Motorways & Semi-Motorways

Joining and Leaving the Motorway

On the acceleration lane, match your speed to traffic on the main carriageway. Use the indicator and merge smoothly – the cars on the motorway have priority.

Use the deceleration lane to brake – never slow down on the main carriageway. Indicate before leaving.

Lane Discipline and Overtaking

• Drive in the right-hand lane when free

• Use the middle / left lane only for overtaking

• Overtaking on the right is forbidden – exception: orderly columns of traffic moving at different speeds (Rechtsvorbeifahren)

• Stopping or reversing on the motorway is strictly forbidden

Speed Limits and Vignette

120 km/h on motorways (autobahn) and 100 km/h on semi-motorways (autostrasse). Trailer combinations up to 3.5 t: max. 100 km/h if the trailer is approved for it, otherwise 80 km/h.

A valid motorway vignette (sticker or e-vignette) is required for every car. Penalty for missing vignette: CHF 200.

Motorway vignette

• It costs 40 francs and is required on motorways and semi-motorways.
• It is valid from 1 December to 31 January of the following year.
• A trailer or caravan needs its own vignette.
• The adhesive vignette must be stuck to the windscreen; one merely tucked behind the glass is not valid.