We've thought of everything: winter tires, snow chains and roof rack: you can enjoy the winter sports journey yourself. Whether you are a snowboarder or a skier: you want to reach your destination safe and sound with your family, friends or maybe even colleagues. But you may have forgotten something when it comes to the car, partly because we don't do anything about it in the Netherlands: the toll vignette.
Vignette is a tally for Switzerland
For example, if you want to go to Saas Fee, you will definitely need a thumbnail of the Swiss tolls. It is mandatory if you want to drive on Swiss roads. You may have bought it before and remember it as a sticker you put in the car, but the land of chocolate and cheese has also moved on with the times: this vignette is now simply digital. This has not been the case for a very long time: the electronic vignette has only been available since August 1, 2023.
The convenient thing is that you don't have to leave the house, you don't have to wait for the mail and it is arranged within a few minutes. Moreover, you don't have to worry about having sticky residue on your car window and you can tidy it up at the last minute. If you prefer an old-fashioned highway vignette, that's certainly possible, but digital is a little easier. When you register for an electronic vignette, your vehicle's license plate is requested and stored in the Swiss Highway Authority's database. If you are verified, the police will compare your license plate details and the vignette. So make sure you enter the correct license plate when registering: it is no coincidence that your mother's Fiat Panda is not winter sports at all.
Electronic vignette
The electronic vignette is always valid for more than a year, so if you buy it on December 1, 2023, you can use it until January 31, 2025. The cost is 40 Swiss francs, which is approximately 41.50 euros, even if you have a caravan or a motorbike. You need a separate vignette for your caravan (so twice: 1 for the car and 1 for the caravan). Also take into account some administrative costs of around €9, which means you will spend more than €50 on your e-vignette. Then, if you drive through the Munt-la-Scheratunnel or Grote Sint-Bernardtunnel, there will also be an additional fee.
If you did not bring your own car, but rented a car from a Swiss airport, you do not have to worry about this electronic vignette: rental cars already have this, provided that they come from Switzerland. Always check with the owner: it may be fine, but it will save you from unpleasant surprises.
Once you have all of this sorted, you can move on with peace of mind. Read also our tips for doing winter sports with an electric car. Drive carefully and have a happy holiday!
[Fotocredits – ottaviocamb © Adobe Stock]
