Driving in Switzerland

Driving in Switzerland can be a fun, if challenging, experience for North Americans. Your driver's license, if of US or Canadian origin, is sufficient for driving in Switzerland.

The next thing to be aware of, after you have dealt with the rental arrangements for the car, is that you need a highway permit to drive in Switzerland, a small sticker called a vignette that is displayed on the windshield of the car. This should already be on the vehicle if you rent it within Switzerland--it's only a concern if you rent the car elsewhere and enter the country. They are good for one year, but you must pay 40 francs to purchase the vignette, regardless of whether you use it for 1 day or 365. You can purchase them online or at the border check.

It should go without saying that you should follow all road traffic rules meticulously. Whenever exiting the country, be aware of neighbouring countries' driving policies. For example, my mother and I drove through Austria and didn't realise until we were leaving that we should have had an Austrian vignette!

Generally speaking, border checks aren't usually a problem, and most often you are waved on, though occasionally you may be randomly stopped and questioned (if you don't speak any of the local languages, a polite "Sprechen Sie Englisch?", "Parlez-vous anglais?", or "Lei parla inglese?", depending on where you enter the country, is always considered polite).

Once within Switzerland, watch out, especially if you have entered from Germany--there are speed limits here! The usual highway speed is 120km/h, and in or near cities or populated areas it is generally 50km/h. If you are on a regular road that is not a motorway or in a populated area, the speed is usually 80km/h. The speed limits are posted well, so heed them! I had the experience of getting "flashed" in Basel whilst returning to Germany--I had been captured speeding by camera. The resulting ticket took a year to finally reach me, but it did reach me!

Also, in winter travel, be aware of possible highway closures. I remember the first time this happened to my mother and me, we were driving home from the south of Switzerland. Somewhere in Uri, we were put off the highway by police, who warned us that the road was too hazardous to continue on it. At this point we were "put off" into a very snowy village with very narrow and snowy roads, with no clue what to do. It is at this point especially that I recommend a very good speaking GPS. If that's not possible, make sure you're armed with an excellent map! In inclement weather conditions, you may find your itinerary interrupted and with yourself in the boondocks!

If claustrophobic of tunnels, it is advisable to stick only to the plateau areas of Switzerland. This is because, when you head into the mountains, you will encounter tunnels that seem to last forever and are miles long (the longest road tunnel in Switzerland, the Gotthard Road Tunnel, is 10½ miles long).

Those are the basics for driving in Switzerland. Enjoy your time there and happy motoring!

Sources:

Self-Drive Motoring Holidays in Switzerland
http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/driving-in-switzerland.htm

Driving License
http://www.switzerland.isyours.com/e/immigration/relocation/vehicles/driving_license.html