Vehicles belonging to certain categories of people can be registered in Switzerland almost without restriction if they have already been approved for international roads. All vehicles with Swiss licence plates (including CD, CC or AT plates) must be insured against liability in Switzerland.
Regulations for authorised use on Swiss roads of vehicles belonging to diplomatic and consular representations in Switzerland including their staff.
Vehicles belonging to
can be registered in Switzerland almost without restrictions if they are authorised for use on international roads. This may be proven either by vehicle licence and control plates (including customs plates for non-cleared vehicles) of the country of origin, or by a manufacturer's document containing all the technical data necessary for registration.
Before a Swiss number plate and vehicle licence can be issued, however, the vehicle will be checked for safety and roadworthiness. No longer required for registration in Switzerland:
These vehicles are exempt from otherwise obligatory periodic inspections and the anti-pollution service.
Licences of vehicles registered in this manner which are part of the diplomatic and consular series are marked so that they can only be sold to holders of a legitimation card who also enjoy privileges and immunities, unless the vehicle has been adapted to Swiss standards.
All vehicles registered with Swiss plates (including CD, CC or AT plates) must be insured for third-party liability (TPL). Owners must therefore take out TPL cover with an insurance company based in Switzerland before registering their vehicle.
The insurance must make provision for at least CHF 5 million per event to cover potential claims from third parties for personal injury or property damage. Swiss private insurers can offer this amount of cover in order to meet this requirement.
Vehicles may only be driven once the insurer has submitted the insurance certificate to the authorities in charge of vehicle registration i.e. the cantonal driver and vehicle licensing office responsible for the canton of residence.
The insurer is obliged to notify the cantonal driver and vehicle licensing office of any suspension or termination of their TPL cover no earlier than the day on which it expires (as provided for in the insurance contract).
If the insurer suspends or terminates the contract, because of unpaid premiums for example, it must inform the policyholder that a notice will be sent to the cantonal driver and vehicle licensing office.
Once the office has received such a notice, it will immediately cancel the vehicle licence and instruct the police to confiscate the licence and number plates in question.
The conditions for allowing vehicles and persons onto the roads are set out under Articles 86 and 87 of the Ordinance of 27 October 1976 on the Authorisation of Persons and Vehicles for Road Traffic Purposes (RTAO).
In principle only the owner of a vehicle with CD, CC or AT plates is permitted to drive the vehicle. Family members with diplomatic status who are over 18 and possess a valid national driving licence may however also drive a vehicle with CD, CC or AT plates belonging to the main beneficiary.
Family members with diplomatic status who are over 18 and possess a valid national driving licence, and who have received a Ci permit in exchange for their legitimation card, may also drive a vehicle with CD, CC or AT plates belonging to the main beneficiary. Ci permits for family members with diplomatic or consular status include a special note indicating this status.
Family members without diplomatic status, because they are Swiss citizens for example, holders of a temporary or permanent residence permit (B or C permit) or another type of legitimation card, may not drive any vehicle with CD, CC or AT plates belonging to the main beneficiary.
Heads of mission, heads of post and professional chauffeurs are entitled to drive official cars with CD or CC plates.
The following persons are exempt from the obligation to exchange their foreign driving licence for a Swiss one:
Holders of driving licences that are not in an official Swiss language (German, French and Italian) or English are advised to keep on their person a valid international driving licence, which can be issued on request and for a fee by the relevant cantonal authority of the place of residence.
This exemption does not preclude any of the persons listed above from requesting a Swiss driving licence. People wishing to exchange their foreign licence for a Swiss one are subject to a driving test. A fee is charged both for the driving test and for issuing the licence. If a person fails the test, they will no longer be exempt from the obligation to exchange their driving licence nor will they be permitted to drive a motor vehicle on Swiss territory with their foreign licence.
People wishing to exchange their foreign licence for a Swiss one are subject to a driving test except citizens of countries Switzerland has an agreement with (EU member states, the US, Japan, etc.), who can obtain a Swiss licence without taking a driving test. People who need to take the test should contact the competent cantonal authority in their place of residence to find out how to proceed.
All other persons not listed above are not exempt from the obligation to exchange their foreign driving licence for a Swiss one.
In order to exchange their licence, they will be subject to a driving test unless they are citizens of countries Switzerland has an agreement with (EU member states, the US, Japan, etc.). People who need to take a test should contact the competent cantonal authority in their place of residence to find out how to proceed.
The Ordinance of 12 September 1984 on the Charge for using National Highways (Vignette Ordinance) obliges all persons driving motor vehicles or trailers on first or second class national roads (motorways) to pay an annual fee of CHF 40 (charge for the use of national roads).
The Federal Council also considers embassies and consular posts as well as their staff to be subject to this fee which, as a charge for road usage, makes it equivalent to a toll for using the entire motorway network in Switzerland. The motorway tax sticker is therefore deemed to be a fee for services rendered within the meaning of the Vienna Convention of 18 April 1961 on Diplomatic Relations (cf. Art. 34, let. e).
As a host state, Switzerland expects all persons who enjoy privileges to show the same care and discipline on the road as other road users. The FDFA reminds all persons who enjoy privileges and immunities in Switzerland that they are obliged to respect Swiss laws and other legal provisions as set out under Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Article 55 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Fines for RTA violations are proportionate to the offence committed. The cantonal police send fines issued to vehicles with official licence plates (CD/AT/CC) to FDFA Protocol, which forwards these to the relevant embassy each quarter. Once the fines have been paid, copies of the receipts should be sent to FDFA Protocol.
Serious RTA violations not listed in the penalties catalogue (such as serious speeding offences or non-compliance with court orders or bans) are communicated by the police authorities to the cantonal public prosecutors' offices and then to the FDFA. FDFA Protocol then deals with each case separately and calls the offending driver to an interview.
Last update 12.06.2023
