We just returned from Switzerland yesterday. We thought we were going to return this year, but will not be able to. so the Swiss vignette we bought & placed on our dashboard (not on the windshield) to be able to use again next month, is still in our possession. It is good through the end of 2013. Can I re-sell this to someone at a discount? We paid 40 SF and I have dated receipt for it.
I hesitate to post this, but I am sure the regular help line police will let me know if this is not a good idea.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Technically, because you never attached the vignette to the windshield, you never "validated" it. You're actually quite lucky that the Swiss polizei didn't stop you, as you would have paid a hefty fine. It's also illegal to resell vignettes, so I won't get into that...
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1046 posts
A Vignette is car specific and as Tom said, unless you have the vignette attached to the windshield the Swiss police will treat you as if you had none and fine you accordingly. Placing a vignette on your dashboard or attempting to sell one can be prosecuted as a criminal offense by the local advocate and if convicted you'd be listed as having a criminal record on the Schengen system. Which could make travel difficult in the future.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33840 posts
It is a Helpline guideline violation to assist anybody in a criminal act, and it is a guideline violation to sell things on the Helpline. Lynne, you may have escaped a large fine having failed to legally affix the vignette to the windscreen but don't breathe too easily for a while. You may have been caught by a camera and after some time you may receive an expensive fine in the mail. The instructions to correctly affix the vignette are printed clearly on the media complete with pictures.
Posted by
Germany, Germany
813 posts
I also have to comment as a warning to others that not following proper procedure...for whatever reason, not understanding, wanting to save money, etc......is no excuse according to the Swiss authorities. Lynne, I would absolutely expect you to be receiving a fine in the mail shortly even if you don't remember getting flashed, there's enough cameras there that I can't imagine not being caught, especially if you crossed into another country and back in to CH.
Posted by
OP
Knoxville TN
115 posts
I was not tryng to do anything illegal. I was specifically told when I bought the vignette at the border it was good for the rest of the year. I guess I should have deduced it would be for a specific car only, as toll tags are here in the states. But since the man seling it to me knew I was in a rental car, it did not occur to me that I could not use it next month in a different automobile. I have always bought the vignette for Austria and Switzerland in the 15 or more times I have been there. The car was parked 3 days in Lauterbrunnen and then driven directly to Zurich. I guess this will be an expensive oversight on my part. And I was trying to let someone else use the vignette, since my next months trip changed.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
So if you rent a car in Switzerland, buy the vignette and attach it as required, then return the car after a week or 2, what becomes of the vignette? Does it stay on the car and remain valid for the rest of its period, so that the rental agency can rent it with an already-attached vignette? If so, can one therefore request a car with a used vignette already attached? I've only rented at the Geneva airport French side, and avoided traveling where I'd need a vignette, so I have no idea how this works.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Supposedly, the rental agencies remove the vignettes after you return the car.