Driving a motorhome in Switzerland
What applies to motorhomes in Switzerland, up to and over 3.5 tonnes. The planner shows you the same fact sheet at every border on the way to Switzerland, together with the low emission zones your route touches.
Created with AI (disclosure under Art. 50 EU AI Act). Carefully researched, but without guarantee: rules change. What counts are the signs on the road and the linked sources.
Speed limits
| Speed limits | Up to 3.5 t | Over 3.5 t |
|---|---|---|
| Built-up areas | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Outside built-up areas | 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Expressway | 100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Motorway | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
Over 3.5 t your motorhome counts as a heavy motor caravan: max 100 km/h on motorways and expressways.
Lights during the day
Always drive with lights on, even during the day.
Daytime running lights are not enough in tunnels: switch on dipped headlights.
Alcohol
- 0.5 per mille
Required on board
- Warning triangle
Keep it within reach. After a breakdown place it at least 50 m, on fast roads 100 m, behind the vehicle.
Winter
No general winter tyre requirement
No winter tyre law, but blocking traffic on summer tyres can be fined. Where the snow chains sign is shown, fit chains.
Low emission zones
Each city has its own rules
Geneva: during smog episodes only vehicles with a Stick'AIR sticker or French Crit'Air may enter the centre. Order it online in advance.
Only during declared smog episodes, 6 am to 10 pm. Until the sticker arrives, the payment receipt counts as proof for 30 days.
The open data records no low emission zone in Switzerland.
Good to know
- Speed camera detectors are banned, including camera warnings in sat navs or apps. Switch them off before the border.
- In slow or stopped traffic on motorways and expressways, form an emergency corridor between the far left lane and the lane next to it.
Sources
- fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1962/1364_1409_1420/20260701/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-1962-1364_1409_1420-20260701-de-html-8.html
- fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1995/4425_4425_4425/20260701/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-1995-4425_4425_4425-20260701-de-html.html
- fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1959/679_705_685/20260701/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-1959-679_705_685-20260701-de-html.html
- europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/road-rules-and-safety/switzerland/index_en.htm
- fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/2015/493/20161001/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-2015-493-20161001-de-html-6.html
- blog.astra.admin.ch/winterpneus-von-oktober-bis-ostern
- fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1979/1961_1961_1961/20260701/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-1979-1961_1961_1961-20260701-de-html-14.html
- ge.ch/lors-pics-pollution-circulation-differenciee-stick-air
- ge.ch/lors-pics-pollution-circulation-differenciee-stick-air/determiner-mon-macaron-stick-air
- ge.ch/lors-pics-pollution-circulation-differenciee-stick-air/acheter-mon-macaron
As of 23 September 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How fast may a motorhome drive in Switzerland?
- Up to 3.5 t: Built-up areas 50 km/h, Outside built-up areas 80 km/h, Expressway 100 km/h, Motorway 120 km/h. Over 3.5 t: Built-up areas 50 km/h, Outside built-up areas 80 km/h, Expressway 100 km/h, Motorway 100 km/h. The signs have the final say.
- Does a motorhome need a sticker or registration for low emission zones in Switzerland?
- Each city has its own rules. Geneva: during smog episodes only vehicles with a Stick'AIR sticker or French Crit'Air may enter the centre. Order it online in advance.