Buying a car · 6 min read
Importing a car from the EU into Switzerland
What an import costs, which papers you need and in what order the steps run — from customs clearance through to registration.
When an import is worth it at all
An import is mostly worth it when a particular model, specification or engine simply is not on offer at home. For a car you could also get nearby, the extra work rarely outweighs whatever price advantage there might be.
The asking price is only half the sum in any case. Only once import charges, transport, testing and registration are added up do you know what the car really costs. Work those items through before you commit — the sections below name them one by one.
What an import costs
Customs duty: passenger cars are cleared by weight. Relative to the value of the car the amount is usually small.
Vehicle tax: 4 per cent of the value of the car.
Import VAT: value-added tax on the total value including transport and the other charges.
On top of that come transport or a drive-home, the customs form, where required an emissions and noise report, and the roadworthiness inspection. For a car with EU type approval the effort is manageable; for cars outside that approval it can become considerable.
The order of the steps
First the contract of sale and the papers: the vehicle registration document parts I and II, the certificate of conformity and the service book. Without the certificate of conformity, testing in Switzerland becomes markedly more involved.
Then the transfer, either on a transporter or under an export-plate arrangement from the seller's country. Next comes customs clearance at the border, then form 13.20 A and presenting the car to the roadworthiness inspection. Registration with plates and insurance comes last.
Allow two to six weeks for the whole sequence, depending on how quickly you get an inspection slot.
What to watch when buying
Ask for the vehicle identification number in advance and check it. Insist on seeing the car before you pay, or commission an inspection organisation locally — the cost of that is low against the risk.
Buy from a commercial dealer if you want a warranty: on a private sale it is effectively excluded in most countries, and a claim you would have to pursue abroad is worth little in practice.