 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, we're flying into Geneva on Saturday next weekend and have a 9 seater hire booked from the French sector. How easy is it to buy a vignette (If the van doesn't already have one!) at the border crossing at the exit from the French sector access road? Do we literally just park up and ask a guard for one?
We've booked from the French side in the past but have usually gone through Geneva to get to Chatel via Thonon. However this time we're going to Les Gets so could do with hopping straight on the motorway.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's more a case of how easy it is to avoid paying in my mind! You only need it for driving on the Swiss motorways and it is such a small stretch it is a lot of money for a bit of convenience. At this time of year they will be on the look out for cars that do not have them, so they tend to make you queue and they check. If they are not checking just keep going. You can navigate your way around the short stretch but it depends if you want the inconvenience on the way in and out.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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There is a petrol station on the French side just before the customs post, you should be able to buy one there if not at the customs post itself. You can usually pay in Euros, I paid €39 the other day though that was at the other end of Switzerland though cant see why the cost would vary. It is normally cash only.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Cheesie168, there are big fines for not having one, there are now high def cameras monitoring vehicles, really not worth the risk (despite the expense) if you are going to drive on Swiss Autoroutes at all.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@munich_irish, thanks for the tip on the high-def cameras, might need a rethink now on our strategy as we only ever use that section and have one most of the time but some years have only had to go once to collect/drop-off. If we are there in the summer we keep off the autoroutes as it is a nicer drive around the lake on the other routes.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
How easy is it to buy a vignette (If the van doesn't already have one!) at the border crossing at the exit from the French sector access road?
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I have bought a vignette there in the past, but I wouldn't be sure it's always open/manned. If it isn't, there shouldn't be any problem buying one at Bardonnex. I'd be more bothered about having snowchains that fit - assuming you're driving to a ski resort. It's easier to get onto the motorway from the Ferney Voltaire border post than from the main international airport, actually.
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Just drive through Geneva to Annemasse and then follow to non autoroute road up to Cluses and on to Les gets and buy yourself a beer with the money you saved
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Thanks, will try the petrol station first and then the border post if for some reason they don't have them. We've arrived at the same time for the past few years and it's always rush hour in Geneva when we drive through so this time with a couple of pre-school kids in the van we're happy to pay the CHFs to skirt around that.
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I'd be more bothered about having snowchains that fit
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We're taking some with us we've bought and occasionally used for the past few years, seem to fit any hire-van-sized wheels nicely. And some snow socks the next size down for if the wheels are a little smaller than expected.
If they both don't fit we'll head to a supermarket before hitting the mountain road.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| BergenBergen wrote: |
| Just drive through Geneva to Annemasse and then follow to non autoroute road up to Cluses and on to Les gets and buy yourself a beer with the money you saved |
Did the same this summer. It’s not even as if it’s a longer route and was extremely straightforward , signs are excellent
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think @msej449 means a £3.50 fee.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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The Bardonnex border will be open
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You can buy one at the kiosk at Ferney Voltaire as you cross into Switzerland from France
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You know it makes sense.
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99% sure the van won't have one - hire companies seem to remove them if they are returned with one on. We have driven out on the swiss motorway without a vignette 10+ time without any problems. They only check coming back in. Just leave in time and drive back through Geneva (assuming you are a confident driving as getting round the lake at rush hour is like dodgems....)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Some SatNavs have a specific option for 'avoid vignettes' without avoiding motorways or other motorway tolls.
Despite the additional 10-30 minutes (depending on congestion), I've used this technique when staying in PdS and picking someone up at Geneva - and later dropping them off.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You can buy the vignette at the Ferney border post
Need to go to the last office in the building on the left hand side as you go from France to Switzerland
Best to park behind the building on the right
Payment can be by credit card - option to pay in Euros, £ or Swiss francs
Bought my 2019 vignette there back in December
DM me if you need more details
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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To buy one, just drive through. They will stop you maybe, and direct you to (usually) two people selling them in the swiss customs layby.
To reduce the chance of being stopped go in the right hand lane (usually of the 3 open) for caravans, trailers, vans, cars.
I get stopped about 1 in 5 trips (I do it weekly) because my vignette is stuck under the sun strip so they struggle to see it.
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