Does anyone have any experience renting a car in Switzerland and driving to Italy? Is it true that rentals have a toll sticker already on them to cover the tolls in Switzerland? Concerning tolls in Italy, are they cash only or do they also accept plastic?
Thanks!
I can't be 100% certain of this, but if my memory serves me well (always a risky proposition), there are no toll roads in Switzerland. The sticker isn't like an EZ Pass that lets you through toll gates without stopping, it's required for all highway driving. At manned border crossings (Switzerland still has them), you can't even enter the country by car if you don't have one, although the guards will sell you the sticker. If you rent the car in Switzerland, the sticker should already be on the window. Sorry, I have no information about driving in Italy.
Tom,
Three years ago, we drove into Val Mustair (Switzerland) from Val Venosta (Italy) and were stopped at the border. While we had to show passports, when asked where we were going, we explained we were just going to Kloster St. Johann in Mustair and that we would be there for just a few hours. We were not told (nor asked) to buy the sticker for Switzerland. Very nice of them I guess. I'm glad that the same guards were there on our return a few hours later. At least they knew we didn't just give them a "story". Of course, this has nothing to do with the original question.
If you're renting the car in Switzerland, it should have a sticker, but check. As far as Italy, we always used cash, so I guess I'm no help here.
Paul
You can also use plastic for the tolls in Italy.
Here is a link that may be of help when driving in Italy.
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/autostrada.htm
The home page to the above link is here:
Thanks - this was very helpful!
I used cash at the toll booths in Italy but as I recall there is a plastic option.
It sounds like Switzerland uses a system like Austria, you buy a sticker to drive your car on the highways. Since it's a rental, the sticker may already be on the car.
In Italy, you take a ticket when you get on and pay when you get off. It's a good system but exits are far apart because they have booths at every exit. If you miss your turn (or go the wrong way), it's a long process to get off at the next exit, pay your toll, cross the freeway, take a ticket and get back on track. I highly recommend a GPS. We survived without one but would have been much happier with one.
Hi Gene,
I don't have the full answer to your question, but here is our experience: we rented a car in Munich; spent a few days in Bavaria/Tirol region, then drove to Muerren, Switzerland. While on the freeway in Austria we obeyed posted signs and stopped a freeway autostop and bought an Austria highway pass, which we displayed in our car window. When we entered Switzerland, the border guard told us we must buy a pass, which was available at a building just over the border. We did not drive through tolls after that, but our impression was that we would be stopped and fined by Swiss police if we did not have the pass. We also (separately) rented a car to drive from Umbria to Venice. We did pass through tolls, where we paid cash. Can't remember if credit cards were accepted but I would guess yes. Good luck!
You have some good advice offered here, but if I were you I would ask when you take your car about the highway stickers for the countries you plan to visit.
When I was there, some rental cars had them and others did not. Drivers often found out too late that they were violating the law by driving on the super highways without a sticker. Be sure to ask.
I agree with Carl-double check with the rental company. The only time I rented in Switzerland, the sticker was there. For anybody reading this: if you don't have a sticker, buy one before driving in Switzerland. They do enforce this law strictly. (I think someone talked about only going in for a short distance and the border patrol did not make them buy a ticket-It is not the border guards job to sell and make you use the sticker and they really don't care if you get a ticket because you don't have it.) Generally, you buy these stickers in gas stations, etc. You must have it to drive in Switzerland. The same is true with the Austrian Vignette. If I had a dollar for every person who has posted saying they didn't know or think they needed to buy one and got caught and fined: I would probably have enough to cover both my vignette and the Switzerland sticker for my trip this last fall. Italy-you pay as you go and it is the most expensive.
Connie
