Driving rules, and the ones that bite.
- Drive onRight
- Motorway limit120 km/h
- Drink drive0.5 g/L · about 1 pint or 1 small wine
- Emergency112
Switzerland drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is 120 km/h. The emergency number is 112.
Traffic police strictly enforce rules on alcohol intake; serious breaches can result in heavy fines or imprisonment.
Driving tips
- Roads outside towns are often narrow and winding. Conditions can change fast in wet weather or snow, so slow down early and give yourself plenty of room.
- Orange emergency phones are dotted along Swiss motorways. Use them if you need help after a breakdown or accident.
- In Ticino and St Gallen, it is illegal to cover your face in public, including with balaclavas or full veils.
- Observe bans on open fires; causing a forest fire is illegal and carries fines up to 20,000 Swiss francs.
- Always check weather and avalanche risks before traveling to mountainous areas.
Worth knowing before you go.
Swiss speed cameras are everywhere and the fines are steep. Even 1 km/h over the limit in a built-up area will cost you. At 25 km/h over, you are looking at a court appearance. Stick to the limits and mean it.
The toll system, and the city emissions rules.
- TollsMixed
- VignetteRequired
- Emission zoneYes · Stick'AIR (Geneva, temporary pollution episodes)
You need a vignette for any Swiss motorway, full stop. Buy it online before you set off and you'll skip the queue at the border.
The e-vignette is linked to your number plate from 2023. You can also buy a physical sticker at the border, petrol stations, or post offices. Either way, do not drive on a Swiss motorway without one, the fine is CHF 200 plus the cost of the vignette.
Low emission zones
Switzerland has no low emission zones for motorhomes.
Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.
What to carry, and what to bring.
- Required kit4 items
- Over 3,500 kgspeed stickers, blind-spot stickers
- Documents6 items
Switzerland requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.
- Reflective jacket.
- Warning triangle.
- Winter tyres. Carry 4.
- Snow chains. Carry 1 set.
Towing a caravan or trailer.
Required
Towing a caravan or trailer.
Required
Towing a caravan or trailer.
UK trailers over 750kg need DVLA registration for international travel (from August 2025).
Towing a caravan or trailer.
A vignette is required for motorways.
Read this before you go.
Alpine winters make Swiss driving genuinely demanding. Make sure you've got winter tyres on and a set of snow chains in the locker before you head into the passes.
Documents to bring
For your own vehicle, carry your UK photocard driving licence, Passport (issued <10 years ago, 3 months validity remaining), Log book (V5C), Insurance certificate, UK sticker and Vignette (sticker for motorways).
For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your UK photocard driving licence, Passport and VE103 certificate (if hiring/leasing in UK).
Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.
- LPG fittingACME
- CurrencyCHF
- Emergency112
- Sunday shoppingClosed
Switzerland uses a mix of Dish and ACME fittings depending on the region, so carry both adapters. Autogas is limited and mostly found along the main motorway corridors; coverage in Alpine valleys is thin.
LPG vehicles are banned from some Swiss road tunnels, including certain stretches of the Gotthard network. Check signage carefully and plan alternative routes where necessary.
UK Calor bottles cannot be exchanged in Europe. Carry a 3-piece adapter kit or install a refillable system before you travel. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Electric hook-ups
Swiss campsites typically provide 10A to 16A hook-ups, so the infrastructure is much better than Southern Europe. A domestic kettle will generally work, though running heating and kettle simultaneously can still trip a 10A bollard.
Electricity is metered on most Swiss campsites: the pitch fee does not include power, and you pay for the kWh you use at the end of the stay. Budget for this separately, especially if you plan to run electric heating in winter.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Where to shop
Supermarkets here: budget chains are Denner, Aldi, Lidl; mid-range chains are Migros, Coop; premium chains are Globus.
Typical opening hours: weekday 08:00-19:00; saturday 08:00-17:00; sunday Closed; where to buy Supermarkets (Coop, Migros, note Migros does not sell alcohol). Denner for best prices..
Closed Sundays, no exceptions other than train station shops and petrol stations. Do your big shop on Saturday or you'll be eating crisps. Some areas do a Thursday late opening to 21:00 if you need to dodge the weekend rush.
Expect to pay roughly double what you would in France or Germany for everything. Seriously, stock up before you cross the border. And Migros (the biggest chain) does not sell any alcohol. Head to Coop or Denner instead.
- Migros does not sell alcohol, go to Coop or Denner instead.
- Everything is roughly double the price of France or Germany, stock up before crossing the border.
- Manor Food halls in department stores have excellent (if expensive) prepared food.
More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.
Taking a dog, and crossing the border.
- SchengenYes
- AHC requiredwithin 10 days
- Tapeworm on UK returnYes
- Dog leadRequired
To take a dog to Switzerland, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.
- AHC required. Yes, within 10 days before entry
- Rabies jab. Yes, minimum 21 days before travel
- Tapeworm treatment for UK return. Required 24h-5h before UK arrival
- Breed restrictions. Yes
Pack the dog's Dog lead, Water bowl, Vaccination records and AHC.
No meat, milk, or dairy products can be taken from the UK into Switzerland.
Switzerland is in the Schengen area.
Schengen area: Yes. EES biometric checks: Yes, register on entry and exit. Trailer registration (UK): UK trailers over 750kg need DVLA registration for international travel (from August 2025).
Useful links
- Switzerland Road Conditions (Easy Answers)
- Swiss Motorway Vignette Shop
- Switzerland Tourism - Accessible Travel
- Federal Office of Meteorology (Avalanche Risks)
See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.
The questions people ask most.
Do I need a vignette for Switzerland and how much does it cost?
Yes. All vehicles under 3.5 tonnes using Swiss motorways must display a vignette. The 2026 e-vignette costs CHF 40 (roughly GBP 35) and is valid from December 2025 to January 2027. You can buy one online in advance or at the border. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes pay the Heavy Vehicle Fee (PSVA) instead, minimum CHF 25 per day.
Can I drive a large motorhome on Swiss alpine passes?
Most major passes are fine for motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes, though some narrow passes have vehicle dimension restrictions. Check individual pass status at the Swiss road conditions website before setting off; several close seasonally and some require snow chains.
Are Swiss supermarkets open on Sundays?
Almost all Swiss supermarkets are closed on Sundays. The exceptions are shops in train stations and petrol stations. Stock up on Saturday. Also note that Migros does not sell alcohol, so head to Coop or Denner instead.
Can I take my dog to Switzerland in a motorhome?
Yes. Same EU entry rules apply: microchip, rabies vaccination 21+ days before travel, AHC within 10 days. Switzerland has breed-specific restrictions, so check before travelling with bull terrier types or mastiffs. For the UK return, tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 5 days before arrival.