For many drivers, the route through Switzerland has been a classic path to Italy for years. Whether heading to Lake Garda, Tuscany, Rome, or further south, the connection via Basel and the Gotthard Pass ranks among Europe's most heavily used north-south corridors. Now, something could change for transit travelers in the future: Switzerland is discussing an additional transit fee that would apply to vehicles merely passing through the country.
As the ADAC reports on the planned transit fee , there is now political support for corresponding models. The primary reason is the heavy strain on major transit routes. Especially around public holidays and during vacation season, long traffic jams occur regularly near the Gotthard Pass. The route has been one of the most important travel corridors heading south for years.
An additional fee on top of the vignette under discussion
Under the proposals currently being debated, an additional fee for transit travelers could be introduced on top of the existing Swiss vignette. Figures of around 21 Swiss francs per trip are being discussed, which amounts to roughly 23 euros. The existing annual vignette would not be replaced by this fee but would still be required in addition.
The regular Swiss vignette therefore remains unchanged and currently costs 40 Swiss francs, or approximately 44.50 euros. Information on the currently applicable fees and regulations is provided by the ADAC on the Swiss vignette . For travelers, this would mean that additional costs could arise for both the outbound and return journey, costs that would need to be factored in alongside the highway tolls incurred later in Italy.
Who could be affected?
Based on current deliberations, the proposed regulation is aimed primarily at vehicles using Switzerland exclusively as a transit country. One concept under discussion involves a time window: those who exit the country again within a few hours could automatically be classified as transit travelers. A traditional toll booth setup seems unlikely. Instead, digital detection systems are being discussed.
There is, however, one key point for travelers to keep in mind: no new fee has been introduced yet. There is currently no concrete timeline for implementation. Further political and legal steps would be required before any possible introduction. The ADAC therefore does not currently expect any short-term changes for travelers. Anyone driving through Switzerland to Italy this year will continue to need only the familiar Swiss vignette along with the standard Italian highway tolls. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.