Changes in Swiss road traffic also in transport

From 1 January 2026, various changes to road traffic law will come into force in Switzerland. Above all, they bring more efficient procedures for vehicle registration and more precise environmental regulations. From the middle of the year, new rules on working and rest times for delivery vans will also apply to international freight transport.

The most important changes until July 2026 at a glance:

From 1 January 2026:

Digitization of vehicle registration

With the beginning of the new year, vehicle registration will become more digital and efficient. Electronic EU Certificates of Conformity (eCoC) can now be obtained directly from European databases. As a result, the individual vehicle data is available electronically in the Traffic Registration Information System (IVZ). Manufacturers, importers, dealers, suppliers, freight forwarders, workshops and authorities have direct access to the relevant vehicle data.

Payment of the CO₂ sanction now a prerequisite for registration
From the beginning of the year, the implementation of the CO2 Act will be more consistently linked to vehicle registration: Vehicle registration documents and license plates will only be issued if any CO₂ sanction under the CO₂ Act has been paid in full or if the vehicle has been assigned to a new car fleet.

From 1 July 2026

New rules for working and rest periods in international road transport

In international freight transport, vehicles and vehicle combinations over 2.5 t will in future be subject to the Working Time and Rest Time Ordinance (ARV 1) if the driver spends more than half of his or her working time driving. Nothing will change for domestic traffic. The aim is to promote road safety and fair working conditions in cross-border transport.

New traffic rules from 2026

Automated driving and automation systems

With the Ordinance on Automated Driving, which has been in force since March 2025, Switzerland has a clear legal framework for three defined use cases of automated driving:

Highway pilot:

On motorways, drivers are allowed to use a motorway pilot, which takes over driving temporarily, while they must remain ready to intervene at all times. At present, no vehicles with a corresponding system are registered in Switzerland; FEDRO is in contact with manufacturers on this matter.

Driverless vehicles:

Driverless vehicles can be used on routes approved by the cantons, which are monitored from a control centre. In 2025, FEDRO and the cantons approved several pilot projects to this effect.

Automated parking:

Within defined and signalled multi-storey car parks and parking areas, automated parking is possible without the presence of vehicle drivers.

In addition, road users can already take advantage of the advantages of approved assistance systems (e.g. adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system). Since 1 July 2025, automation and assistance systems have also been part of the theoretical and practical driving test. In addition, they are also to be addressed in traffic science lessons (VKU) in the future.

Photo: © FEDRO