Fines in Switzerland 2024: speeding
Speeding can be expensive. Comparis shows the current fines in Switzerland for speeding in built-up areas, outside urban areas and on the motorway.
04.01.2024
iStock/Darwel
1. How much are speeding fines in Switzerland?
According to government recommendations, the fines for speeding in Switzerland are as follows (fines and penalties may vary according to canton).
Speeding fines in Swiss francs
Built-up areas
| Excess speed | Fine/penalty |
|---|---|
| 1-5 km/h | 40.– |
| 6-10 km/h | 120.– |
| 11-15 km/h | 250.– |
| 16-20 km/h | Criminal charge, warning |
| 21-24 km/h | Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 1 month |
| 25+ km/h | Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 3 months |
| 40+ km/h (30 zone) 50+ km/h (50 zone) |
Serious speeding Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 2 years, assessment of fitness to drive |
Outside built-up areas
| Excess speed | Fine/penalty |
|---|---|
| 1-5 km/h | 40.– |
| 6-10 km/h | 100.– |
| 11-15 km/h | 160.– |
| 16-20 km/h | 240.– |
| 21-25 km/h | Criminal charge, warning |
| 26-29 km/h | Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 1 month |
| 30-59 km/h | Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 3 months |
| 60+ km/h | Serious speeding Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 2 years, assessment of fitness to drive |
Motorway
| Excess speed | Fine/penalty |
|---|---|
| 1-5 km/h | 20.– |
| 6-10 km/h | 60.– |
| 11-15 km/h | 120.– |
| 16-20 km/h | 180.– |
| 21-25 km/h | 260.– |
| 26-30 km/h | Criminal charge, warning |
| 31-34 km/h | Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 1 month |
| 35-79 km/h | Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 3 months |
| 80+ km/h | Serious speeding Criminal charge, driving licence revoked for at least 2 years, assessment of fitness to drive |
Good to know: violations of regulations that are punished in administrative penalty proceedings are listed in the Federal Ordinance on Administrative Penalties.
2. When could I get a warning, criminal charge, or have my driving licence revoked?
Extremely minor traffic violations are often punishable by an administrative fine. No further measures are likely to be taken in addition to the fine in such cases.
However, for minor, moderate and severe offences, you could face criminal charges, warnings, or have your driving licence revoked.
Minor traffic offences
If you commit a minor traffic violation, you should expect a criminal charge and a warning. If you commit another minor offence, your licence may be revoked.
Minor traffic violations include:
Exceeding the speed limit by 16 km/h in built-up areas.
Exceeding the speed limit by 21 km/h outside built-up areas.
Exceeding the speed limit by 26 km/h on the motorway.
Liability insurance is mandatory
If you cause injury or damage to others on the road, it could cost you a lot of money. This is why vehicle liability insurance is mandatory in Switzerland.
Moderate traffic offences
If you commit a moderate traffic violation, you should expect to receive a criminal charge and have your driving licence revoked for at least one month.
Moderate traffic violations include:
Exceeding the speed limit by 21 km/h in built-up-areas.
Exceeding the speed limit by 26 km/h outside built-up areas.
Exceeding the speed limit by 31 km/h on the motorway.
Serious traffic offences
If you commit a serious traffic violation, you should expect to receive a criminal charge and have your driving licence revoked for at least three months.
Serious traffic violations include:
Exceeding the speed limit by 25 km/h in built-up areas.
Exceeding the speed limit by 30 km/h outside built-up areas.
Exceeding the speed limit by 35 km/h on the motorway.
Serious speeding offences
Driving at particularly high speeds is known as a “serious speeding offence”. It is punished especially harshly.
Minor, moderate or severe traffic violations and serious speeding offences trigger two different procedures:
Criminal proceedings (prosecuting authorities)
Administrative measures (Road Traffic Office)
These two procedures take place independently of one another. However, they are based on the same police report. Administrative measures include warnings, suspension of your driving licence and driver re-education courses. Criminal proceedings may result in imprisonment, for example.
3. Speed cameras in Switzerland: what tolerance margins apply?
Speed checks are never completely accurate. That’s why the law grants what is known as a tolerance margin for speed measurements.
The tolerance margins depend on the method of measurement. This table shows the differences:
| Measurement type | up to 100 km/h | 101-150 km/h | over 151 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radar | 5 km/h | 6 km/h | 7 km/h |
| Laser | 3 km/h | 4 km/h | 5 km/h |
| Fixed radar on bends | 10 km/h | 14 km/h | – |
| Moving radar (on a mobile measuring vehicle) | 7 km/h | 8 km/h | 9 km/h |
| Fixed traffic sensors | 5 km/h | 6 km/h | 7 km/h |
| Section speed control | 5 km/h | 6 km/h | 7 km/h |
4. Which speed limits apply in Switzerland, and where?
General speed limits in Switzerland
Differing speed limits
In addition to the general speed limits, different speed limits apply on numerous sections of the road.
As is customary worldwide, these are signalled on a round white panel with a red border. The black number sets the maximum speed.
5. Harsh penalties for new drivers
The Swiss Federal Road Traffic Act stipulates more stringent penalties for new drivers than for experienced drivers.
Example: if you’re caught drink driving, the regular probationary period for new drivers is extended by one year.
6. Fines in Switzerland: common administrative fines
There are some road traffic rules that many drivers forget about or neglect. Here you can find an overview of common administrative fines.
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Failure to carry driving licence | 20.– |
| Exceeding permitted parking time by up to 2 hours | 40.– |
| Using phone without hands-free set | 100.– |
| Failure to display parking disc | 40.– |
| Stopping on a zebra crossing | 80.– |
| Failure to give way at a zebra crossing | 140.– |
| Running the engine to warm it up unnecessarily | 60.– |
| Overtaking on the right on the motorway (new rule in 2021) | 250.– |
| Failure to form a rescue lane on the motorway (new rule in 2021) | 100.– |
| Failure to observe the zipper merge system on the motorway (new rule in 2021) | 100.– |
| Failure to display the motorway vignette sticker | 200.– |
| Running a red light (the penalty may be higher depending on the danger posed) |
250.– |
7. Summary
If you don’t comply with road traffic laws, you risk large fines and other consequences.
Good to know:
Administrative fines can be due in the event of particularly minor violations.
You can have your driving licence revoked in the case of moderate and serious traffic offences, or if you repeatedly commit minor offences.
New drivers must be especially careful as they are punished more severely.
This article was first published on 30.03.2021
