Too fast? Parked incorrectly? A moment of distraction – and the fine shows up in your mailbox. In Switzerland, traffic rules are clear, and those who break them have to pay. But how much are the fines really? When does it get expensive – or even become a criminal matter? And what happens if you're driving a car from Carvolution on a subscription?
In this article, you'll find everything you need to know about traffic violations, fines, and how things work if you’re driving a Carvolution car.
Speeding – what does it really cost?
One of the most common reasons for a fine in Switzerland is speeding. But how much too fast is too much – and what does it cost?
Here are the official speed limits:
In urban areas: 50 km/h
Outside urban areas: 80 km/h
Motorways: 120 km/h
And here are the fines – depending on where you are and how much the limit was exceeded.
Important note: Speed measurement devices have built-in tolerances. For example, if a laser speed gun shows 87 km/h, a 3 km/h deduction is applied – meaning 84 km/h is counted.
Fun fact: The car in our fleet that most frequently exceeded those tolerances? The Audi RS3 Sportback. Fast, loud – and apparently just a little too fast, too often.
Running a red light – how expensive is it?
Accelerating through an orange light can be risky – not just for you and others, but for your wallet too. If the red light is only barely ignored, a fine of up to CHF 250 usually applies.
However, if the light was red for longer or other road users were endangered, the violation is classified as a serious traffic offence. This means a formal complaint – a criminal case, possibly including a licence suspension.
Our tip: Better to wait one second longer – and stay on the safe side.
Parking & stopping – it can get expensive here too
Parked incorrectly? It's not just annoying – it’s often costly too. Here are the most common cases and what they cost:
To make sure this doesn’t happen to you again, check out our full blog article!
Crossing a solid line – not just a small mistake
If you cross a solid line with your car, you risk:
A fine starting at CHF 350.–
Approx. CHF 300 in legal fees
Possible suspension of your driving licence
Not a minor mistake – but a punishable offence.
Alcohol behind the wheel – what’s allowed?
In Switzerland, it gets serious from 0.5‰ blood alcohol level.
For new drivers, professional drivers, and certain professions, a strict 0.0‰ limit applies – meaning no alcohol at all.
0.50 to 0.79%:
Warning and a fine of approx. CHF 600–800
If combined with another offence (e.g. speeding):
➝ Licence suspension for at least 1 month
➝ Additional fine based on income
From 0.80‰:
Licence suspension for at least 3 months
High fine (income-based)
Conditional monetary penalty
In case of repeat offences: Prison sentence of 1 to 3 years possible
From 1.6‰:
Mandatory medical-psychological assessment
Proof of several months of abstinence (e.g. via hair analysis)
Licence only returned with a positive expert opinion
Tip: The safest option is to completely avoid alcohol when driving – or use an alcohol tester or Alcolock for added safety.
What happens with fines if you're driving a Carvolution car?
If you're driving a car on subscription from Carvolution, the fine doesn’t go directly to you – it first comes to us, since we’re listed as the car’s official owner.
Here’s how it works:
The police issue the fine and send it to Carvolution.
We forward it to you.
Important: Responsibility for the offence still lies with you. So: Always drive carefully and responsibly.
Disclaimer – in brief
We do our best to provide up-to-date and complete information.
However, all content is provided without guarantee. Laws may change, and individual cases are always decided by the relevant authority.
Still have questions? Feel free to book an appointment here or check out our FAQs.
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