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DRIVING

The new law Swiss drivers in Germany need to know about

If you are caught speeding on German roads after May 1st, you will no longer be able to ignore your fine once you are back in Switzerland.

Published: 30 April 2024 13:19 CEST
The new law Swiss drivers in Germany need to know about
If caught speeding in Germany, you will have to pay the fine. Photo by René Ranisch on Unsplash

Until now, fines that German drivers got in countries outside the EU (including Switzerland) were not enforceable.

By the same token, motorists from Switzerland could get out of paying penalties for traffic infractions committed in Germany.

But this will no longer be the case from May 1st.

A new agreement between Bern and Berlin will allow their respective police to enforce traffic violations committed on each other’s territory.

What exactly will change on May 1st?

To put it simply, from this day on you will be required to pay any traffic-related fines you receive while in Germany.

This relates not just to speeding infractions, but also to parking fines.

However, the new regulation applies only if the fine imposed exceeds 70 euros or 80 francs. 

In such a case, German police will send the fine over to their Swiss counterparts, who will then forward it you for payment.

As a reminder, similar agreements already exist with Switzerland’s other neighbours.

Pay you must

If you think you can toss your foreign ticket away once you are safely back home in neutral Switzerland, and stay under the radar — figuratively speaking — you may be in for a rude awakening.

“Traffic fines issued abroad should always be paid, otherwise the issuing authority may take measures against the vehicle owner, even if they live in Switzerland,” the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) says on its website.

“Measures can include an entry in a search database, a ban on entering the country in future, or high reminder fees. If you return to the country concerned having failed to pay the fine, your car may be confiscated until the fine has been paid. You may even be subject to imprisonment for one or more days.”

READ ALSO: What happens if I don’t pay my Swiss bills on time?
 

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DRIVING

The roads and tunnels in Switzerland where drivers need to pay a toll

While you’re likely to encounter some of the most spectacular scenery as you drive through Switzerland, you may also experience an eye-watering fine if you’re unaware of the tolls that may apply. 

Published: 14 May 2024 09:50 CEST
The roads and tunnels in Switzerland where drivers need to pay a toll

Here is where you’ll need to be fully paid-up while driving through the alpine nation – and where further charges can apply. 

Mandatory motorway vignettes

Suppose you’re planning on driving on any of the country’s motorways or expressways (those designated on maps and signs with an A followed by a number). In that case, you’ll need to pay 40 CHF for a vignette each year – either displayed as a sticker on your car or tied electronically to your car’s licence plate. 

If you get caught without one—cameras are everywhere—you may be fined 200 CHF for each infraction. 

Thankfully, the Swiss make it very easy to obtain a vignette. 

They can be purchased at border crossings, post offices and petrol stations. You can also buy the e-vignette online here – Swiss authorities have warned motorists to avoid purchasing it from other sources, which add a markup. 

READ MORE: What you need to know about Switzerland’s motorway vignette

Tolls for tunnels 

While a motorway vignette will be enough to drive around most of Switzerland, there are exceptions where you’ll need to pay extra. 

The first is the Munt la Schera Tunnel which connects the Engadin valley in the canton of Graubünden with the Lago di Livigno reservoir that borders Italy. 

Initially constructed to move building materials, the three-and-a-half-kilometre tunnel is still privately owned by a local power company, so it is permitted to charge an extra toll. 

Fees vary depending on your kind of vehicle, whether you’re making a return journey, and the time of year—the current price schedule is available here. The toll is paid at either side of the tunnel. 

As a single-lane tunnel, the direction of travel alternates every fifteen minutes, so drivers can expect a short wait. 

Cyclists are not permitted to use the tunnel, although there are shuttle buses that can transport bikes. 

READ MORE: The new laws drivers in Switzerland need to know.

Two rail tunnels offer a car transport service for an additional fee. 

The first is the twenty-kilometre Simplon tunnel between Brig in the canton of Valais and Domodossola in Italy. 

The second is the fourteen-kilometre Lötschberg tunnel between Kandersteg in the canton of Bern and Goppenstein in the canton of Valais. 

Each journey takes about twenty minutes, and tickets can be purchased for the Simplon tunnel here and the Lötschberg tunnel here. 

The final toll tunnel—and arguably the most famous one—is the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnel, which charges a toll and connects Martigny in the canton of Valais with the Aosta valley in Italy. 

Consisting of two lanes, the tunnel stretches six kilometres through the Alps. 

Much like the Munt la Schera tunnel, there is a schedule of fees, and the kind of vehicle determines prices, as well as whether you intend to return via the tunnel. Again, the toll can be paid at either entrance. 

Despite some recent media speculation, the Swiss Federal Council has opposed the idea of introducing further tolls on the Gotthard and San Bernardino tunnels. Instead, other strategies are currently being explored to combat the ongoing problem of traffic congestion.

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