On June 16, 2023, the Federal Council decided to introduce the electronic vignette (e-vignette) on August 1, 2023. This will add an electronic form to the classic adhesive vignette. Users will therefore be able to choose the form in which they wish to pay the annual motorway tax the next time they purchase a vignette.
Both the e-vignette and the adhesive vignette cost CHF 40 and are valid for the respective calendar year - as before, from December 1 of the previous year to January 31 of the following year.
Only linked to the license plate
While the adhesive vignette is linked to the vehicle, the e-vignette is linked to the number plate. This offers vehicle owners a number of advantages: it can be purchased at any time and from any location and only one e-vignette is required for interchangeable number plates instead of a separate adhesive vignette for each vehicle as was previously the case.
Furthermore, a new vignette does not have to be purchased if a new vehicle is bought during the year, provided the same number plate is used. There is also no need to purchase a new one if the windshield is broken.
Purchase of the e-vignette
Since August 1, 2023, the e-vignette can be purchased via the "Via Portal" of the BAZG. The webshop can be accessed directly via this portal or via e-vignette.ch.
Only three pieces of information are required for the purchase: Vehicle category, country of registration and license plate. It is not necessary to open a user account or enter personal information (purchaser or driver). The e-vignette can be paid for online.
The option "publicly viewable" in the Via portal, which can be activated voluntarily, allows you to check whether a valid e-vignette already exists for a corresponding number plate. This is particularly useful if a vehicle is used by several people, such as in the case of rental vehicles or car sharing.
In addition, the e-vignette store also allows you to check whether a particular number plate already has an e-vignette:
It is possible to change the number plate once a year
It is also possible to change the number plate once per e-vignette - for example, if a vehicle owner moves to another canton. Optionally, interested parties can have a receipt for the e-vignette purchase sent to them by providing their e-mail address. It is not possible to exchange an adhesive vignette for an e-vignette.
Fleet management is made easier for owners of several vehicles subject to vignette payment by activating an additional function for purchasing several e-vignettes by registering once on the federal government's ePortal.
Of course, owners of vehicles with a non-Swiss license plate can also buy an e-vignette, which means that there is no need to queue at customs and stick/remove the vignette for tourists and transit passengers.
The e-vignette is checked at the border by BAZG staff and in Switzerland by the cantonal police on the basis of random checks of the number plates.
Further information is also available on the BAZG website.