The Swiss highway vignette costs 40 CHF at the official rate, regardless of the purchase channel. A French motorist paying online from home will pay this amount converted into euros according to the exchange rate of the day, plus any potential credit card fees. On some private resale sites, the bill can rise well beyond this, sometimes without the buyer realizing it before payment.
Understanding where these price discrepancies lie allows for choosing the right channel and avoiding paying for the service twice.
Price Comparison by Purchase Channel for the Swiss Vignette
The face value of the e-vignette remains the same everywhere: 40 CHF. What changes are the additional fees charged. The table below summarizes the discrepancies observed between the main channels accessible from France.
| Purchase Channel | Base Price | Additional Fees | Estimated Total for a French Motorist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official portal e-vignette.ch (Via Portal) | 40 CHF | Exchange rate + potential credit card fees | Approximately 42-44 EUR depending on the rate |
| Resale sites (AllVignette, Tollvignettes, etc.) | 40 CHF | Service fees that can exceed 25 EUR per vignette | Approximately 65-70 EUR |
| Swiss post offices or gas stations in Switzerland | 40 CHF | None (payment in CHF on site) | 40 CHF + withdrawal or exchange |
| Border sales points (car clubs, specialty shops) | Variable | Variable commission | Variable depending on the reseller |
The gap between the official portal and a resale site can therefore represent over 25 EUR in service fees without functional advantage. The vignette obtained is strictly the same, linked to the same license plate, with the same validity period.
For those wishing to buy the Swiss highway vignette online without unnecessary extra costs, the official portal remains the most direct channel.
Anonymous Purchase on the Official Portal: What the Swiss Site Really Allows
A point rarely detailed in French-speaking guides concerns the possibility of purchasing the e-vignette without creating an account. The Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (OFDF) specifies that the Via Portal allows the purchase to be completed without providing personal data beyond the license plate and the country of the vehicle.
For a French motorist, this means there is no need to register, create a profile, or store payment information. The procedure boils down to three steps:
- Enter the vehicle’s license plate and select France as the country of origin.
- Choose the vehicle category (car, trailer, motorcycle) and the validity period.
- Pay by credit card. The amount is debited in Swiss francs, converted by the issuing bank.
No identity data is retained on the Swiss side. The vignette is linked only to the license number. This approach simplifies the process for travelers who occasionally cross Switzerland and do not wish to multiply online accounts.
Exchange Rates and Bank Fees: The Real Cost in Euros from France
The official rate of 40 CHF never exactly corresponds to the amount debited in euros on a French bank statement. Two variables come into play.
The first is the exchange rate applied at the time of the transaction. This rate fluctuates daily. Depending on the periods, 40 CHF can represent between 41 and 45 EUR approximately, depending on the EUR/CHF parity.
The second variable concerns the foreign currency conversion fees charged by some French banks. Several institutions apply a currency exchange commission on payments outside the eurozone. The amount varies from bank to bank, but it is systematically added to the displayed price.
To limit these fees, two options are worth considering:
- Use a credit card with no exchange fees (some neobanks or international cards do not charge a commission on currencies).
- Check with your bank if there is a conversion package for occasional transactions in CHF.
- Compare the total cost (vignette + credit card fees) with that of a physical purchase in Switzerland, paid directly in Swiss francs.
On the other hand, private resale sites charge in euros, which eliminates the exchange risk but replaces it with service fees significantly higher than the cost of bank conversion.
Sticker Vignette or Swiss E-Vignette: Two Formats, One Price
Since the introduction of the electronic vignette, both formats coexist at the same price of 40 CHF. The difference is purely practical.
The sticker vignette must be affixed to the windshield, on the inside. It cannot be transferred from one vehicle to another. If the windshield is replaced (glass breakage), the vignette is lost and must be repurchased, unless a specific procedure is followed with the Swiss authorities.
The e-vignette is linked to the license plate, not to the physical vehicle. It is automatically verified by the surveillance cameras of the Swiss highway network. No physical support is necessary. In the event of a vehicle change while retaining the same plate, the vignette remains valid.
For a French motorist purchasing from home, the e-vignette is the only format available online. The sticker vignette requires a purchase at a physical sales point, in Switzerland or at certain border shops.
The validity of both formats follows the same schedule: from December 1 of the previous year to January 31 of the following year, or 14 months of use for a single purchase. A motorist planning several trips to Switzerland during this period only needs one vignette, regardless of the number of crossings on the highway network.
