Despite Switzerland being outside the EU, there’s very little extra bureaucracy needed for foreigners to drive in the country. Minimum driving age is 18, British licences are recognized for one year’s driving in Switzerland and, as across the rest of Europe, third-party insurance is compulsory. In the UK, most normal third-party insurance policies don’t cover foreign travel, so you should contact your insurer in advance to extend your policy: look into the RAC’s European Cover (0800/550055, www.rac.co.uk) or the AA’s Five-Star Europe cover (0800/444500, www.theaa.co.uk). It’s compulsory within Switzerland to carry both a red warning triangle and the registration documents of the vehicle.

If you intend driving on Swiss motorways, you have to stick a vignette inside your windscreen. These cost Fr.40 for any vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes, are bought most easily from the customs officials when you first cross the border (also at post offices and petrol stations), and remain valid until January 31 of the following year. Trailers or caravans must have their own, additional vignette. Getting caught without one lays you open to a Fr.100 fine. If you prefer, it’s quite easy to avoid Swiss motorways altogether and stick to ordinary main roads, which are free and – outside urban centres at least – reasonably fast.