Car / Motorcycle

Find out about the traffic rules! Even if you don't know a rule, you can be penalized for the mistake. For example:

• All vehicles must always drive on the right. 
• Be considerate of other road users.
• When driving cars and motorcycles, the lights must always be on.
• All persons in a car must wear seat belts. 

Maximum speed:

• 120 km/h on motorways
• 100 km/h on motorways
• 80 km/h outside built-up areas / city limits
• 50 km/h within built-up areas / city limits

If you drive a car or motorcycle, you will need a driver's license.

Do you have a foreign driver's license? This allows you to drive in Switzerland for a maximum of 12 months (from the date of entry). Exchange it for a Swiss driver's license as early as possible.

Canton of SG: Exchanging your driver's license

Contact
Road Traffic and Shipping Office of the Canton of St.  Gallen
Frongartenstrasse 5
9001 St. Gallen

Phone: +41 58 229 22 22
Email: info.stva@sg.ch

To be allowed to drive on the motorway, you need a Autobahn-Vignette . It costs CHF 40.00 and is valid for the current year. There are no daily or monthly vignettes.

Petrol station shops, the post office and customs sell the sticker. 

You can now also buy an electronic vignette: E-vignette

In winter, it happens that there is snow and black ice on the roads. That's why winter tyres make sense. There is no law that requires winter tires, but you must be able to control your vehicle in every situation.

In summer, summer tyres are useful due to high temperatures.

Children must be properly secured in the car.

Children under the age of 12 need a child seat in the car if they are shorter than 1.50 m.

For older children, the seat belt is sufficient.

Official parking spaces are marked and usually subject to charges.

In multi-storey car parks and in public car parks, there are ticket machines and parking meters where you can pay either in cash or by card or with an app.

In the case of blue parking spaces – "Blaue Zone " – you can park free of charge for a certain period of time. To do this, place your own blue parking disc with the current time clearly visible in the front of the car.

Do you want to transfer a vehicle from abroad to the Canton of St.Gallen?

You must register the foreign vehicle within 12 months of entering the country. Before registration, the vehicle must be presented to an inspection centre: 

• 9425 Thal / Buriet
• 8887 Mels
• 8722 Kaltbrunn
• 9245 Oberbüren

To register, you will need:

• vehicle liability insurance. You will receive proof of insurance from your insurance company.
• Registration from the country of origin (e.g. foreign vehicle registration document)
• confirmation that the vehicle has been cleared through customs
• the inspection report you receive from customs or your car repair shop / garage
• an identity card (identity card, passport or foreigner's identity card)
• a confirmation of residence or a certificate of registration

Further information from the Canton of St.Gallen can be found here: Vehicle import

For registration and if you have any questions, please contact:

Road Traffic and Shipping Office of the Canton of St.Gallen
Frongartenstrasse 5
9001 St.Gallen

Phone: +41 58 229 22 22
Email: info.stva@sg.ch

To drive a car or a motorcycle, you need a driver's license. To do this, you will need to attend courses and take two exams (theory and practice).

The minimum age for the courses and the theory exam is 17 years, for the practical exam 18 years.

Prerequisites for driving test

Your vehicle must be regularly inspected for road safety and environmental emissions.

This applies to any vehicle registered in the Canton of St.Gallen. It is not possible to waive this obligation to check.

Further information can be found here: Vehicle inspection of the Canton of St.Gallen

You will be automatically summoned based on your place of residence and the exam interval. You can reschedule the received appointment here if you can't set it up:

Postponement of vehicle inspection

The Road Traffic Act requires the conclusion of compulsory motor liability insurance.

This insurance is necessary so that a driver does not have to pay for personal injury and/or property damage caused himself.

If you've ever been involved in a car crash, then you know that the cost of damage can get very expensive very quickly.