|
Self-Drive
Motoring holidays in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Tips on driving abroad
in Switzerland. Motoring rules and regulations in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Swiss motoring laws.
Autobahn (motorway) and
tunnel Tolls
Distance
Chart
International Driving Permit
Interactive Route
Planner
Relative Carbon
Emissions
Buy Road Maps of Switzerland
Buy a Swiss motorway vignette online
Make sure you Drive Alive! Drive on
the right!
- Be especially careful when setting off from
service stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.
- Take care when overtaking - allow more space
between you and the car in front so you can see further down the road ahead.
- Switzerland
has stricter drink driving laws than the UK, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of
alcohol per millilitre of blood (UK 0.8).
- Seat belts front and rear are obligatory
everywhere.
- Speed limits, shown below, are implemented
rigorously. Radar traps are frequent.
- Remember - Speeding and other traffic offences
are subject to on-the-spot fines.
- A full UK driving licence is required.
- Below are motoring regulations relating to
Switzerland.
|
Speed limits |
Motorway |
Open Road |
Town |
Alcohol mg/ml |
|
Switzerland |
120 km/h |
80 km/h |
50 km/h |
0.5 |
Autobahn tolls: In Switzerland you pay an
annual motorway tax, even if you're only using the motorways for an hour or two.
A vehicle sticker, or vignette, must be displayed on the windscreen by all
vehicles. Of course, if you don't need to use a motorway you don't need to pay,
although it's difficult to cross the country without doing so.
If you don't display a vignette you'll be liable to a fine of
CHF100 plus the cost of the vignette.
You can buy the stickers in the UK from the Swiss Centre. You can also buy them
in Switzerland from customs offices at the frontier or service stations, garages
and post offices.
Buy a motorway vignette online. Click the link to
go to the website for the Swiss Travel Centre then look for the link "Motorway
Vignette". The cost in 2007 is £18 plus a £3.50 booking fee, but worth it as it
saves time and hassle at the border. The Vignette is valid from January 1st to
December 31st of the year it is purchased, irrespective of when you buy it
during the year. Caravans require a
separate vignette.
Children in cars: children under 7 cannot travel in the front unless
they use a proper child restraint. Children between 7 and 12 must use seat belts
or child restraints which are appropriate to their size and age.
Documentation: always
carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate
of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you
carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in
your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to
drive.
Drinking
and driving: Don't do it. Anything over 0.08 per cent and you could face
anything up to imprisonment.
Fines: On the spot fines for infringing some traffic regulations. Ensure
an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine.
Fire
extinguisher is advised, but not compulsory.
First-aid kit is advised, but not compulsory.
Fuel:
All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and some LPG are available as well as lead
substitute additive. No leaded. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit
and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won't work at
automatic pumps. It's a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be
travelling abroad. This ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it
being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud
measure.
GB Sticker is
compulsory.
Headlamp converters are
compulsory.
Lights:
You are required to use dipped headlights during the day.
Minimum
age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and
motorcycle over 125cc, and 16 for a motorcycle under 125cc.
Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.
Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not
required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.
Replacement bulb kit is
advised, but not compulsory.
Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.
Snow
chains are recommended to be carried everywhere in Switzerland during
winter, and if you do not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police
can prevent you continuing your journey. Click for general
information on
winter tyres and snow chains.
Spectacles: if you wear
spectacles for driving, you must carry a spare pair in the car.
Visibility Vests are now compulsory in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Norway,
Portugal and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU).
The rules vary from country to country
concerning number of vests required and whether they should be carried in the
car or boot. Common sense suggests that there should be a vest for every
occupant, and that the vests should be carried in the car. Do this and you will
not have a problem.
Warning
triangle is compulsory.
Winter
tyres are recommended but not compulsory (as of January 2008). Snow chains
are recommended to be carried everywhere in Austria during winter, and if you do
not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police can prevent you
continuing your journey. Click for general
information on
winter tyres and snow chains.
BACK TO TOP
All information on this page is provided as a
service to our clients. It is intended as a guide to the more important rules
for the different countries to which we offer driving holidays. It is not meant
to be a comprehensive document. We try and keep the information on this page
up-to-date, but we cannot be held responsible in any way for any consequences
arising from any inaccuracies. If you find a mistake or would like to send us
some additional information, please email
us. Your co-operation is appreciated.
|
