Vernay was created on 1 January 2006 from the merger of the former municipalities of Autavaux, Forel and Montbrelloz. The administrative seat is in Forel. On 1 January 2017 the former municipalities of Vernay, Bussy, Estavayer-le-Lac, Morens, Murist, Rueyres-les-Prés and Vuissens merged into the new municipality of Estavayer.