Switzerland sets general limits of 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside them, 100 km/h on expressways and 120 km/h on motorways. The cantonal police decide how speed is measured. Swiss law also makes it an offence to warn the public of traffic controls, so this guide covers the rule in full.
| Road type | Cars |
|---|---|
| Towns | 50 km/h |
| Outside towns | 80 km/h |
| Expressways (Autostrassen) | 100 km/h |
| Motorways (Autobahnen) | 120 km/h |
What are the speed limits in Switzerland?
The general limits are in Art. 4a of the Swiss Traffic Rules Ordinance (VRV), and they apply under favourable road, traffic and visibility conditions.
- Towns: 50 km/h throughout the densely built-up area. The limit starts at the “50 general” sign and ends at the matching end sign.
- Outside towns: 80 km/h, except on expressways and motorways. This limit starts at the end of the town limit.
- Expressways (Autostrassen): 100 km/h, from the expressway sign to its end sign.
- Motorways (Autobahnen): 120 km/h.
Two details are easy to miss. A driver entering a town from a minor side road is bound by 50 km/h without any sign, as soon as dense building begins. And Art. 5 VRV sets a lower limit of 80 km/h for some vehicles, including those on studded tyres, so check the ordinance if your vehicle is not an ordinary car.
What kinds of speed cameras does Switzerland use?
Switzerland has no single national system, because cantonal police decide which measuring methods to use, according to the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA), quoted by Südostschweiz in July 2026.
- Fixed devices: St. Gallen police told the paper they use them only at accident hotspots.
- Mobile systems: the same police force relies on these for most of its measuring, and is adding drones.
- Average-speed control: this is very rare. The report says the only system, in the Arisdorf tunnel in Basel-Landschaft, is switched off because it has reached the end of its service life, and a replacement is undecided.
We found no current national camera count from a public authority, so this guide does not give one.
Are speed camera apps legal in Switzerland?
No. Art. 98a of the Swiss Road Traffic Act (SVG) makes it an offence to warn the public of official traffic controls, to offer a paid service that warns of them, or to use a device not primarily made for such warnings for that purpose. Devices intended to hinder, disrupt or defeat controls may not be imported, advertised, sold, fitted, carried or used in any form, and officers secure them for a court to confiscate and destroy. ASTRA said in 2007, under the earlier wording of the law, that it makes no difference whether a warning concerns a mobile check or a fixed measuring point, and that phones and navigation systems are covered. Checked on 30 October 2026 against the version of the Act dated 1 July 2026.
What should visiting drivers know about Switzerland?
- Speeds are in km/h, and the rules apply to everyone driving in Switzerland, whatever the country of registration.
- ASTRA’s 2007 guidance says a navigation device brought into the country must not contain warnings of Swiss traffic controls, so check yours before the border.
- Limits apply under favourable conditions. On passes, in rain or in snow, the safe speed is often well below the number on the sign.
- Neighbouring countries have their own rules: see Germany and Austria.
