Hi all,

I'm importing my car in Switzerland from France as part of my personnal effects. I'm up to speed with custom clearance processes. However, I have a question regarding insurance for my car.
I understand that I have 1 year to get Swiss plates once car imported. I'll try to speed-up the process but it might take more than a month due to various stuffs.

My question is:
How to insure my car while still with my French plates? Once I move to Switzerland, I have to notify my French insurance of my adress change (this is mandatory - if problem and insurance company not notified, they won't cover). Then, they told me they won't be able to go insuring my car anymore as I'm leaving France and no adress there anymore.

Have you encounter this situation? Is there some insurance companies in Switzerland able to accept insuring car with French plates (pending Swiss plates) and this on a temporary basis (couple of months)? Other solutions?

Thanks
R

A friend of mine drove around for 3 months without insurance until he could get Swiss insurance...

Not a good idea!!


Just notify them after a month of moving. If something happens, tell them you were on a trip or something.
Or, do any insurers in your area offer a green card insurance for a few months?

Check the Transportation/Driving section for more ideas

I faced a similar problem when I came here. Zurich Connect insured me on the car's chassis number until I was able to complete registration.

All Swiss insurance companies will insure you based on the chassis number of the vehicle for a period of up to 3 months , whilst you get your car to swiss regs. IE mot ,abgas ,and plates. Just ask around for a quote, before you decide. Also watch out that some insurers require you to sign a 3 year insurance contract with them . (winterthur).

I just did a similar thing with these guys :
http://www.nvc.ch/

cheers

Hi all,
As a follow-up, I have contacted an insurer and applied as my french insurer cannot cover me anymore. I still need to go to the car registration office to get swiss plates (might take 2-3 weeks to wrap-up).

The swiss insurer delivered me a certificate of insurance with the 'matricule number' (9 digits you get on customs form 13.20), my name, adress here and vehicle brand/type and but no mention of my french plates I still have on my car and about my particular situation.

I'm still unsure whether I'm insured or not. Insurer was really unclear on that point. I just want to make sure it is ok. What's your opinion, ever went through such a situation ??

Tanks!
R.

the certificate of insurance is your insurance, so you are covered. What will happen is that the insurance company will, about a month after you get the certificate start pestering you about getting your Swiss plates. You need to get in touch with a garage to have your car checked and the emission test done, then with your cantonal car registration office and fix an appointment to get your car inspected. Once you have the date, give it to the insurer and they will send a copy of your insurance to the inspection office. Go along to the inspection and once you passed they will issue your new plates and car Swiss paperwork there and then. You then need to let the Insurer know the new licence plate number. Done

Thanks,

I started the process as you mentionned. I went to a garage today and they delivered me a emission conformity certificate. I'll go the car registration office tomorrow to apply and get an appointment. In the meantime, I'll go back to the garage for car check before inspection visit.

It reassures me regarding the insurance point as they were not clear and like saying insurance is activated once you get your plate only....maybe to push me accelerating the process as you mentionned...

In the contract terms I also saw that insurance is activated once you get insurance certificate (I got a copy) AND when 'official authorization' is given. I assume this authorization is the one from the car resgistration office...for new vehicles and then also assume I have an authorisation as I got clearance from custom with matricule number (9 digits ID, not immatriculation) which allows me to drive for 1 year before getting new plates.

Thks,
R.

I've been through exactly the same process. The insurance cover you have is fine, but as you say the expectation is that you gets Swiss plates asap. I went through the whole process in less than a week.

Thanks !

And maybe insurers are impatient you wrap-up everything because you start paying them only once you get your plates as I understood....

R.