Switzerland

Key points for young drivers:

• Motorway: 120 km/h, expressway 100 km/h, outside built-up areas 80 km/h, in towns 50 km/h.
• Alcohol: with a probationary licence 0.1 ‰ – in practice zero.
• Annual motorway vignette – e-vignette from the official Via portal or a sticker; a trailer needs its own.
• Dipped headlights (or daytime running lights) on around the clock.
• Radar detectors are banned, and so is sleeping in your car at motorway rest areas.
• You pay fines on the spot – carry enough money.

Seat belts and child seats

Everyone must wear a seat belt. Children travel in a child seat or on a booster seat until they turn 12 or are taller than 150 cm.

Traffic lights

Amber means red is coming and you have to stop. Fines for running a red light are very high.

Helmet not compulsory

Bicycle – a helmet is not mandatory (Your Europe: when riding at up to 20 km/h).

Helmet compulsory

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar)
• moped
• three- and four-wheelers (light and heavy)

The helmet must be ECE 22 approved.

Compulsory equipment in the car

• warning triangle

Compulsory equipment on a bike

• bell (not required for bicycles lighter than 11 kg)

Winter tyres and snow chains

Switzerland has no legal requirement for winter tyres. But if you cause an accident on summer tyres, you may be liable for the damage, and your insurer may not cover all of it. Winter tyres are recommended from October to Easter.

For some mountain areas (e.g. around Davos) take snow chains in winter.

Phone, drugs and other bans

Phone – only with a hands-free kit. Nothing may distract you – this also applies to your satnav and radio.

Radar detectors are banned – you risk a fine and confiscation of the device.

Drugs (including THC, amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroin) – banned. Young drivers are checked particularly closely.

Don’t drive in bus lanes, on cycle paths, pavements or the hard shoulder. A red cross above a lane – the lane is closed.

Vignettes, tolls and low-emission zones

You need a vignette for motorways and expressways – it is valid for a year. You can choose an e-vignette linked to your registration number (buy it on the official Via portal) or a sticker tied to a specific car. You can buy the sticker at border crossings, among other places.

A trailer or caravan also needs its own vignette.

Documents and insurance

Switzerland is not in the EU. According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Polish driving licence is valid here; if your licence was issued elsewhere, check with your country’s foreign ministry before you travel. Bring your vehicle registration certificate and valid third-party motor insurance – you don’t need a Green Card.

What to watch out for

• If you don’t have a registered address in Switzerland, you pay fines on the spot. They are very high – carry enough cash or a card.
• Don’t sleep in your car outside designated places – including motorway rest areas. You risk heavy fines.
• The authorities enforce the rules very strictly – stick to speed limits to the exact km/h.
• The motorway limit is 120 km/h, not 130 km/h as in most EU countries.

Sources

• Your Europe – Road rules: Switzerland
• Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Switzerland (in Polish)
• ch.ch – Motorway vignette
• ch.ch – Alcohol in road traffic
• ch.ch – Winter tyres
• ch.ch – Traffic rules and fines (daytime lights)
• Via portal – e-vignette (official shop)
• Federal Roads Office FEDRO (ASTRA)
• Last updated: September 2026.