The road in winter
From 1 November to 31 March every vehicle in Haute-Savoie, Chamonix included, must carry chains or snow socks or run on four winter tyres marked 3PMSF. The shortest route from the airport needs no Swiss vignette and costs a car about 7 euros each way in A40 tolls.
- Geneva Airport0 km, 430 m
- Swiss border, Vallard11 km, 410 m
- Bonneville31 km, 450 m
- Cluses47 km, 480 m
- Sallanches61 km, 550 m
- Le Fayet67 km, 580 m
- Les Houches79 km, 1,010 m
- Chamonix87 km, 1,035 m
France: the Loi Montagne
The Haute-Savoie prefecture applies the winter equipment rule to the whole road network of the département, from 1 November to 31 March, under order DDT-2021-1275. It covers cars, vans, motorhomes, lorries and coaches. Signs mark the entries to the zone.
You have two ways to comply. Carry chains or snow socks that fit your tyres, or fit four winter tyres. The Département de la Haute-Savoie says the tyres must carry the 3PMSF mark, and that tyres marked only M+S are no longer tolerated since 1 November 2024.
Hiring a car in Geneva
Ask the hire company in writing whether the car has 3PMSF tyres or chains on board. The rule applies to the car the moment it enters Haute-Savoie, wherever it was hired.
Switzerland: chains only where signed
The Swiss stretch is short, about 11 km of Geneva roads from the airport to the Vallard border. Switzerland has no general winter tyre or chain obligation. According to the Swiss touring club TCS, chains are compulsory only where a sign says so, and the limit on chains is 50 km/h.
Speed: 110 km/h in winter
ATMB announced a winter limit of 110 km/h instead of 130 on the A411 and A40 from the Vallard customs to Le Fayet, under the Arve valley air protection plan (its notice covered 1 November 2021 to 31 March 2022). Follow the signs on the day.
Tolls and the vignette
The A40 is a toll motorway run by ATMB. Going to Chamonix you pass two barriers, at Nangy and at Cluses. Class 1 is any vehicle up to 2 m high and 3.5 t, which covers cars, MPVs and 4x4s. Class 2 is 2 to 3 m high, such as a large van or a minibus over 2 m high.
| Barrier | Class 1 car | Class 2 van |
|---|---|---|
| BarrierNangy (Scientrier to Gaillard) | Class 1 car2.20 euros | Class 2 van3.90 euros |
| BarrierCluses main barrier (Le Fayet to Scientrier) | Class 1 car4.80 euros | Class 2 van8.60 euros |
| BarrierEach way, both barriers (our sum) | Class 1 carabout 7.00 euros | Class 2 vanabout 12.50 euros |
ATMB takes cash and cards, not cheques. The Swiss vignette costs CHF 40 and the 2026 one is valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027, but you only need it if you drive on Swiss motorways. The shortest route crosses Geneva on city roads and does not. The longer route on the Swiss A1 through Bardonnex does.
Not on this route: the Mont Blanc Tunnel
The tunnel starts at Chamonix and leads to Courmayeur in Italy. The drive from Geneva Airport ends before it, so its toll only matters if you are going on to Italy.
Changeover Saturdays
The hardest winter days on this road are not about snow. On Saturdays in the French school holidays, when one group of skiers leaves and the next arrives, the A40 fills up. In the 2023 February holidays ATMB said A40 traffic tripled every weekend, with about 80,000 vehicles on the Saturdays, and it expected more than 3,000 vehicles an hour through Nangy towards the mountains on Friday evenings between 17:00 and 20:00. The dates for this winter, and how early to leave for a flight, are on the Chamonix to Geneva Airport page.
Rather not drive it yourself
A private transfer puts the tyres, chains, tolls and Saturday queues on a local driver. On TransferBnB you post the trip once and carriers reply with their own prices.
Get offers for Geneva Airport to Chamonix TransferBnB is owned by the same company as this guide.Quick answers
Do I need snow chains to drive to Chamonix?
From 1 November to 31 March you must either carry chains or snow socks, or have four winter tyres marked 3PMSF. The rule covers every road in Haute-Savoie, so Chamonix is included.
Are M+S tyres enough in Haute-Savoie?
No. Since 1 November 2024 tyres marked only M+S are no longer tolerated. The winter tyres must carry the 3PMSF mountain and snowflake mark.
Do I need a Swiss vignette to drive from Geneva Airport to Chamonix?
Not on the shortest route, which crosses Geneva on city roads to the Vallard border. The longer route on the Swiss A1 through Bardonnex needs the CHF 40 vignette.
How much are the tolls from Geneva to Chamonix?
About 7 euros each way for a car, our sum of the Nangy and Cluses barriers on ATMB's tariff. A vehicle over 2 m high, such as a large van or a minibus, pays about 12.50 euros.
Does the drive go through the Mont Blanc Tunnel?
No. The tunnel starts at Chamonix and leads to Italy. You only pay for it if you continue to Courmayeur.
Rules and tolls on this page were read on 23 September 2026 on haute-savoie.gouv.fr, hautesavoie.fr and atmb.com. Swiss rules are from the TCS.