I wouldn't bother with trying to find a USA sticker. It's true that it is a requirement for foreign cars to have a sticker (or the newer blue EU country identifier on European number plates) but I've rarely heard it being enforced and for a car from North America where it is clear where the car is from (given on US/Mexican state/Canadian province) I am confident that you'll have no issues with the police on that front.

It seems like digg is offering to pay the fine if the police stop you. Very kind of him

In case you want to order a $2 sticker to avoid the problem, here is one address:

http://www.europeanplates.com/usa-classic-oval.html

I've never seen USA stickers in any stores here. I am, however, going to the US soon. Stores there sometimes sell them as gimmick items; I'll grab a couple and let you guys know.

Damn right I am!

Except that once every couple of months the border police decide to fill up their piggy-bank and check every car for the sticker for a day or so. They'll fine you if you don't have the sticker. I know for a fact (unfortunately) that in Italy, the fine for not having the sticker is 100 Euro.

Thank you for an interesting discussion. I might order a sticker from Germany. Meanwhile, I'm wondering if I can just print out USA oval and tape it on the rear window. Will this work? Or where can I find specifications for the sticker (I've seen really small ones).

I was warned about Jacket (good idea anyway) and Triangle before. 20 EUR for the set in French Migros is much less than potential 200 EUR fine.

Can also anyone shed light to whether it's really necessary to have international driver's license? I rented cars with normal US license.

Also, I've driven through Italy with US license before - got stopped once by carabineri (just a road check) but there was no issue with US license. But it was a rental car.

Can I just buy a blank oval sticker in an office store and draw USA myself?

Only if you want it to get vandalized

USA bumper stickers in Switzerland? .... awesome idea.

Go for something like these:

Specifications and where to affix
Art. 45 ATS
and
Anhang 4

Do you suggest removing plates at night? (no need for USA sticker to know that a state is in US). I'm not even American.

Funny thing is someone told me about vandalism with CA plates, so they changed to GE plates.

FYI - It is illegal to leave a vehicle on public property (the street) without plates. It will be towed away and will cost big bucks to get it back.

Why don't you just order the approved/official sticker from the address I gave you in the post above and be done with it. It seems you are wasting time.

Well, it was meant in jest, tbh...But, if a car was going to be targeted for such a thing (Fairly uncommon in Suisse, to be fair) an American one would likely be a target really

US plates aren't likely to be the reason for a reaction but a US flag or sticker?

I believe that their is a cross border agreement over number plates that covers this point, or so I was informed by my insurance company when I drove over here from GB.

Note English/ Scottish/ Welsh stickers are not considered valid...