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Importing a car into Switzerland
Home is, where the car is 🚗 Would you like to take your car with you from Germany to Switzerland? Then there are a few important points to consider when emigrating to Switzerland - from customs declaration and technical regulations to registration in Switzerland. Knowing the procedures will save you time, money and unnecessary effort. In this article, you will learn step by step how to transfer your vehicle correctly.
On the day of the move to Switzerland, you register your car as removal goods with Swiss customs.
Pay attention to the opening hours and bring your vehicle registration document, vehicle licence and ID with you.
You will receive a form from the customs office which contains the Master number contains.
Proof of insurance is required for authorisation.
Send us the customs form incl. master number by e-mail.
We will then send a Proof of insurance to the Road Traffic Licensing Office (transmitted electronically) and a motor vehicle insurance quote.
This is followed by a motor vehicle inspection, also known as the MFK (=TÜV).
The quickest way is to book an appointment online in your canton of residence.
After successfully passing your vehicle test, you can Swiss licence plates and pick up the new vehicle licence.
Register your car in Switzerland
Are you planning to import your car to Switzerland? We offer comprehensive advice and support for your move from Germany to Switzerland. Our experts are at your side and provide valuable tips to help you register your car in Switzerland quickly. Have a good journey!
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Register your car in Switzerland
The Swiss road network is well developed and offers you the opportunity to explore every corner of the country on four wheels. If you want to take your car with you when you move to Switzerland, you need to bear the following things in mind.
Emigrate to Switzerland: If you are moving to Switzerland and bringing your own vehicle with you, you must declare your car at customs on the day you enter the country. This is mandatory and must be adhered to. The declaration means that you declare your car as removal goods. If you have owned your vehicle for more than 6 months, you can import it duty-free. If you have owned it for less than 6 months, customs duties and taxes will apply.
Important: If you have already registered with your Swiss municipality but your car has not yet been declared at customs and you are still driving in Switzerland with German licence plates, you are committing an offence. In this case, you could be fined. However, the customs declaration does not mean that your car is registered in Switzerland - your car is only registered with Swiss customs.
After registering at customs, you have one year from a Swiss perspective to register your vehicle with the road traffic office in your canton and obtain Swiss licence plates. Important: Although Switzerland allows you to drive with German licence plates for up to 12 months, you should be aware of the following: According to German legislation, your German car insurance can terminate your insurance cover after 6 months - or even earlier. This means that you could suddenly find yourself without valid insurance, i.e. you would no longer be allowed to drive your car.
Our recommendation: If possible, register your car within the first few months of moving to Switzerland. If your car is without insurance cover, you are no longer allowed to move it until it is properly insured and registered.
Before your car gets Swiss licence plates, it must be sent to the Motor vehicle inspection (MFK) - comparable to the German TÜV. The waiting times for this vary: with luck you will get an appointment within 3 weeks, for example. However, the waiting time is often 2-3 months, especially for expats. Tip: Arrange the MFK appointment soon after your move so that you can complete the inspection on time - and hopefully your German insurance will remain valid until then.
Motor vehicle inspection (TÜV test)
After registering with the road traffic office, you will be given an appointment for the MOT. To register your car, the cantonal road traffic office will subject your vehicle to a technical inspection. You should ensure the following before the inspection:
- Arrive with a clean vehicle, first impressions count
- Check the function of the lights and headlights
- Check steering, suspension and underbody
As a rule, you will need to present the following documents to the road traffic office in order to be able to collect your Swiss licence plates:
- Certificate from Swiss customs for the import of your vehicle. This contains the so-called Swiss Master number
- Proof of insurance: is sent electronically by the insurance company to the road traffic office
- Foreigner's identity card, e.g. the B permit
- German vehicle registration document
- EC Declaration of Conformity for your vehicle (from the vehicle manufacturer)
Swiss motorway vignette
If you are travelling with your vehicle on Swiss motorways, a Motorway vignette mandatory. If this is not present, a fine will be imposed.
All motor vehicles, vans and trailers are subject to the vignette requirement. This must be affixed by 1 February of the current year at the latest. You can get the vignette at petrol stations and post office counters as well as at customs. The vignette costs CHF 40 and must be clearly visible on the inside of the windscreen.
Since 2024, a E-vignette be purchased. The e-vignette is linked to the licence plate and is stored digitally, meaning you no longer need to attach a vignette to the windscreen.
Would you like to find out more about the toll in Switzerland and where you can buy the vignette? You can find more information on the following page: www.bussgeldkatalog.org/maut-schweiz
No-claims class
Car insurance in Switzerland is similar to that in Germany. In Switzerland there is also a kind of no-claims bonus, the so-called Swiss no-claims bonus. Bonus level system. You can change your no-claims bonus class in Germany not to Switzerland.
We are experts in car insurance in Switzerland and will be happy to advise you personally. This will help you find the right insurance, avoid unnecessarily high premiums and ensure that your vehicle is correctly and fully insured.
Important: Be careful when comparing car insurance policies: Cheaper premiums are often the result of important benefits or cover being omitted (current value vs current value add-on). At first glance, it is not always easy to see what is missing and it is easy to assume that cheap also means good. However, this can be expensive in the event of a claim - especially if you are held liable. That's why we recommend that you don't take out your car insurance too hastily, but rather take it out together with a experienced consultant carefully. We'll help you find the right insurance to reliably protect you and avoid unnecessary costs.
Swiss driving licence - how to convert
Emigration Switzerland: With your German driving licence, you may drive on the roads in Switzerland for a maximum of one year. Your date of entry, which is noted on your foreigner's identity card, applies. You must transfer your driving licence within one year. You do this at the road traffic office in your canton of residence.
You must present the following documents in person at the Road Traffic Licensing Office:
- the application form, which you can download from the website of your local road traffic office
- Valid original driving licence
- Foreigner's identity card
- Passport photo in colour
- Eye test by an optician in your canton of residence
Mobility in Switzerland - travelling in the new everyday life
When you emigrate to Switzerland as a German, mobility plays a major role. It helps you to organise your new everyday life flexibly and independently. Although the public transport network in Switzerland is excellent - punctual, clean and reliable - many Germans quickly realise that driving in Switzerland is also very practical. Especially outside the cities, you are often quicker by car and can discover the country at your own pace.
The traffic rules in Switzerland are strict and offences can be expensive. The speed limits and priority for pedestrians are particularly important - two points that differ significantly from Germany. If you stick to the rules and drive with a little patience, you will arrive at your destination relaxed. This will allow you to get to know your new home safely and stress-free - whether you're travelling to work or exploring the Swiss countryside at the weekend.
Car insurance in Switzerland
If you are travelling with your car in Switzerland, you must have liability insurance. It covers damage that you cause to other people or vehicles. You can also take out partially or fully comprehensive insurance. Partial casco covers damage caused by theft, glass breakage, hail, martens or wildlife accidents, for example. Fully comprehensive cover goes even further and also covers self-inflicted accidents or parking damage.
It is particularly important for immigrants to check the insurance conditions carefully. Favourable offers sound tempting, but may have gaps in cover or high deductibles. In the event of a claim, this can be expensive and annoying. That's why it's worth checking with us first before you take out car insurance. That way, you can make sure that your vehicle really is comprehensively protected.
If you bring your car with you from Germany, you must register it in Switzerland. Under German law, you are only allowed to drive a foreign vehicle for around 185 days, i.e. about six months, before it has to be registered in Switzerland. According to Swiss regulations, one year would be permitted, but to avoid problems, you should stick to the shorter period.
Another point that many people underestimate is the waiting time for the motor vehicle inspection, the so-called MFK. Depending on the canton, this can take up to three months. It is therefore worth making an appointment early on and planning your registration in good time. The sooner you take care of this, the smoother everything will run - and you can concentrate fully on your new life in Switzerland.
Speed limits in Switzerland - drive carefully
When driving in Switzerland, very close attention is paid to speed. The speed limit on motorways is 120 km/h, outside built-up areas it is usually 80 km/h, and in built-up areas it is generally 50 km/h, sometimes only 30 km/h. This lower speed ensures greater safety - and is also strictly monitored.
The Swiss authorities don't take speeding offences lightly. Speed cameras can be found in many places, even where you wouldn't expect them. Even small speeding offences can result in high fines, and larger offences can lead to driving bans or even criminal prosecution. So if you're moving to Switzerland from Germany, you should be prepared to take it a little easier on the roads. In Switzerland, consideration counts more than speed - and this not only ensures safety, but also a more relaxed driving experience. In short, it's better to drive slowly and with foresight - it's easier on your nerves and your wallet.
Pedestrians and cars - right of way in Switzerland
A lot of consideration is given to pedestrians in Switzerland. They clearly have right of way at zebra crossings - and they use it. Many simply walk confidently as soon as they want to cross the road. So if you are travelling to Switzerland from Germany, remember: as a car driver, you have to stop as soon as someone wants to cross the pedestrian crossing. Consideration and patience are mandatory here - and are really practised in traffic. In short: pedestrians have priority, drivers brake - that's how it works in Switzerland.
8 tips for emigrating to Switzerland - How to do it right!
- Customs declaration requiredDeclare the vehicle on entry (form 18.44).
- Check CO₂ outputApplies to new cars & imported used cars with high CO₂ emissions.
- MFK testVehicle must comply with Swiss regulations (motor vehicle inspection).
- Swiss insurance: Take out new car insurance after transfer.
- Deregister German licence plateDo not forget to avoid double taxation.
- Consider the car park situation: Mandatory in many cities for own car park.
- Vehicle leasing? Leased vehicles often cannot simply be imported.
- Alternative sale? Sometimes cheaper to sell car in Germany & buy new one in CH.
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Our advisory team and office staff specialise in emigrants from Germany and Austria, and we help people emigrate to Switzerland every day. If you would also like to emigrate to Switzerland, please get in touch using the contact form and get to know our team in Zurich - we look forward to hearing from you! 🤗
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