Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Michela
Road trips are one of the best ways to explore new places, and Switzerland is just one of those countries that must be discovered by car. While the public transport system is very well-connected, the flexibility of having a car allows you to customize your itinerary as you go and easily reach all the best sites, whether it be the peak of mountain passes or the winding roads of remote valleys. Driving in a new country can be intimidating, but this guide has everything you need to know about driving in Switzerland so you can feel confident to explore!
Some of these links are affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure!
Important Things to Know Before Driving in Switzerland
Some of this information may seem obvious, but it’s good to go over the basics. Here are answers to questions you may have about driving in Switzerland.
What side of the road do you drive on in Switzerland?
You drive on the righthand side of the road.
Can tourists drive in Switzerland? What kind of license do you need?
As long as you are 18 years old, you can drive with your valid national driver’s license, along with an International driver’s license, which you will need to drive in most European countries. Discover more from the official article.
Is Switzerland part of the Schengen Area? What is the border control like?
Yes, Switzerland is part of the Schengen agreement. This means, specifically in regards to driving in Switzerland, there are no border patrols between it and its neighboring countries of Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein. You will still see officers at the border, but they do not perform routine immigration checks.
What are some basic driving rules/traffic regulations in Switzerland?
You can only overpass cars from the left, not the right. Pedestrians and public transportation have the right of way. When entering roundabouts, the vehicles coming from the left have the right of way. Seat belts are mandatory in the front and back seats!
What is the blood alcohol limit in Switzerland?
The blood alcohol content limit is 0.5%.
Do you need a vignette to drive in Switzerland?
Yes, you have to purchase a vignette, required when driving on all Swiss motorways. This sticker goes on the inside corner of your windshield, costs 40 Swiss Francs (CHF) and is valid until the 31st of January the following year.
Can you turn right on red in Switzerland?
Turning right on red is not allowed in Switzerland. Surpassing vehicles on the righthand side is also not allowed.
Renting a Car in Switzerland
Before jumping into more driving rules, it may be helpful to know a few things about renting a car in Switzerland if you are originally flying into Switzerland for your trip.
I always rent with AutoEurope, as I find the best rates on their website which compares car rental companies!
Like most countries and car rental companies, if you are under 25 or 26 years old, there will be an extra fee per day.
Most rental cars will be manual, so make sure to specify if you want an automatic car. They will likely cost a bit more to rent than manual. No matter what car you want, try to book as early as possible for the best deals!
Also keep in mind the size of the vehicle you want to rent. Larger vehicles may be more comfortable to drive on long trips, but they could be difficult to park and take through narrow countryside roads.
Renting a car can be a good way to see Switzerland on a budget. Create an effective road trip budget and save money with this 8 step process.
And download your road trip budget planner from The Travel Library when you subscribe to my newsletter!
Vignette in Switzerland
It’s extremely likely your road trip through Switzerland will call for some drive time on the highway. The Alps are not an easy place to navigate, so getting anywhere without the highway will take a significantly longer time as you travel up and over the peaks.
The good thing about Swiss highways: there are no tolls. Yay!
But, you do have to purchase what is called a Vignette, required when driving on all Swiss motorways. This sticker goes on the inside corner of your windshield and permits you to use Swiss highways. It costs 40 Swiss Francs (CHF) and is valid until the 31st of January the following year.
So, technically if you travel through Switzerland for a long time or multiple times, it’s a cost-effective way to drive. However, it’s a necessary evil for those visiting just once who still have to shell out the same 40 CHF, even if they don’t know how much they will be using the highway.
You can purchase the Vignette at any gas station in Switzerland or, for example, the gas stations at the Italian border if you’re coming from that way. It’s also available at customs offices on the borders, post offices, and online.
Road Conditions in Switzerland
There are a few things to note about the actual roads in Switzerland to help you better prepare for your drives.
Firstly, the streets can be very narrow – even on the highway! The highways are mostly only two lanes, maybe three in places like the bustling surrounding areas of Zurich.
Several times on the highway, the lanes would also split due to construction works. This could get a bit confusing, due to the fact you couldn’t tell if you were being directed to a completely different way, for example, an exit. It’s not the toughest thing to navigate, but it’s something to look out for.
Common throughout the Alps are tunnels – and not just any kind of car tunnels. For example, the Gotthard Pass Tunnel is 17 km long… that’s 10 and a half miles!
Be completely sure you have enough gas to get through long tunnels like that one.
When driving through mountain roads (like the famous Furka Pass or Bernese Oberland) it’s important to just go slower than usual and avoid passing other cars. You may see locals doing this, but in my opinion, it’s not worth the risk!
Mountain roads will typically be narrow, curvy, and steep, so it also helps to have a vehicle (and a driver) equipped to handle the harsh declines and tight turns.
When it snows, winter tires are not legally necessary, but you do have to put snow chains on your vehicle in zones marked “Mandatory Snow Chains.”
While driving in cities, especially the large city of Zurich, go slow and pay attention to the lines on turns. The ground is full of tram tracks and bus lanes, so you can easily misconstrue where you should be driving.
Cities also have tons of traffic lights, so be attentive and ready to stop and go as you make your way to your preferred parking area. The traffic lights don’t switch straight from red to green – instead, when it’s your turn to go they will go from red to yellow to green.
And to wrap up things you should know about Swiss roads, I hope you love roundabouts – because there are a ton of them! When entering a roundabout, the oncoming traffic already in the roundabout has the right of way. Use your signal when you’re about to exit the roundabout, not when entering.
Speed Limits & Signage
Switzerland is very strict about sticking to the speed limit. However, I personally found there wasn’t a lot of signage between areas, especially in the countryside, to let you know what the speed limit was.
Traffic fines are expensive in Switzerland so, especially in residential areas and towns, drive slower than you think you should!
Switzerland uses the metric system. This means speed limits are in kilometers per hour and distances on road signs are also in kilometers.
In cities, you may find busy intersections confusing in indicating which lanes you were supposed to be in. With bus lanes, tram tracks, and bicycle lanes to avoid, pay extra attention to where you’re heading on your turns.
If you want a complete look at Swiss road signs before you embark, Wikipedia has the ultimate breakdown.
Gas Stations & Prices in Switzerland
In Europe, the price for gas is calculated per liter. If you’re traveling from the US, a liter is about a quarter of a gallon. So, when you see the prices for gas, don’t get too excited – 1.50 per liter is technically 6 dollars per gallon.
Pro Tip: Utilize Via Michelin, a route planner tool, to calculate how much fuel you’ll use and estimate the total cost for you based on your route and the make and model of your car.
Gas stations on the highway in Switzerland are accommodating. Large parking lots and lots of food options make them great for pitstops. I was often unable to connect to WiFi at gas stations, so have a plan in place for communicating and navigating without it. Plus, you had to pay to use the restroom – so if you don’t have a coin on you, you’re going to have to hold it!
Gas stations in the cities and countryside areas may not always offer food or bathroom amenities. There may just be pumps!
Pro Tip: Our vehicle used partially natural gas or LPG. If your vehicle takes this natural gas, know that LPG stations are few and far between in Switzerland. Plus you need to ensure you have a German standard adapter for it to work.
Parking Practices in Switzerland
Where Can You Park as a Visitor
Switzerland has a system of colored parking spaces that denote who can park where.
Blue parking spaces are free to park in for up to 90 minutes. However, you must have an EU parking disc (most rental cars will come with one.) With this, you’ll set the time you arrived and place it in the dashboard.
Yellow parking spaces are only for residents.
White parking spaces are metered spaces you can pay to park in.
The easiest places to park in cities, but not always the cheapest, are parking garages. The facilities are clean, although sometimes the parking spaces can be narrow. Typically, you’ll take a ticket at the entrance, keep that ticket with you, and then insert it into a standalone pay machine in the garage before you arrive back at your car. Then, insert the paid ticket as you are leaving.
Parking Prices
In cities, parking can be very expensive. Most parking garages in Zurich, for example, start at 5 CHF per hour.
In smaller cities like Lucerne, parking is a bit cheaper, around 3 CHF per hour.
The SGTD Take & Extra Tips for Driving in Switzerland
I hope this practical guide was packed with helpful information so you can be a little less stressed and a lot more excited for your upcoming trip!
To wrap it up, here’s some extra tips and thoughts to keep in mind to best prepare you for your driving:
- Download offline maps before you start on your route. The free WiFi options never worked with my phone, so don’t rely on them completely for navigation. You could also purchase a SIM card so that you have data while roaming Switzerland through their provider Swisscom, or pay extra on your phone plan to use data internationally.
- Have coins on you to be able to use the restroom at rest stops. Yes, you have to pay to use them!
- Pack snacks from the grocery store because rest stops and gas stations are very expensive places to buy food.
- Take photos of your rental car before you leave the facility so you have your own evidence of what damage/scratches were there before you used the vehicle.
- Do lots of research on parking and car-free zones. A lot of mountains towns actually don’t allow cars at all, so you’ll want to have a plan in place for where to park and how you will get around in these areas.
Last but not least, enjoy the ride! Be spontaneous and make stops at pretty places you see while on the road. The flexibility to adventure however you’d like is the best part about traveling by car!
Have any more questions about driving in Switzerland? Leave a comment and I’ll share more of my personal experiences!
Save these helpful tips to Pinterest!
Don’t forget to enjoy the scenery while driving in Switzerland!
XOXO
Michela
Michela is a travel writer and photographer living in northern Italy. She is passionate about helping people make the most of their travels by sharing advice gained from her personal experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations and time-saving quick itineraries. Browse her top articles or have her help you plan your itinerary to your dream destination!
I am handicapped, will my US handicapped placard be able to be used in Switzerland.
Hi Nansi!
Yes, your US placard is valid in Switzerland and EU. You can find more information here at this link: http://www.disabledmotorists.eu/en/world_map/europe/switzerland.htm
I hope that is helpful! Have a wonderful time on your trip!
Very helpful we are taking our motorhome to Grindalwald then onto Zermatt. We have to get onto a train…not sure at the moment where from…would be grateful for any advice…thank you.
Hi Peter, I’m glad you found it helpful! Sounds like an amazing trip!
Zermatt is car-free and the last town you can drive to is Täsch and from there you can take the shuttle train. Here’s the link with more details!
The town of Grindelwald itself is not car-free so you should be able to drive your motorhome through/locate parking & camping. However, many of the surrounding towns like Wengen and Mürren are car-free and you can take a train, shuttle, or walk between those areas! Here is a bit more detailed outline of getting to each of the towns in this area. Just scroll down to where it says how to get to the resorts!
I hope that info and those resources are helpful. If you have any other questions or need more advice, don’t hesitate to let me know! Have an awesome time in Switzerland!
Thanks, Michela, for such an informative article about driving in Switzerland!
Do rental cars come with a vignette? Or can the vignette be purchased from the rental car company while renting a car at Zurich airport?
Hi Kaustubh!
Rental cars in Switzerland come with the vignette included. I would still double-check with your rental car company to confirm!
Since it’s included you shouldn’t need this, but just in case, the only other place you can buy the vignette (besides at the border countries with Switzerland) is online at this link.
Hope this helps and have a great trip! 🙂
Thanks, Michela!