Throughout the years, there has been extensive political discourse regarding the limitation of noise generated by vehicles. As of early 2025, new noise regulations that were approved by parliament in 2021 took effect. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) has instituted a ban on any avoidable vehicle noise, which encompasses noise from vehicle modifications, unnecessary revving of engines, and exhaust back-firing.
Individuals caught generating avoidable vehicle noise now face fines reaching CHF 10,000. Furthermore, minor infractions, such as leaving engines running unnecessarily, can incur fines of CHF 80, a slight increase from the previous CHF 60 before January 1, 2025.
The purpose of this new legislation is to enhance public health. Approximately 1 million residents in Switzerland are subjected to harmful noise levels, which are associated with around 450 premature deaths annually, as reported by RTS.
However, policing these regulations can be challenging. The cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Geneva have experimented with noise radars that detect sound levels exceeding 82 decibels, the threshold at which noise begins negatively impacting health. Typically, most unmodified vehicles emit noise levels between 50 and 65 decibels, making 82 decibels significantly higher. Through these trials, only about 1% of vehicles activated the noise radars, with motorcycles frequently being among the culprits.
In the absence of noise radars, the responsibility for monitoring loud vehicles rests with the police. In the canton of Vaud, police officers stopped 800 vehicles throughout 2024, of which 290 (36%) were deemed excessively noisy. It’s important to note that this percentage is not representative of the whole; the police were strategically targeting known noisy areas.
Driving a modified vehicle is illegal, as clarified by the police. Cars or motorcycles that do not conform to their original noise levels at the point of first registration cannot be legally operated on Swiss roadways.
For more information:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5-minute French test now
New laws on the FEDRO website (in French)
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