The executive Sprinter: comfort for small groups

Car or bus? It depends on the seats

Swiss law draws the line at eight passengers. Configured for no more than that, the van is legally a car. Add seats and the law reclassifies it as a Kleinbus, or a Gesellschaftswagen when heavier, and its driver must hold category D1. For you, that mostly changes where it may wait. At Zurich Airport, for example, buses load at the bus station stands, while cars with driver have their own waiting area.

On board

• A vehicle up to 3.5 t needs the motorway vignette, as a sticker or as an e-vignette registered to the number plate; it is valid from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year (Art. 6a, 7a and 8 NSAG)
• There is no general winter-tyre obligation by date in Switzerland: a vehicle must be roadworthy (Art. 29 SVG), and where the signal "Schneeketten obligatorisch" (2.48) is shown, metal snow chains are compulsory on at least two driven wheels of the same axle (Art. 29 SSV)
• Vehicles whose drivers come under ARV 2 must have an analogue or digital tachograph (Art. 100 Abs. 1 Bst. b VTS)
• In a car used for professional passenger transport, ARV 2 limits driving to 9 hours between two daily rests and 45 hours a week, with a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving (Art. 7 and 8 ARV 2)
• With up to eight passengers it is a car (Personenwagen, at most nine seats including the driver); with more seats it is a Kleinbus or Gesellschaftswagen and the driver needs category D1 (Art. 11 Abs. 2 VTS; Art. 3 VZV)

Driving rules and winter

In a car used for professional transport, the driver may drive 9 hours between daily rests and 45 hours in a week, pausing 45 minutes after every 4.5 hours behind the wheel, all recorded by a tachograph.

Switzerland has no winter-tyre date; chains are compulsory where the snow-chain sign is shown, and anything up to 3.5 t needs the motorway vignette. A family of eight with skis between Geneva and Verbier, or a chalet group in the Jungfrau region, fits this vehicle well.

Good uses

Executive airport transfers, a small team's offsite, a wine day in Lavaux, or a run to meet a panoramic train at Brig or Chur. Where a full minibus would feel crowded, the executive version gives the same group more space.

Questions travellers ask

How is it different from a standard minibus?

The size class is the same. The executive version is chosen for comfort, so ask the operator for the exact seat layout and luggage room before you decide.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. The child-restraint rules apply as in any car or minibus. Give ages and heights so suitable seats can be arranged.

Does it need snow chains?

Only where a sign requires them. The operator plans the vehicle's winter equipment for your route and dates.

Other trips we arrange

• Company days out and congress weeks, one minibus at a time
• Ski week transfers: airport to chalet in one minibus
• Class outings sized to fit one vehicle
• Away days for clubs, squads and supporters
• Getting your wedding guests there, and home again
• Day trips by minibus: lakes, falls and panoramic trains
• From the gangway to your next stop by minibus
• Accessible trips for groups with wheelchair users

Ask for an executive Sprinter

Send the date, the pickup and destination, the number of passengers and their bags. A licensed partner operator provides the vehicle and a professional driver.

Request a quote or call 35227647770