Importing a car into Switzerland: what you need to know
Want to bring your car with you when you move to Switzerland? Then you need to bear a few points in mind. We show you how it works.
02.11.2023
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1. I want to import a car into Switzerland when I move here – what do I need to do?
You must declare your vehicle for customs clearance at the Swiss border on your own initiative and pay duty if necessary.
There are various factors that determine how your car is taxed and what fees you have to pay. They include how long you have owned your car.
| I owned the car for more than six months before moving to Switzerland | I owned the car for less than six months before moving to Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| How do I declare my car? | You can import your vehicle with application form 18.44. It is the same form as for your household effects. In this case, the car is part of your household effects. | If your car is considered to be new, it cannot be declared as household effects. |
| Are fees due? | No, but it is important that your vehicle is on the list of your personal and household effects. | Yes, you must pay both import duties and fees. |
| What documents do I need to import a car into Switzerland? |
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| How long do I have to register it? | 12 months | 1 month |
You can also submit your customs declaration online. Click here for the registration form.
What import fees do I need to pay for a new car?
You have to pay import duties on new cars. This fee is calculated as follows:
Import duty: you pay between 12 and 15 francs per 100 kilograms of unladen weight. For motorcycles, a duty of 37 francs per 100 kilograms of gross weight must be paid. Import duties do not apply if your vehicle was produced in the EU and has what is known as a “certificate of preferential origin”.
Vehicle duty you must pay 4% of the current value of your vehicle as vehicle duty.
VAT: the customs office will charge 7.7% VAT on the purchase price or market value of your vehicle.
Inspection report, which serves as a “customs clearance certificate” in accordance with Form 13.20 A: 20 CHF. Important: you require a customs clearance certificate to register your car in Switzerland.
CO₂ penalty for passenger cars
If your car exceeds a certain CO₂ value, you must pay a penalty. The penalty is levied by the Federal Roads Office. It depends on your vehicle’s level of CO₂ emissions. You can calculate the how high your penalty will be at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.
2. Registering a car in Switzerland
You must register your car or motorcycle in Switzerland. It is not possible to use your vehicle on Swiss roads without a valid registration document. If you drive anyway, you may face hefty fines.
General information on registering your car in Switzerland can be found in our article on registering a vehicle.
The deadline for registration depends on whether you import the vehicle as a new vehicle or as part of your household effects:
12 months for vehicles imported as part of your household effects. These are vehicles that you have owned for more than 6 months.
One month for vehicles imported as new vehicles. These are vehicles that you have owned for less than 6 months.
If you have questions, please contact the Road Traffic Office of your canton.
Do you still want to wait to register your vehicle in Switzerland? Check beforehand whether your previous car insurance will also cover your car or motorcycle in Switzerland.
The documents required depend on whether you have an EC certificate of conformity. However, you always need the following documents:
| Dokuments | Where can I obtain them? |
|---|---|
| EC certificate of conformity, also known as EC-CoC. This is not absolutely necessary, but it does make approval easier. | From the manufacturer |
| Inspection report with customs stamp (form 13.20 A for new vehicles and 13.20 B for used vehicles) |
|
| Electronic insurance certificate | Your insurer automatically sends the certificate to the relevant Road Traffic Office |
| Customs-certified form 18.44 |
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| Proof of foreign registration including the date of first registration | Original copies of foreign documents, e.g. registration certificate and vehicle title |
| Exhaust gas maintenance document for vehicles registered after 1976. Exception: cars with an on-board diagnostics system | e.g. at a garage |
| Test report 13.20 B for used cars | Available at the Road Traffic Office of your canton |
If you do not have an EC certificate of conformity, you will also need the following documents:
Confirmation of compliance with exhaust emissions regulations
Confirmation of compliance with noise regulations
For electric cars:
Proof of electrical safety
Proof of electromagnetic compatibility
If your car has not yet been properly registered abroad, you will need further documents.
Some leasing companies allow you to take the car with you when you move abroad. However, there will be problems with customs clearance or importing the car into Switzerland. This is because: Lessees do not have all required documents. The leasing company always retains some of them. In Germany, for example, the leasing company retains the vehicle title.
Tip: in the case of leasing agreements, check in advance whether you can terminate them earlier due to moving abroad. Make sure you discuss the matter with the leasing company before you move. Sometimes a temporary solution is possible at an extra cost.
3. Is it worth importing my car into Switzerland?
Do you drive an old car with large cubic capacity and low current value? Does it fail to meet the CO₂ requirements in Switzerland? It’s usually not worth bringing it with you when you move. In these cases, the import duties and the CO₂ tax are often higher than the actual value of the vehicle.
When importing your vehicle into Switzerland, it’s important that it passes the technical inspection at the Road Traffic Office. It may therefore be worth checking older vehicles again before moving to Switzerland and have them repaired if necessary.
New car shortly after purchase (max. one month) can also be expensive to import. This also applies if you relocate to Switzerland for an indefinite period. If you have a high-value car and are only planning to stay in Switzerland temporarily, you should consider whether it’s really worth importing your vehicle.
This article was first published on 10.03.2015
