Driving from Milan to Locarno and I know I'll need to purchase a vignette, but must I/can I do this before entering Switzerland? Where on the windscreen do I affix the sticker? Will be doing the same in Slovenia. Can I purchase both from the rental car agency in Milan? Anything else I should know?
Thanks
In Italy, the Swiss vignette can be found only at major branches of ACI (automobile club). If my memory serves, in Milan should be at Corso Venezia.
If you drive from Milan to Switzerland on the motorway, a custom officer at the Chiasso/Brogeda border point will direct cars without the vignette to a separate lane where vignettes are sold on the spot - you can pay in CHF or EUR, but the CHF price is a little lower.
If you enter Switzerland at a non-motorway border point, the vignette is not checked. It is your responsibility to buy it (for example at a post office) before entering any motorway. If you are found on a motorway without a vignette, fines are stinging.
If you are going to the Locarno area only, you do not require a vignette if using secondary roads. It will add a bit of time to your trip.
The Vignette is a toll payment for using Motorway/Autobahn/Autoroute/Autostrade. A Swiss Vignette costs CHF 40 per calendar year.
Logically, you must buy it before you drive on a Swiss Autobahn. If you cross the border on an Autobahn, there are two lanes, one for vehicles that already have a Vignette, one for those without one, where you buy one. See photo here: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/25888767.jpg
You stick it top centre on your windscreen.
If you cross on a non-Autobahn road, you can still stop and buy a Vignette at the border if the border post is manned. Otherwise you can buy them at Post Offices and sometimes at fuel stations. The rental agency may sell you one, or if you are really lucky the car will already have been driven in Switzerland in 2017 and will already have a Vignette.
If you never intend to drive on an Autobahn you don't have to buy one.
In essence, it works the same way in Slovenia. The only difference is that there are shorter-duration vignettes available. A 7-day vignette costs €15, a 30-day vignette costs €30.
You can buy one at gas stations and kiosks in Slovenia and in neighbouring countries, too. For example, if you'll be driving there via the Italian A4 autostrada, most service areas after Venice will have the Slovenian vignette in stock. You can also buy it at the border crossing (there is a gas station or other point of sale there), but if you cross on the motorway that is your last resort. After that, you are liable for a steep fine. On non-motorway crossings you can safely drive into the country and stop at the first gas station. Like in Switzerland, you won't need one if you don't enter the motorway. Note that there is no control on the Slovenian-Italian or Slovenian-Austrian border, so there will be no one to direct you to the vignette point of sale, you must do it on your own.
If you'll be driving through Austria, you may need an Austrian vignette, too.
