For 2026, the focus will be on technological innovations and administrative adjustments. Here you find out what you need to know to stay up to date.
From January 1, 2026
Electronic vehicle data for registration
From 2026, vehicles registered in Switzerland for which electronic data on individual vehicles are available can now be registered purely administratively and without a physical check. The necessary data comes from a central European database (Eucaris) or from the competent foreign approval authorities.
The aim is to speed up registration processes and increase efficiency in the vehicle industry.
Exemption from type-approval for vehicles with an EU certificate of conformity
Vehicles that have a valid electronic or physical EU certificate of conformity are now exempted from the Swiss type approval requirement. This means that they can now be registered in Switzerland for any person, subject to compliance with other approval requirements.
Elimination of control marks on test reports
The previously affixed control marks to test reports on the payment of the type approval fee will no longer be required. In future,
the fees for vehicle registration will be settled via an online payment system (Micropayment) or by invoice. The fee rates will not change and will remain at CHF 5.50 or CHF 4.00 per registered vehicle or per individual vehicle data set created.
CO2 sanctions for vehicle registration
Vehicles for which a CO2 sanction is open under the CO2 ‑Act of 23 December 2013 can only be registered if the corresponding sanction has been paid in full or if the vehicle has been allocated to the new car fleet of a major importer or an emissions pool.
Clarification of the exemption of work carts from the registration requirement
Under the current law, work carts with a maximum speed of up to 10 km are generally exempt from the registration requirement. Vehicle licenses and license plates are not required for these vehicles. However, it is now specified that this exemption only applies if the categorization of the work cart as an “exceptional vehicle” is in fact based on its speed. If the categorization is based on other criteria in individual cases, vehicle licenses and license plates are still required.
Uniform method of calculating the power-to-weight ratio of motorcycles
In future, the power-to-weight ratio of motorcycles will be calculated in Switzerland using the method used in the EU. Until now, the power-to-weight ratio was calculated using the unladen weight. The ratio between engine power (in kW) and the mass in running order (in kg) will now be used as the power-to-weight ratio. The limit value of the power-to-weight ratio will now be given to one decimal place after the decimal point. Vehicle registration documents are rounded to the nearest hundredths.
From July 1, 2026
Improved safety in international road transport
Vehicles and vehicle combinations over 2.5 tons, where the driver spends more than half of the working time driving, will in future fall under ARV 1 category. Traffic in Switzerland is not changing.
Uniform signalling on motorways and roadworks
With the partial revision of the Signalisationsverordnung, the content of technical standards will be incorporated into federal law. This will increase safety on freeways, at roadworks and in tourist signs. The bilingual name of place on freeway signs will now be more explicitly regulated.