Swiss Traffic Fines — what does each violation cost?
The complete Swiss fine catalogue for cars and motorcycles on one page: speeding fines, phone at the wheel, seatbelt, parking, blue zone, red light, right-of-way, motorbike duties. The interactive calculator handles speed violations at the top; the OBV catalogue is sorted by category below — every amount from the Ordnungsbussenverordnung (OBV, SR 314.11), Annex 1.
Updated: July 2026 · every amount verified against OBV Annex 1 (as of 1 July 2026) · by DriveLab driving school
At a glance
- Legal basis OBV (SR 314.11) Standardised Fines Ordinance
- Max. standard fine CHF 300 above: prosecution
- Speed in-town from CHF 40 for +1–5 km/h
- Phone at the wheel CHF 100 per drive
- Seatbelt missing CHF 60 per person
- Running a red light CHF 250 red on entry
- Parking fine CHF 40–120 depending on offence
- Motorbike no light CHF 40 daytime-light required
What changes from 1 July 2026: passing vs. overtaking on the right
With the revision of the Standardised Fines Ordinance (OBV), the Traffic Rules Ordinance (VRV) and the Signalisation Ordinance (SSV), new fixed fines apply to passing on the right. The federal government removes an inequality: previously the often harmless passing on the right was prosecuted criminally (a report plus possible licence measures), while the more dangerous right-side overtaking was only a standard fine. Now mere passing is a fixed standard fine.
- Passing on the right on a motorway / expressway CHF 200 new: fixed fine instead of a criminal report
- Passing on the right on multi-lane main & secondary roads CHF 100 newly covered
- Overtaking on the right (swing out & merge back) CHF 140 / 250 remains prohibited: 140 on main/secondary roads, 250 on motorways/expressways
- Circumventing a traffic island on the left (car / motorbike) CHF 100 Art. 7 VRV
- Circumventing a traffic island on the left (bicycle / moped) CHF 30
Note: Key distinction: passing on the right = staying in your own lane and passing slower vehicles. Overtaking on the right = actively swinging out to the right and merging back — this remains prohibited.
Source: Standardised Fines Ordinance (OBV, SR 314.11), Annex 1, revision effective 1 July 2026.
Speed-fine calculator: enter your speed
Enter the speed limit and the measured speed. The calculator shows the net excess and whether the case is still a standard fine or already a regular procedure.
Speeding fines in Switzerland: the OBV catalogue by road type
The following amounts are standardised fines (fixed values). The decisive figure is the net excess (after the safety deduction).
- 30 km/h zone: signed residential / school-area zone. Has its own SSK thresholds for higher excesses.
- In town: applies from the "general 50 km/h" sign (Art. 4a VRV). On unsigned side roads it kicks in automatically once dense built-up area begins — not only at the locality entry sign.
- Out of town: 80 km/h outside built-up areas; often reduced to 60 km/h in tricky stretches. Expressway (100 km/h) is treated the same way in the OBV.
- Motorway: green-signed routes, default limit 120 km/h. (Expressway = blue signage, 100 km/h.)
| Excess (net) | 30 km/h zone | In town (50) | Out of town (60/80) / Expressway (100) | Motorway (120) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 km/h | 40 CHF | 40 CHF | 40 CHF | 20 CHF |
| 6–10 km/h | 120 CHF | 120 CHF | 100 CHF | 60 CHF |
| 11–15 km/h | 250 CHF | 250 CHF | 160 CHF | 120 CHF |
| 16–20 km/h | Report | Report | 240 CHF | 180 CHF |
| 21–25 km/h | Report | Report | Report | 260 CHF |
| from 26 km/h | Report | Report | Report | Report |
Note: As soon as "Report" applies, the fixed OBV amount no longer applies — criminal proceedings/penalty order and procedural costs follow.
Fines for phone at the wheel, seatbelt & lights
The most common everyday fines in a car — phone, seatbelt, lights. A few seconds of inattention are enough.
Phone at the wheel: calling without a hands-free kit
Holding the phone while driving — also at a red light (Art. 3 para. 1 VRV).
Typing / reading on a smartphone
Not a separate OBV item. Anything beyond merely holding the phone is treated as a gross traffic-rule violation and is normally handled as a criminal report.
Seatbelt not fastened
Applies to all occupants, front and back — fine per person. Driver: item 312.1, passengers themselves: item 800.1.
Child without child seat / booster
Child restraint required up to age 12 or height 150 cm — the driver is fined, per child.
Driving without lights during the day
Daytime running lights are mandatory in Switzerland since 2014. No lights at night on a lit road or in a tunnel: 60.
Fog lights / rear fog light without reason
Misuse of fog lights, rear fog lights, search or work lamps: CHF 40 each.
Parking fines: parking & stopping
Parking offences are the most common Swiss standard fine. The amount depends on severity — from an expired blue-zone disc to a disabled bay.
No-parking zone (signal 2.50) — parking
Tiered by duration: 40 (up to 2 h), 60 (2–4 h), 100 (4–10 h). The same tiers apply to yellow no-parking lines and fields (items 255/256).
No-stopping zone (signal 2.49)
Stopping in a posted no-stopping zone: 80. Parking there (up to 60 min): 120.
Blue-zone time exceeded — tiered 40 / 60 / 100
CHF 40 up to 2 h over, CHF 60 up to 4 h, CHF 100 up to 10 h. More than 10 h: regular proceedings instead of a standard fine.
Parking disc missing, set wrongly or re-adjusted
CHF 40 each: disc not clearly visible, wrong arrival time set, or disc re-adjusted without driving away (Art. 48a SSV).
Parked on the pavement
CHF 120 when less than 1.5 m is left for pedestrians (up to 60 min). If 1.5 m stays clear: tiered 40–100 (item 249).
Unauthorised use of a disabled parking space
Parking an unauthorised vehicle in a bay reserved for disabled persons (up to 60 min). Misusing the disabled card: also 120.
Obstructive parking on a cycle path
Obstructive parking on a cycle path (up to 60 min). Even brief loading is risky.
Parking / stopping within 5 m of a crosswalk
Parking: 120 (up to 60 min), stopping: 80. Applies on the carriageway without a no-stopping line; junctions analogous (item 212).
Stopping at blind spots / in narrow sections
CHF 80 each: stopping near curves and crests, in narrow sections or next to an obstacle in the carriageway.
Parked in front of someone's driveway
Tiered 40 (up to 2 h), 60 (2–4 h), 100 (4–10 h). The affected party can additionally have the car removed.
Right-of-way & signals
Right-of-way and traffic signals are among the more expensive standard fines. Any clear endangerment turns it into a criminal report.
Running a red light
CHF 250 OBV for a brief violation ("fresh red", <1 s after the change). Crossing later or endangering others triggers a criminal report.
Stop sign: no complete halt (rolling stop)
Without coming to a complete stop at the line.
Yield sign / vehicle right-of-way ignored
No fixed OBV amount: forcing priority traffic to brake or swerve normally leads to a criminal report — fine set in proceedings, possible licence measures.
Failing to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk
Pedestrians are forced to hesitate or stop. Concrete endangerment: criminal report instead of the fine.
Overtaking ban ignored
No fixed OBV amount: overtaking despite the ban or across the solid line usually counts as a gross violation → criminal report. Only merely crossing the solid line in town is a standard fine (140, item 341).
Overtaking on the right (active swing-out & merge-back)
Remains prohibited. On main and secondary roads: CHF 140 (Art. 8 para. 3 VRV). On motorways and expressways: CHF 250 (Art. 36 para. 5 VRV). Plain lane changes do not count.
Unlawful passing on the right on a motorway / expressway New
NEW from 1 July 2026: staying in your own lane and passing slower vehicles on the right (no lane change) is now a fixed standard fine instead of a criminal report. Art. 36 para. 5 VRV.
Unlawful passing on the right on multi-lane main & secondary roads New
NEW from 1 July 2026: same manoeuvre as on the motorway, but on multi-lane main and secondary roads. Art. 8 para. 3 VRV.
Circumventing a traffic island on the left New
NEW from 1 July 2026 as a standard fine: motor vehicle CHF 100, bicycle / moped CHF 30 (item 626). Art. 7 VRV.
Zip-merge rule ignored
Lane closure: merge alternately just before the lane ends (Art. 8 para. 5 VRV).
Following distance clearly too short
"Half the speedometer" rule; clear violation → prosecution + licence measures.
Failure to form an emergency corridor
Mandatory on motorways / expressways during congestion since 2021 (Art. 36 para. 7 VRV).
Driving on the hard shoulder (motorway / expressway)
The hard shoulder is reserved for emergencies — not a lane, even in a traffic jam (Art. 36 para. 3 VRV).
Stranded on the motorway: fuel tank / battery empty
Coming to a stop on the hard shoulder or a breakdown bay because you ran out of fuel or charge is a standard fine (Art. 29 SVG).
Crossing the solid line (in town)
Crossing a solid safety line in town (Art. 34 para. 2 SVG). Out of town or while overtaking: normally a criminal report.
Motorbike / scooter — specific duties
Motorbike-specific: helmet, daytime lights, pillion duties. Other offences (speed, red light, right-of-way) match the car schedule.
Helmet missing or worn incorrectly
Motorcycle rider (Cat. A/A1/A35) — a loose chin strap counts as not worn. (Moped under OBV item 601: only CHF 30.)
Pillion rider without a helmet
Adult pillion riders are fined themselves (item 800.2). For children under 12 the rider is liable (item 313.2, also 60).
Daytime lights not switched on
Motorbikes must always run with lights (dipped beam or DRL).
Lane-splitting between two lanes
Not generally permitted in Switzerland; active passing usually leads to prosecution.
Noise violation (modified exhaust)
Non-compliant exhaust → roadside check + criminal report.
Extra person on the motorbike
Carrying more people than the approved number of seats (Art. 60 para. 2 VRV).
Riding the motorbike on the pavement
Riding a motorcycle on a pavement (Art. 43 para. 2 SVG).
Permits & documents
Mandatory permits and administrative offences — generally low amounts, but problematic when repeated.
Driving licence not carried
You must carry the licence on every drive (Art. 10 para. 4 SVG). Learner permit not carried: also 20.
Vehicle registration not carried
The grey registration card must be present on every drive (Art. 10 para. 4 SVG).
Learner permit: driving without supervisor
Cat. B: supervisor ≥23 holding the licence ≥3 years required. Driving unaccompanied is not a standard fine → criminal report.
Probationary period: second entry
Result: annulment of the licence + retaking the driving test.
Number plate not properly fitted
Plate loose, crooked or wrongly mounted (Art. 45 para. 2 VTS). Plate not clearly legible: 60 (item 330).
Driving without a required number plate
One or both plates entirely missing — substantially higher OBV bracket.
Motorway vignette missing / invalid
Flat CHF 200 (Art. 14 NSAG) — the annual vignette (CHF 40) must be bought on top.
Vehicle condition & equipment
Vehicle condition: tyre tread, brake lights, load securing, visibility. Inspected on the spot when visible.
Defective tyre (e.g. tread below 1.6 mm)
Driving with a defective tyre (Art. 58 para. 4 VTS). With several defective tyres, fines can accumulate.
Lights covered (load, bike rack)
Driving with lights covered by a load or carrier: 60. Covered number plate: also 60 (item 333). Actually defective lights: deficiency notice or report depending on hazard.
Sight obstructed by snow / ice
No fixed OBV amount: driving with iced or snow-covered windows (or roof) means an unroadworthy vehicle — normally a criminal report (Art. 29 SVG).
Inadequate load securing
No fixed OBV amount: unsecured load (skis, bikes, furniture) endangers others → normally a criminal report (Art. 30 SVG).
Letting the engine idle while parked
Unnecessarily letting the engine of a stationary vehicle idle (or warm up) — including while scraping ice (Art. 33 VRV).
Alcohol & drugs at the wheel
Alcohol is not handled as a flat-rate OBV fine — from 0.5‰ on a criminal proceeding is essentially always opened. The detailed limits, consequences and the 0.0‰ rule for novice drivers live on our dedicated page.
Open Swiss alcohol limits →What happens beyond the standard fine?
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1. Standard fine (OBV)
Fixed amount up to CHF 300. Payable within 30 days, no entry in the criminal record, no impact on the driving licence.
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2. Criminal report / penalty order
Triggered when the OBV cap is exceeded or the offence is more serious — procedural costs, fine or daily-rate monetary penalty.
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3. Driving-licence measures
Warning, suspension from light offences (1 month) up to annulment during the probationary period or after a Raserdelikt.
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4. Recovery
Depending on the offence: traffic-psychology assessment, MPU, refresher courses — required before the licence is handed back.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Swiss "Ordnungsbusse" (standardised fine)?
A simplified administrative procedure with a fixed amount (max. CHF 300). It applies to clearly defined offences in the Ordnungsbussenverordnung (OBV). No criminal record entry, no impact on the driving licence.
When is a criminal report opened instead of a fine?
As soon as the OBV no longer applies — e.g. when the speed excess is too high (in town ≥16 km/h net, out of town ≥21, motorway ≥26), in clear following-distance violations, or with clear endangerment — proper criminal proceedings are opened.
What changes from 1 July 2026 for passing on the right?
Since 1 July 2026 unlawful passing on the right is a fixed standard fine: CHF 200 on motorways/expressways, CHF 100 on multi-lane main and secondary roads. Previously the same manoeuvre often led to a criminal report with possible licence measures. Important: passing on the right (staying in your own lane) is not the same as overtaking on the right (actively swinging out and merging back) — the latter remains prohibited and costs CHF 140 on main/secondary roads and CHF 250 on motorways/expressways (OBV item 314). This follows the revised OBV/VRV/SSV.
How much is the fine for 60 in a 50 zone?
A net excess of 6–10 km/h (in town) is CHF 120. "Net" means after a safety deduction — typically −5 km/h up to 100 km/h on radar.
What does using a phone at the wheel cost?
Calling without a hands-free kit is CHF 100. Typing or reading on a smartphone often falls under "gross distraction" and triggers a criminal report.
Is the seatbelt fine per person?
Yes. CHF 60 for every unbelted occupant, front or back. A child without the proper child seat (up to age 12 or 150 cm) adds another CHF 60.
What are the consequences of running a red light?
Just after the change ("fresh red", within the first second) → CHF 250 standard fine. If the light had been red longer or you endangered others, the case becomes a criminal report — possibly with a penalty order and licence measures.
What is the fine for driving without a motorway vignette?
A flat CHF 200 plus CHF 40 for a new annual vignette — totalling CHF 240, payable on the spot.
Are car and motorcycle fines different?
For most offences (speeding, red light, right-of-way) the amounts are identical. Motorbike-specific items are the helmet rule (CHF 30), the daytime-light obligation (CHF 40) and the fact that lane-splitting is not generally permitted in Switzerland.
What is a "Raserdelikt"?
Extreme speed violations (net): from +40 km/h in 30 zones, +50 km/h in town, +60 km/h on rural roads / expressways, +80 km/h on motorways. Result: criminal proceedings, prison sentence, at least two years of licence withdrawal.
Does a Swiss standard fine affect the driving licence?
A pure standard fine (OBV) never leads to a criminal-record entry or to driving-licence measures. The moment a criminal report is opened, the road-traffic office can impose measures.
Caught at 50 in a 30 zone — what happens?
The safety deduction is subtracted from the measured 50 km/h first (radar −5, laser −3). With radar the net excess is +15 km/h — the top standard-fine bracket in a 30 zone: CHF 250. With laser it is +17 km/h net, which is beyond the standard fine: a criminal report follows; prosecution guide values start at CHF 400 plus procedural costs, and depending on the case an administrative measure looms (warning up to licence withdrawal). From +40 km/h net in a 30 zone the Raserdelikt rules apply.
Caught at 70 in a 50 zone — what to expect?
After the safety deduction, +15 to +17 km/h net remain. At +15 (radar): CHF 250 standard fine, no further consequences. From +16 net: criminal report with a CHF 400 guide value plus costs. From around +21 km/h net in town a licence withdrawal is added, from +25 a daily-rate monetary penalty. From +50 km/h net in town: Raserdelikt.
How high are the fines on the motorway?
Motorway speeding fines: CHF 20 (+1–5 km/h net), 60 (+6–10), 120 (+11–15), 180 (+16–20), 260 (+21–25). From +26 km/h net a criminal report follows. Motorway-specific fines on top: driving on the hard shoulder 140, failing to form an emergency corridor 100, passing on the right 200, overtaking on the right 250, stranded with an empty tank or battery 120.
Is there an official Swiss fine catalogue?
Yes. The official federal catalogue is Annex 1 of the Ordnungsbussenverordnung (OBV, SR 314.11) — a list of over a thousand offences with fixed amounts from CHF 20 to 300. This page summarises the positions most relevant to drivers and riders; every amount is verified against the consolidated version as of 1 July 2026.
What does parking in the blue zone without a disc cost?
CHF 40 — the same as a wrongly set or re-adjusted disc (OBV items 202/203). Exceeding the permitted time is tiered: CHF 40 (up to 2 h), 60 (2–4 h), 100 (4–10 h); beyond that, regular proceedings follow. All rules, times and the official disc table are in our blue-zone guide.
Can I contest a standard fine?
You can reject the fine within 30 days — proper proceedings are then opened and usually end up more expensive (with procedural costs). Contesting is worthwhile mainly if the alleged offence is wrong.
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