To enter the Swiss environmental zones with your car you will need a Swiss environmental badge. Referred to as Stick'AIR, it was introduced in 2020 to reduce air pollution in one of its major cities, Geneva, the global hub for diplomacy and banking. More cantons and cities are expected to launch zones at a later date.
Buy vignette
The Stick'AIR sticker is a physical sticker that must be attached to a vehicle's windshield. It is mandatory if you plan to drive in the Geneva low-emission zone as part of the Swiss pollution scheme. You can quickly and easily purchase the sticker vignette on Tollwayr using PayPal, online banking, or a credit card. A confirmation will be sent to your email address followed by a vignette via mail.
Environmental Zones in Swiss Cantons
On January 15, 2020, Switzerland officially banned the most polluting vehicles from driving through the center of Geneva during pollution peaks. Following the French sticker-based system to promote cleaner air, Switzerland introduced its own environmental badge. The rules are much stricter than what you'll find in other European low emission zones. This came as part of its long-term low emission development strategy. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030, as compared to 1990.
The creation of Swiss Low Emission Zones (LEZ) aims to dramatically reduce air pollution in urban areas like Geneva while promoting sustainable urban mobility.
Environmental Sticker For Geneva
The mandatory use of the environmental badge for Switzerland currently applies to the city of Geneva and part of the surrounding municipalities of Vernier, Lancy, Cologny, and Carouge. Vehicles without the environmental sticker and those with an insufficient sticker class (depending on the duration and level of the air pollution peak), are not permitted to drive in this zone between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. You do not need the sticker on the motorways around Geneva. You DO need a Swiss vignette if you drive on the Swiss motorways.
If you have a French Crit'Air sticker, it is accepted in Switzerland, however, the Swiss Stick'AIR cannot be used in France.
The Stick’AIR categories
The Swiss vignette (emissions sticker) comes in six different categories, differentiated by color. The numbers on the stickers are white and represent the various pollutant classes (not the Euro standard). To obtain the Stick'AIR, the minimum standard for petrol and diesel, Euro 2 and 3 respectively, must be met.
If you have a French Crit'Air sticker, it is accepted in Switzerland, however, the Swiss Stick'AIR cannot be used in France.
| Badge |
Type of Vehicle |
Buy Sticker |
|
E- Green
|
Electric and hydrogen
|
Buy
|
|
1- Purple
|
Euro 5 and 6 (petrol) |
Buy
|
|
2- Yellow
|
Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 5 and 6 (diesel) |
Buy
|
|
3- Orange
|
Euro 2 and 3 (petrol) and Euro 4 (diesel) |
Buy
|
|
4- Burgundy
|
Euro 3 (diesel) |
Buy
|
|
5- Grey
|
Euro 2 (diesel) |
Buy
|
Pollution Peak Scheme In Switzerland
Switzerland follows a strict pollution scheme. This scheme directly influences which vehicles are allowed into the zone. During pollution peaks, traffic in Geneva's center is temporarily prohibited to the most polluting vehicles. The differentiated traffic zone is divided into four categories based on pollution levels:
-
No pollution peak
-
Activation level
-
Warning level
-
Emergency level
These different categories determine when certain types of vehicles can enter the LEZ and which are banned, as shown in the table below:
|
Fine particules PM10 |
Ozone O3 |
Nitrogen dioxide NO2 |
|
OPAir limit values
|
50 µg/m3 (average per 24 hours)
|
120 µg/m3 (hourly average)
|
80 µg/m3 (average per 24 hours) |
| Activation level |
Forecast > 50 µg/m3 |
Forecast > 180 µg/m3 |
Forecast > 80 µg/m3 |
| Warning level |
1 station > 50 µg/m3 for 24 hours |
1 station > 180 µg/m3 for 3 consecutive hours |
1 station > 80 µg/m3 for 24 hours |
| 3 stations in 2 French- speaking cantons > 180 µg/m3 |
| Emergency level |
2 stations > 50 µg/m3 for 4 days |
2 stations > 180 µg/m3 for 4 days |
2 stations > 80 µg/m3 for 4 days |
| 2 stations > 75 µg/m3 for 2 days |
2 stations > 200 µg/m3 for 4 days |
2 stations > 100 µg/m3 for 4 days |
| 3 stations in 2 French-speaking cantons > 75 µg/m3 |
| Lifting of measures |
Measurements below activation level for 24 hours or weather forecasts favourable to pollutant reduction |
Buy A Swiss Environmental Badge
Swiss Stick'AIR stickers can be purchased online at Tollwayr, at garages, petrol stations, and directly from the Office cantonal des véhicules (Cantonal Office for Vehicles). Keep in mind that if you already have a French Crit'Air sticker, there's no need to buy one for Switzerland.
Steps to Purchase a Stick'AIR Sticker at Tollwayr
We highly recommend buying the Stick'AIR online at Tollwayr. This is the most convenient option, taking less than one minute to purchase at a cost of €29.95, including shipment to EU countries. Delivery is by post and takes 3-5 working days.
To ship the Stick'AIR sticker to you, we will need the following:
- License plate details
- Fuel type
- Vehicle category
- Permissible total weight
- Vehicle’s EURO emission standard
- Full name and delivery address
Our stickers are machine printed and are officially issued by the “République et canton de Genève".
Buy
Fines and Enforcement
Enforcement of the Swiss low-emission zone regulations includes checks carried out by the police. Those who violate the law can be fined up to 500 CHF (530 EUR). It's important to note that the regulations apply to vehicles registered abroad and in other Swiss cantons.
Swiss Stick’AIR Exemptions
Some vehicles are exempt from the Swiss Stick'AIR exemptions, including:
- Registered diplomatic (CD) vehicles
- Consular (CC) vehicles
- Vehicles with a parking card or sticker for the disabled
- Vehicles that provide professional transport services
- E-bikes
- Mopeds
- Bicycles
FAQ
Yes, you can use your French Crit'Air sticker in Switzerland. Although Switzerland has its own system called Stick'AIR, the Crit'Air sticker is accepted in Switzerland.
No, you cannot use the Swiss Stick'AIR vignette in France. Just as the Crit'Air sticker is required in French low-emission zones, the Stick'AIR is specific to Switzerland and cannot be used as a substitute in France.
Yes, if you drive into a Swiss low-emission zone without a valid Stick'AIR vignette, you may be fined. The fines can be significant (around 500 CHF/530 EUR), so it is important to ensure that you have the correct vignette before entering these zones.
Low-emission zones in Switzerland are clearly marked with signs indicating that a Stick'AIR vignette is required. These signs usually display the word "Umweltzone" (environmental zone) along with the vignette categories allowed in that zone. It is essential to pay attention to road signs when driving in urban areas.
Yes, if you are driving a rental car in Switzerland and plan to enter a low-emission zone, you will need to ensure that the vehicle has a valid Stick'AIR vignette. Some rental companies may provide the vignette, but it is crucial to confirm this with the rental agency. If not provided, you must purchase one.
Delivery times for the Stick'AIR vignette can vary, but it generally takes about 5 to 10 business days for the sticker to arrive if ordered online or by mail. It is advisable to order it well in advance of your trip to ensure you have it on time. Tollwayr offers expedited shipping for an additional fee.
Environmental Zones in Neighbouring Countries
Italy
E- Green
1- Purple
2- Yellow
3- Orange
4- Burgundy
5- Grey
Austria
France
Italy
Germany