Switzerland - May Just About To Get A Little More Expensive
Just picked this article up in a fellow German motor home/caravan 'Pro Mobil'
As if the rise in fuel prices isn't enough to contend with.
'The transit journey through Switzerland could become even more expensive in the future with a motorhome and caravan: Some Swiss politicians are calling for a special fee for foreign tourists who are not staying in the country. With 173 votes to 13, the National Council yesterday approved a legislative initiative ("motion") calling for a transit fee on Swiss transit routes for foreign vehicles that stay in the country for less than 12 hours. The Council of States had already approved it in September 2025 without a dissenting vote. This means that the Swiss Federal Council (= government) must now draft a bill'.😫
Comments
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I am not sure I ever found the need to transit through Switzerland if not actually staying in the actual country with the caravan or motorhome. We only went to Switzerland once with the caravan and were not really impressed enough to go back. Spent far more time in Austria and went back time and time again.
David
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Seems strange to want to impose something like that because Switzerland is relatively easy to bypass via France or Austria if heading south. However, until it comes into effect we'll continue to transit through the country as it's cheaper to buy the vignettes that are valid for a whole year than to pay tolls on the French motorways, which would be our alternative route. (We normally head south twice a year, so that makes the Swiss vignette more attractive).
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I would always stop for a few days if I were passing through Switzerland - because I was enthralled by the mountain scenery there from a first visit 60 years ago.
We went back four times specially to explore the country with caravans many years later - and while we could still walk. Their mountain railways and cable cars to access high level flower filled Alpine pastures in late Spring are unsurpassed, but we always found Swiss people and their lifestyle rather reserved, regimented and very law abiding. The German influence I suppose.0 -
I have difficulty in imagining how it would work. They'd have to install ANPR systems at each border crossing to identify every vehicle coming into and leaving the country. Presumably one would have to pay as one leaves because how would anyone otherwise know whether one was in the country for less than 12 hours? If the payment is immediate, that could cause major traffic hold ups at the border. If, to avoid such traffic jams, it's not immediate, then they would either have to make enquiries, who the holder of the vehicle is and send a payment request by post, or they would have to hand out the necessary payment details to the drivers of those vehicles that were less than 12 hours in the country.
I think that they've got a bit of homework to do before the scheme becomes workable.
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Only ever been to Switzerland once, based ourselves at Interlaken for a couple of weeks and used public transport to get about and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Probably would never use it as a transit country, to good not to stop over a while.
peedee
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One could envisage such an e-vignette to be payable before one enters Switzerland but then if you change your mind or you get held up for one reason or another while in the country and stay longer than 12 hours you should get your money back. The only proper solution would be to pay upon leaving Switzerland.
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