I plan to drive from Munich to Geneva and then continue on to southern France. From this message board I understand a permit has to be purchased to drive on expressways in Switzerland.
Can this permit be purchased in Munich? If not, where are they readily found. Also for just one day traveling in Switzerland what is the cost of the permit?

travelerone,

You do indeed need to purchase a "vignette" sticker for Swiss expressways. It costs 40 CHF and is valid for an entire calendar year.

You can just purchase it at any Swiss border post. It is also available at German post offices, but honestly, I don't see why that would be more convenient than just purchasing it upon entry to Switzerland. If you forget to buy one at the border, they are also available at any gas station in Switzerland.

Hope this helps,
Andre

If you enter Switzerland on an Autobahn the Swiss Customs officer will offer to sell you the expressway pass. You won't have to look for a place to buy it. If you stay off the expressways you don't need the pass.

If you drive on the Autobahnen in Austria (your route could take you there) I understand that you now need a special pass also, but that these are available in "tourist" versions, valid for a week or so. Someone else who has driven in Austria recently may comment on this with details.

well according to my AAA map the autobahn from Germany goes thru the Pfander Tunnel which appears to be in Austria. But just beyond the tunnel is Bregenz which is where one enters the Swiss expressway system.
Does anyone know if there's just a tunnel toll to pay before I reach Switzerland?

The Route Planner at www.viamichelin.com provides an excellent service. It has maps and a turn-by-turn instruction for your drive.

Additionally, it advises for this route: "Also allow for the Austrian motorway tax disk (7,6 to 72,6 Euros per car depending on the period of validity.) The Swiss motorway tax disk (car :40 CHF / 27,5 Euros per year) is not included."

Travelerone,

You are correct - if you choose to stay on the expressway, you will need to purchase an Austrian expressway sticker called "MAUT", for the very short ride, basically just through the Pfänder tunnel. Cost is EUR 7.60 for the cheapest one (valid for 1 day I think), again you can purchase it at the border. You can also leave the expressway just before the border and drive through the center of Bregenz instead.

The Swiss-Austrian border is not right at Bregenz, but about 10 km. away. You pick up the Swiss expressway right near the border - the Swiss and Austrian expressways are not connected.

Hope this helps,
Andre