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Parking discSwitzerland

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Switzerland. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
Switzerland

65. Parking disc

A parking disc is a device used to indicate the time a vehicle was parked in an area where parking duration is limited. The driver sets the disc to the required arrival time and displays it clearly inside the vehicle.

Parking-disc systems are commonly used in blue zones or other time-limited parking areas. The permitted parking duration, operating hours and method for setting the disc depend on national or local rules and the traffic signs in place.

Parking disc
Parking-disc zone sign near the United Nations campus. (Geneva, Switzerland)
Wikimedia.org • CC0
How should you set the disc in a Swiss blue zone?

The arrow is placed at the half-hour mark following the actual time of arrival. For example, an arrival at 08:10 is indicated as 08:30. Observe the official blue-zone timing table and any local signs.

🔗 police.be.ch • Bern Cantonal Police, blue-zone parking rules and timing table

Parking only allowed for a limited time. Parking only allowed for a limited time.

English • Traffic sign 4.18 • Parking with a parking disc.

Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 4.18 • Parkieren mit Parkscheibe.

Français • Signal 4.18 • Parcage avec disque de stationnement.

Italiano • Segnale 4.18 • Parcheggio con disco.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-06-30. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Swiss signalling ordinance, version 1 October 2026, annex 2: Fedlex.admin.ch • Signal 4.18, PDF page 115. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

Does Swiss blue-zone parking always mean exactly one hour from arrival?

No. The Swiss official disc table includes special cases for midday and overnight. Standard daytime parking is calculated from the indicated half-hour mark, not necessarily the exact minute of arrival.

🔗 police.be.ch • Bern Cantonal Police, blue-zone parking rules and timing table

Can you reset a Swiss parking disc while the vehicle stays parked?

No. Keep the setting unchanged until departure. Moving within the same street does not restart parking time unless the vehicle has first rejoined traffic.

🔗 police.be.ch • Bern Cantonal Police, parking and blue-zone rules

Do you need a Swiss blue-zone disc when parking overnight?

Under the ordinary blue-zone rules, no disc is needed between 19:00 and 07:59 if you leave before 08:00. Later departure requires the prescribed disc setting; check local signs.

🔗 police.be.ch • Bern Cantonal Police, parking and blue-zone rules

1 Switzerland 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Footpath 9 Bike path 10 Shared-use path 11 Tunnel 12 Pedestrian zone 13 Customs 14 One-way traffic 15 Slope 16 Bus lane 17 Bus stop 18 Dead end 19 Stop sign 20 Give way 21 Roundabout 22 Priority road 23 Road narrowing 24 Priority over oncoming traffic 25 Give way to oncoming traffic 26 Pedestrian crossing 27 Railway crossing 28 Mandatory direction 29 Turn prohibition 30 School area 31 Overtaking 32 Crossing animals 33 Slippery road 34 Rockfall 35 Aircraft 36 Curve 37 Chevron 38 Wrong-way driving 39 Roadworks 40 Crosswind 41 Height limit 42 Width limit 43 Length limit 44 Weight limit 45 Intersection direction sign 46 Priority at the next junction 47 Traffic lights 48 Traffic lights warning 49 Pedestrian lights 50 Road markings 51 Junction layout 52 Driving licence 53 Location marker 54 Road number 55 Countdown markers 56 Traffic mirror 57 Emergency telephone 58 International border 59 Pedestrian underpass 60 Cycling route 61 End of restriction 62 Parking 63 No parking 64 No stopping 65 Parking disc 66 Reversing 67 U-turn 68 Traffic jam 69 Detour 70 Uncontrolled crossroad 71 Road surface 72 Exit 73 Information point 74 Horse riding 75 Emergency exit 76 Runaway truck ramp 77 Radio service 78 Oversize load 79 City limit 80 Hospital 81 Parking garage 82 Passing place 83 Pedestrian overpass 84 Axle weight limit 85 Licence plate 86 Charging station 87 Dangers 88 Weather 89 Turn on red 90 Pedestrian 91 Cyclist 92 Moped 93 Motorcycle 94 Car 95 Truck 96 Bus 97 Police 98 Ambulance 99 Tailgating 100 European emission standard ...