40 Swiss francs for the sticker. In addition, it is forbidden to detach a motorway sticker from one vehicle and attach it to another, even if the vehicle belongs to the same owner or in the case of interchangeable plates.
Useful links:
- Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières (OFDF – Federal Office for Customs and Border Security)
- https://via.admin.ch/shop/dashboard
- https://www.ch.ch/fr/circulation-et-vehicules/comportement-dans-la-circulation-routiere/vignette-autoroutiere/#
Host State Relations service
Tel.: 75152