Purchasing a motorway tax sticker in Switzerland

Motorway tax stickers can be purchased in post offices, petrol stations, garages, TCS outlets, as well as from the road traffic authorities.

Purchasing from abroad

The motorway tax sticker is obtainable abroad from the majority of motoring organisations; in the vicinity of the Swiss border, it is also available in motorway petrol stations and kiosks or "Trafiken" in Austria.

The sticker can also be purchased from various official distribution partners online. The Swiss Customs Administration warns against buying stickers online from anyone other than the official distribution partners or via auction platforms.

Motorway tax stickers are for sale at all manned customs offices at the Swiss border. There, the sticker can be paid for also in a foreign currency (EUR, GBP, USD; only notes) and with all major credit and debit cards. Change is given in Swiss francs.

Motorway tax stickers sold abroad are priced in the relevant foreign currency. In euro countries this amount is currently EUR 40.

List down the documents required for successfully completing the procedure.

e.g.
1. Proof of child birth from the Hospital.

Border crossings and customs offices, opening hours

DGC vehicles office
Oberzolldirektion
Sektion Fahrzeuge und Strassenverkehrsabgaben
Monbijoustrasse 40
3003 Bern

Contact

Motor vehicles and trailers with a total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes each are required to display a motorway tax sticker. This group comprises primarily of passenger vehicles, motorbikes, vans, trailers, etc.

A motor vehicle or a trailer with a total weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes (so-called heavy vehicles) must have a motorway tax sticker affixed if it is not subject to the heavy vehicle charge. These include, for example, heavy utility vehicles (e.g. crane lorries).

Exemptions

• Vehicles with military number plates as well as vehicles rented or requisitioned by the army that bear civilian number plates and an M+ sticker
• Vehicles used by the police, border guard, fire service and oil and chemical hazard units, ambulances and motorway maintenance vehicles that are identified as such, as well as civil defence vehicles with blue number plates and international civil defence signs
• Vehicles used to provide assistance in the case of natural disasters, fires and accidents
• Vehicles of international organisations which have concluded a headquarters agreement with the Federal Council
• Foreign government vehicles on official missions
• Vehicles without number plates being driven to official vehicle tests
• Vehicles driven for official vehicle and driving tests
• Rigid trailers, motorbike trailers and motorbike sidecars
• Light articulated tractors that, according to an entry in the vehicle registration document, can tow a semi-trailer subject to the heavy vehicle charge
• Light motor vehicles that, according to an entry in the vehicle registration document, can tow a trailer subject to the heavy vehicle charge
• Vehicles with Swiss dealers' number plates driven on working days.

To know more

Motorway tax sticker: CHF 40

Stickers from the Swiss borders can also be paid for in a foreign currency (EUR, GBP, USD; only notes) and with all major credit and debit cards. Change is given in Swiss francs.

Motorway tax stickers sold abroad are priced in the relevant foreign currency. In euro countries this amount is currently EUR 40.

The motorway tax sticker is valid from 1 December of the year prior to that printed on the sticker through to 31 January of the year following that printed on the sticker.

Note: At present, no motorway tax stickers are issued for shorter periods of time. Unlike other European countries, Switzerland has only an annual tax.

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e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

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1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Use of Swiss motorways (first and second-class motorways) has been subject to tax since 1985. A vehicle displaying a motorway tax sticker means payment of the appropriate tax.

Following is a procedure on how you can purchase a Motorway Tax Sticker (Vignette).

Responsible Authority: The Swiss Customs Administration and the police are the ones that checks compliance with the obligation to display a motorway tax sticker on motorways.

Anyone using the motorway without a motorway tax sticker is subject to a fine of CHF 200. This applies also if the motorway tax sticker is misused (not affixed correctly or affixed in the wrong place). In addition, a motorway tax sticker must be purchased and correctly affixed to the vehicle.

Forging a motorway tax sticker or using such a sticker leads to a report being filed with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland. A fine is likewise imposed if the motorway tax sticker is reused (i.e. used on several vehicles).

Displaying the motorway tax sticker: The motorway tax sticker is affixed directly to the vehicle as follows:

• In the case of motor vehicles, on the inside of the windscreen; it must be clearly visible from outside
• In the case of motor vehicles without windscreens, trailers and motorbikes, on an easily accessible and non-removable part.

It is not permitted to affix motorway tax stickers using sticky tape, film or any other aids, and a fine will be imposed if this rule is broken. This applies also for motorway tax stickers that are merely present but not affixed.

It is not permitted to peel off motorway tax stickers and transfer them to other vehicles. This applies also when replacing the windscreen. Detached motorway tax stickers are invalid.

Returns/refunds and exchanges: Stockpiling motorway tax stickers is not encouraged. Surplus unused motorway tax stickers cannot be returned. Also in the case of inappropriate handling, destruction or loss of a motorway tax sticker, there is no entitlement to a refund or a replacement.

Customs offices replace motorway tax stickers free of charge in the following cases:

• Obvious misprints
• Windscreen replacement (chipped glass) in the case of foreign vehicles. To do this, you must present the old motorway tax sticker (or parts of it) and the invoice for the replacement windscreen to the customs office. A replacement sticker is organised by the insurance company in the case of Swiss vehicles.

In all other cases, write to the Directorate General of Customs.

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Swiss Customs Administration:

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04338/04340/index.html?lang=en

• Motorway tax sticker FAQ:

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04338/04340/04916/index.html?lang=en

More information which might help people.