Hello Forum members and readers,

after being in Zurich without a car for about 8 months (it's becoming tough now), I intend to buy a car in exactly 3 months time. I found some good cars on autoscout.ch. Cars are one of the very few things which are less expensive in Switzerland than in Netherlands for example.
But how to go about registering the car? What are the concrete steps?

I already did some desk research, found a useful thread in this forum (bit off-topic here and there therefore a new thread), and here too:
http://www.zurich-relocation.ch/cont.../motoring.html
"Car registration
In Switzerland new or used cars do not have license plates when purchased. Car license plates are issued to individuals and when a car is sold they are returned to the issuing canton's motor registration office or transferred to a new car.
When applying for Swiss registration plates for the first time, which your garage will most usually do for you, you must provide the following papers:
• your Swiss or foreign driving license (comment: got that)
• your foreigner's permit (comment: got that too, B)
• a certificate of residence, obtainable from your community office" (huh?)
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I imagine, that after having found the right car, agreed on the price, and transferred the money to the seller, I go there to pick up my car with my license plates under my arm? Or is that totally erroneous?

So I have some questions..:
Q1: Can I already start the process of obtaining a number plate? I assume I have to go to the STVA in Uetlibergstrasse for that - correct? How long does the process take and cost?
Q2: "Certificate of residence" - I go to the Kreisbüro to get one?
oh and Q3: Where can I found the exact amounts of road taxes per year for zurich? Heard rates depend on engine size and power in Zurich - correct?

I assume insurance is less difficult - compare some quotes (comparis.ch), choose one insurance and make sure the vehicle is insured from day one I will drive it.

Thank you for responses to my questions and other useful tips/hints to this topic! Much appreciated. Regards, Vince.

Hi Vince,

I wouldn't worry too much about the certificate of residence, your permit has your address printed on it - this should be enough.

You should investigate which insurance you would like to take. Without a valid Haftpfllict (3rd party property liability you won't be registering your car). Therefore it pays to shop around for this in advance so that when you decide to take the plunge it can be organised quickly.

Your insurance will have to send you a piece of paper that states that the car is insured, and you'll need to take this with you to the registration office. Also you'll need to take the Fahrzeugsschein (car registration papers) as they will issue you with new ones. They may ask to see something signed from the previous owner that he hands the car over to you.

I'm not sure where you've come from, but if you've come from a country where your insurance cover is done over the phone and take effect immediately (e.g. Australia) then you are fresh out of luck. The fastest you could hope for would be 1-2 days turnaround.

Apart from the logistics of getting that little insurance paper the entire process is quite simple and pain-free. But don't worry - you don't have to navigate through all this by yourself, ask the seller to help you with the process. When I bought my car I didn't have to do anything at all.

Car tax: I think I paid around 500 francs for 2800cc, and around 300 and something for 1900cc - but I could be wrong.

If you haven't already done so you should also check out this thread which discusses some insurance issues.

All very interesting. I may be in the wrong place on the Thread ... to ask, as i only have an L permit, not residency, although here year round would this be problematic for registering a car? Basically i now live in Zermatt year round - looking to buy a car in CH rather than import from the UK - feel this will be best. But seems maybe i need be a resident ... thank you so much for your help and i apologise if in the wrong area, Philippa

Here's what I did.

I bought the car from a seller on autoscout.

After agreeing the price, we met at the Strassenverkehrsamt to do the exchange.

I got an insurance broker I know to arrange the insurance and he sent the details to the Strassenverkehrsamt.

I gave the seller the cash and we registered the car in my name.