Your trip
What this solves
The Swiss vignette is the most-mocked toll sticker in the world, and it's true that for one short A1 drive across the country it's a bad deal. But for an actual road trip through 6 cantons, it works out to about 8 cents per kilometre — cheaper than Italy's motorway tolls, comparable to the German Autobahn (which has no vignette but is mostly free unless you hit a tunnel). This calculator tells you the actual cost/km for your trip.
How to read
- CH vignette = CHF 40 flat, valid all year. No short-term option, no per-km toll.
- Austria = €9.90 for 10 days or €28.50 for 2 months. Often cheaper for a weekend.
- Slovenia = €16 vignette, but most roads are now e-toll (distance-based) since 2024.
- France & Italy = no annual sticker, per-km tolls via Télépéage / Telepass.
- Switzerland-only alternative: you can drive on non-motorway roads (red signs, brown road network) without the vignette. Adds 20–40% to your time. Mostly used for scenery, not speed.
Limitations
- Heavy fines for using motorways without the vignette (CHF 200+ on top of the CHF 40).
- Trailer + car requires a second vignette (CHF 40) for towed caravans.
- Motorbikes also require a vignette at CHF 40.
FAQ
Can I buy the vignette at the border?
Yes at customs offices, petrol stations near the border, and PostFinance. Stick it on the inside of the windscreen immediately — driving 100m without it attached is a CHF 200 fine.
Is the e-vignette linked to the plate?
Yes. Since 2023 the digital version is plate-bound; the sticker is still sold but no longer required to be displayed. You still pay the same CHF 40.
Sources
- via.admin.ch — Federal Customs Administration tariff
- ASFINAG (Austrian toll operator) tariff table
- DARS (Slovenia toll) 2026 update
- Author's 2023–2026 cost logs across 6 alpine road trips
About
Built because nobody on Reddit agrees on whether the vignette is "expensive" or not, and the answer is "depends how much you drive".
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Disclaimer
2026 reference figures. Verify with operator sites before driving.