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Driving in Zurich - Zurich Car Rentals, Travel to Zurich by Road from Europe and General Information

(for Zurich car rental information click here)

Basic Requirements for Driving in Switzerland

Breakdowns: Should be reported to the central Switzerland-wide emergency number, 140. If on a motorway, pull over to the hard shoulder and look for directional arrows pointing to the nearest orange SOS telephone. Such boxes are located every kilometer (½ mile), on alternate sides of the highway.

Drinking and driving: Any alcohol, even a small drink, will impair your driving performance. Alcohol affects a driver's ability to judge speed and distance, as well as slowing reaction times. In short, the only safe way is to not drink if you are driving.

To drive legally in Switzerland, the level of alcohol in your bloodstream must not exceed 0.05 per cent. Penalties for drink driving offences are severe and include fines or imprisonment (foreign motorists may also be forbidden from driving in Switzerland for a minimum of 2 months).

Driving licence: The minimum age at which a person may legally drive an imported car in Switzerland is 18, motorcycle (50-125cc) 16, motorcycle (over 125cc) 18. To rent a car, you must usually be at least 20 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your licence for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge.

Although not compulsory, an International Driver's Permit (IDP) is recommended. Available for a small fee, the American or Canadian automobile association, or, in the UK, the Automobile Association and RAC are authorised to issue such permits. Being universally recognised they are helpful in dealing with any problems you may encounter on Swiss roads and may therefore save both time and expense.

Fuel: Unleaded petrol (95 & 98 octane) is widely available, along with Diesel (Gasoil) and a lead substitute additive which has replaced its 4-star equivalent. Petrol may be carried/stored in a can, providing it meets the specifications set down in Swiss law and has been manufactured for the specific purpose of storing fuel. LPG availability is limited in availability.

Lights: Use of dipped headlights during the day is recommended for all vehicles including motorcycles; and compulsory when passing through tunnels (even if they are well lit).

Motorcycles: Wearing of crash helmets is compulsory.

Motor Insurance: At least Third-Party insurance, although a fully comprehensive policy is recommended.

Passengers/Children in cars: Children aged between 7 and 12 require seat belts and/or an appropriate restraint system, with parents ensuring suitability for the age of the individual child. Child under 7 should use a restraint system appropriate to size.

Seat belts: Where fitted, it is compulsory for front/rear seat occupants to wear seat belts on Swiss highways.

Speed limits: Legal limits, which may vary according to local signs/road conditions, are as follows: for private vehicles without trailers driving in built-up areas 31 mph (50 km/h), outside built-up areas 49 mph (80 km/h), semi-motorways and motorways 62 mph (100 km/h) and 74 mph (120 km/h). In addition, a statutory minimum speed on motorways exists, namely 37 mph (60 km/h).

For car/trailer combinations (which weigh less than 1000 kg) limits are 80 kph (50 mph) outside built-up areas or, if the car/trailer weighs over 1000 kg 60 kph (37 mph) outside built-up areas and 80 kph (50 mph) on expressways.

Special requirements: It's compulsory for a warning triangle to be carried in vehicles travelling on Swiss motorways/semi-motorways. In addition, Swiss authorities levy an annual motorway tax which requires foreign, as well as local road users to purchase a vehicle sticker (known as a "vignette") costing CHF 40 for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. The sticker must be displayed in the prescribed manner on each vehicle (including motorcycles, trailers and caravans). The fine for failing to display a vignette is currently CHF100 plus the cost of the sticker. Vignettes are available from customs offices at the border, service stations, garages and postal offices.

Swiss Roads: Generally well surfaced, although, due to the mountainous nature of the country, many are windy and often indirect. Switzerland's highway network is well-developed, featuring colour-coded road signs, with official route numbers shown in white against a colored background. Autoroute signs are green, main highway signs are blue, and signs for smaller roads are light blue.

Additional Notes:

Road information in French, German and Italian is available by calling the following numbers: 111 (general information), 120 (snow conditions/tourist information), 162 (weather), 163 (road conditions), 187 (avalanche bulletin).

When driving in Zurich, remember that trams and buses rule the roost. In particular the city's newest trams (known as Cobras) are fast, sleek and rather menacing looking. Therefore, exercise caution at all times.

Pass moving trams on the right (if room allows) otherwise on the left. A stationary tram should be passed on the left, unless it's stopped at a passenger island. In such instances, it may then be passed on the right. In addition, buses have priority when leaving a bus stop.

Elsewhere, blue posts are used to indicate upcoming intersections with a priority road. In mountainous areas, ascending traffic has priority, except in instances where a yellow posthorn is displayed on a blue background (signalling that postal buses have priority). The end of a postal priority zone is marked by a red slash going through such a sign. One-way mountain postal roads are indicated by a white rectangle placed below the blue rectangle/yellow horn sign.

When overtaking, do not cross double white lines. On motorways, after moving into the left-hand lane (or outside lane), you must signal with your vehicle's right indicator before re-entering the right-hand lane. Under Swiss law, motorcyclists are not allowed to pass long columns of vehicles or to weave in and out of traffic.

Before you go

Aside from routine servicing, regular inspection and a few simple checks before departing will lessen the chances of a breakdown. Although pan-European cover with motoring organisations such as the AA and RAC in Great Britain do provide a safeguard against major mechanical failures and breakdowns, preventative maintenance is way better than a road-side repair. The vast majority of breakdowns occur through problems with batteries, ignition, fuel and cooling systems. A summary of what to look out for is given below:

Cooling System - regardless of the time of year you drive to Switzerland, it's important to make sure your vehicle's cooling system is operating efficiently. This is especially true during the hot summer months when temperatures in Switzerland can reach in excess of 90°F.

First check the radiator for leaks and signs of excessive corrosion and remove debris such as leaves, paper and insects. Coolant hoses (top and bottom) should be inspected for cracks/bulges and replaced if necessary. The security of hose clips should also be checked and adjusted if required (being careful not to over tighten). While fluid loss in a sealed unit often signifies a leak, top up only with an anti-freeze solution recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.

Also check the tension/condition of fan belts and replace if necessary (keeping a spare just in case of failure). Other common problems include faulty thermostat sensors, which usually cause cooling fans to only work intermittently resulting in increased engine temperatures.

Battery - ensure the battery electrolyte level of cells covers the top of each plate, topping up using distilled water if necessary. Also, check the electrical connections to each battery terminal, removing any green residue which may have collected* (as this can stop power reaching the starter motor). When clean, smear petroleum jelly onto the battery terminals both before and after reconnecting. Also ensure that the earthing strip has a good connection to the body/chassis of the vehicle. *disconnect according to instructions in your owners handbook.

Tyres - normally tyre pressures should be checked at weekly intervals. However, on a long to journey to Switzerland (which is mostly by motorway) it's prudent to check them once a day, preferably when cold. If your vehicle is fully loaded i.e. 4/5 occupants plus luggage, adjust pressures accordingly (referring back to the manufacturers handbook). Also consider buying a good quality tyre pressure gauge - those at filling stations are notoriously unreliable. Tread depth (which must appear in a continuous band over at least three quarters of the tyre) should be above the legal minimum of 1.6mm.

Cambelt (Timing belt) - special attention is drawn to vehicle cambelts. Inspection (and replacement if necessary) is usually carried at intervals ranging from 40,000-60,000 miles. If your journey coincides with an inspection, make sure it is carried out before you go. A failed belt will invariably result in engine damage to both valves and cylinder head. For Ford Focus sized vehicles this can cost upwards of £800 to repair.

Departing from the UK

The fastest way to get across the Channel is with Le Shuttle between Folkestone and Coquelles (www.eurotunnel.co.uk). Each terminal has a direct connection by motorway (leave the M20 at junction 11A for the Folkestone terminal) and both are well sign posted. If you don't have a pre-purchased ticket, you can also pay in sterling, Euro or by credit card at the check-in booths. Journey time is only 35 minutes.

With the increased competition brought by the Tunnel, ferry operators have been forced to reduce fares on the most popular sea crossings of Dover-Calais, Dover-Zeebrugge and Ramsgate-Oostende. Oostende is arguably the most direct starting point en-route to Austria, although the 4 hour crossing means that Dover-Calais is the more sensible option.

Parking

Parking in Zurich, like most major cities can be headache, although if you're staying in a hotel with parking facilities, your best bet is to park up initially and then use public transport for the duration of your stay. Downtown, parking areas are clearly marked. Blue or red zones, (denoted by appropriately coloured lines on the road) allow for free short-term parking, provided you have a cardboard clock showing the time you arrived. The clocks (which are free) are available at petrol stations, tobacconists and police stations. Note: even motorcycles need to display such a disc.

Elsewhere, metered parking is usually paid for at communal machines. Some require payment (in coins) before dispensing a ticket, while others require the vehicle's license plate to be inputted before payment is made. Parking in public car parks/lots normally costs 2-3 CHF for the first hour, increasing by 1 CHF every half-hour thereafter. Helpfully, the website at: www.pls-zh.ch not only details the location of car parks in Zurich, but also tells you which have free spaces and exactly how many spaces are left (in real-time). In addition, the local tourist authority have provided a list of multi-storey/public car parks on their own visitor guide.

Vehicle Security

If valuables have to be left inside your vehicle, lock them away in the glove or luggage compartment. Even everyday belongings such as coats and bags tempt thieves and should therefore be left out of sight. Don't leave removable radio-cassette units under the front seats (this is the first place where a car thief will look) and activate the alarm/immobiliser upon leaving the vehicle. If central locking isn't fitted, the driver should make sure that doors, windows and the sunroof are all closed. At night, park in well-lit areas close to other vehicles. If your vehicle has alloy wheels consider fitting lockable wheel nuts. Finally, it should be noted that some unscrupulous criminal types use the 'what's yours is mine philosophy' as an excuse to siphon petrol from other vehicles. Needless to say, buying a lockable filler cap will save you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

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