Swiss motorway vignette

Acorn
Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
edited May 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hello. We will be travelling to Interlaken, all the way from the ferry port in Rotterdam (with a stop in France on the way). The route planner is taking us into Switzerland roughly through Basel then down to Bern, which all looks like motorway.

My question is, where can you buy a vignette? Looking online, it seems to say you need to have it as soon as you enter into Switzerland If on the motorway. Can you buy one in a service station on the French side? 

Any help appreciated, this is confusing me greatly!

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #2

    On that  route passing Basel use autobahn 5 on the German side of the Rhine and you can  buy at the Swiss frontier post. 

  • Acorn
    Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited May 2016 #3

    Ok great, thanks eurortraveller.

    This might be a silly question, but is it obvious when you get to the Swiss frontier post? Do they stop you?

    We have been to Switzerland before, many years ago, but avoiding motorways and I don't really recall anything about how we got there!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #4

    There are big signs on the left hand lanes saying Mit (= with) Vignette for cars going straight though, and the pull in lanes on the right saying Ohne (=without)  Vignette. Officers will come to your window and take cash or will direct you into the office if you are paying with a card -  they take euros or Swiss francs - the latter is slightly better value.

  • Acorn
    Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited May 2016 #5

    Brilliant information. Thank you so much.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited May 2016 #6

    At Basel frontier post they are more interested in extracting the money for the vignette than anything else!

  • kentman
    kentman Forum Participant Posts: 147
    edited May 2016 #7

    Bought one at the border today. 40 euros for the car and same again for the caravan!

  • DJG
    DJG Forum Participant Posts: 277
    edited May 2016 #8

    You can get your two vignetts at the service station's befor the tax office, (sorry border), much easeier than at the border if you are towing a caravan.

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited May 2016 #9

    Last time we went to Interlaken (2011) we purchased the vignettes from the Swiss Tourist Office by internet so there was no delay at the border. 

    Incidentally we went down through Belgium, Luxembourg and France to south of Strasbourg and then crossed into Germany for the remainder of the trip to the Swiss border. We had done "the Basle route" in the past and found Germany a much easier and quicker navigation straight onto the Swiss motorway system

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited May 2016 #10

    Just checked to see that they are still avaiable by internet, they are and cost £27.60 each - cheaper than at the border

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #11

    40CHF at the border = £27.58. I beat you by 2p. but won't crow about it. 

  • Acorn
    Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited May 2016 #12

    Thanks all for the useful info. I was worrying about crossing the border inadvertently without paying, but it seems that is unlikely to happen!!

    Bewick - thanks for the info on pre-buying. I had noticed you could, but am too tight to pay the 13 CHF postage! Wink

    Is it significantly quicker / easier with the caravan though not to buy at the border - as someone alluded to?

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited May 2016 #13

    As far as I can see from the STC site the only extra charge is a £3.50 booking fee - unless you want special delivery

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited May 2016 #14

    At the border you just drive through without queing (and barely stopping) by using the Mit Vignette lane , that can save a whole load of time (as hassle) at busy periods when the wait can be mind numbing

  • socalledpeterperfect
    socalledpeterperfect Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited May 2016 #15

    Almost ashamed to admit it but MANY years ago I bought mine on EBay from returned traveller. They last a calendar year so Just make sure it is marked 2016 and still has backing and is 'whole'. I think the Swiis government still got a great deal by getting a full year's revenue from use of their motorways for a few weeks wear and tear. Don't be greedy, though. Attach it correctly to be 'legal' and don't think about reselling it when you get back home!

  • Acorn
    Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited May 2016 #16

    Hello Bewick, which site are you looking on? On the Swiss Travel System site that I am looking on there is a 13 CHF / £9.48 postage charge.

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited May 2016 #17

    I was looking at the Swiss Travel Centre at https://shop.swissrailways.com/vignette.html?affiliateid=45&language=en&currency=GBP

    and then at the Info Supplements link at the bottom left

    Info Supplements

    Transaction fee
    Debit cards 0.00%
    MasterCard 1.60%
    Visa 1.60%
    American Express 2.20%
    JCB 3.00%

    Booking feePrice
    Driving in Switzerland: Motorway vignette GBP 3.50

    Types of delivery

    — DHL Express (Shipments cannot be delivered to PO boxes)
    — Special Delivery - place order before 12.30pm to ensure next working day arrival within UK. Excludes Saturday. Signature required.
    — 1st class post - please allow up to 5-6 days
    — Airport Collection

    Please note:
    Prices subject to change.

     DHL ExpressSpecial Delivery1st class postAirport Collection
    CountryDelivery timePriceDelivery timePriceDelivery timePriceDelivery timePrice
    United Kingdom     1 Days GBP 8.00 6 Days GBP 0.00 3 Days GBP 10.00
  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited May 2016 #18

    Sorry, the bottom bit of that is not clear but there is no postage charge for 1st class mail

  • Acorn
    Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited May 2016 #19

    Thanks Bewick. This is very strange. This is the site I was looking at http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/rail-europe.html

    which looks the same but with very different charges! Not quite sure what to make of it.

  • Acorn
    Acorn Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited May 2016 #20

    I've worked it out - one is Swiss based and the other a UK agent, hence cheaper postage. Thanks anyway for pointing me in the right direction!

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited June 2016 #21

    Smile

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