Has anyone taken a car from the US to Switzerland? I plan to do this, and I was wondering what the procedure would be. I read online that I could do this and drive my car on foreign plates for a year, but I guess in Switzerland, foreign means 'rest of europe'.

Also, what are issues that the state in the US would have woth driving on their tags abroad? Apparently the DMV here has NEVER heard of someone requesting this information and the person I spoke with said she had no idea what their regulations (if any)were!

Also, I read somewhere that all US cars needed before registration was a 'noise-level' check, and a statement showing that the emissions were fine or something like that. Anyone care to elaborate please?

Thanks much.

I think we've had a few people talking about bringing a car from the US before, but the general consensus was that it wouldn't make much sense. We have cars here, and they aren't that expensive, especially used cars. Unless there is something really special about this car then it will probably work out a lot cheaper to sell it there and just buy one here.

the letter of the law is yes, for one year, you can bring the car in on US plates - assuming your insurer will cover you (and consider fully-comprehensive neccessary if there is finance owing on the car).

if the car is from a European manufacturer, it will likely have an easy path through - the more niche the car, the possibility becomes higher that you might be the first importing it.

Also consider the cost of bringing it over ($2000 or more). Are you paying personally?

So tell more and get more information - but Mark's summary is the most likely "best" option right now.

Nothing special about the car, except that it is ultra-reliable; but being in the US and commuting 100 miles a day mean high mileage which lowers the value in the US. Couple that to the fact that I don't pay for importing the car (my company will), and I own it completely.

So it just makes financial sense to get the car use it until it runs and get rid of it when it stops. Atleast that's my thought.

It is a european car. It passed emissions/ inspection here very recently. Any of this would help?

European is a plus.
Emissions is likely to help but the Swiss have their own test that occurs every other year.

Which European manufacturer? It might be worth speaking to a dealer over here that someone might recommend....

Scandinavian: Saab.

I e-mailed haselnuss who posted about importing her vehicle..... hopefully she has sme advice for me.

I'll also keep you all informed if I find anything useful elsehwere. Thanks Captain, that's a good idea.... I'll try and find a Saab dealer and call him up tomorrow.

Howdy sooninch,

Seems to me that your plan makes good sense considering that you're not paying for the importing yourself. Just one question: If it's being "officially" imported to here then what is the problem with US plates? Surely it will have to undergo the regular CH inspection like any other car over here and in the process be issued with local plates?

Shaka

Has anyone repatriated a vehicle backto US? what does that entail? what is the cost? is it cheaper if you drive vehicle to UK? can you put other stuff in the trunk so as to avoid shipping costs ? appreciate any comments - thanks

richard

Sorry, didn't think that one through properly . Obviously if you're allowed a year on foreign plates with the emissions and noise level tests then you won't need CH plates until the year is up. After that you would have to arrange a regular roadworthiness test at your local traffic department over here and if the vehicle passed you would be issued with local plates.

Wouldn't it perhaps be easier to just do the test and conversion to CH plates at the same time as the importing? That way you wouldn't have to get involved in lengthy moderations with your current insurers and could switch directly to a local one, which might work out cheaper in the long run.

As a matter of interest, what is the mileage on your SAAB, and what model is it? It might also pay to check out an equivalent buy over here and see what it would cost you compared to what you will get for yours if you sell it over there...

Also a good point. As I recall European cars are treated as if they are something really special in the US. The resale value of the car may indeed be much higher in the US than it is here, in which case it would make no sense to import it. I do know that Americans on a short stay get special deals from manufacturers and then export their cars to the US, effectively ending up with a car in the US way below the local price.

Ivo Massaro at www.titan.ch speaks some English as do the guys at www.hirsch-performance.com or www.ruckstuhlgaragen.ch (Kloten). But do look into whether it's worth it (and if you came sooner, you could've had my 9-5!)

It may well be if the automobile in question has a speedometer in miles only and such things as red turn signals (as opposed to orange) and that these will have to be changed before registration is possible here. Though you'd be OK for the first 12 months on US plates.

Also many European models sold in the US have different suspension set up designed for boulevard cruising and higher curbs and may render the vehicle less effective on European roads - and very difficult to eventually sell here...

SAAB is not that cheap on gas. Bear in mind gas prices here. I think they are going from 1.5CHF to 1.7CHF per liter for super.

I gave up importing my car from NA to CH as I heard a lot of stories regarding car inspection, regulations and etc. I used to drive an SUV and did not want to gamble, plus I could not find the model of my car with any of the insurance companies so that I can check what to pay the insurance.

You are driving an european car that's good but consider gas prices.

atommrav

SAABs are actually reasonably frugal considering the speed they can go. The turbos are more frugal than s-cylinder Beemers, for instance.

Plus gas in real terms here isn't a bad price.

Comparing CH gas prices to NA is that CH prices are double the price comparing in NA. Comparing CH to UK, sure it's not an issue. I heard gas prices are really sky high expensive in the UK.

CAN gas price per liter (as there are no gallon scale) is 70-80 cents
USA gas price per gallon is ~$2.11

Mark, no hard feelings.

atommrav

Don't forget that UK gallon isn't the same size as the US gallon.

I am confused, though, with your statement about US gas prices per gallon of 11 cents?

fuel here is priced in litres. US gallons are smaller than UK gallons. Money wages are usually higher here thus in real terms, fuel is not that much more expensive.

And lots of people can afford to run SAABs so......they can't be that bad on fuel.

Thought I'll update all of you a little bit on what I found after several calls.

Yes, I can take my US plates abroad, though I must show proof of insurance to the authorities in the US until I return the plates to them.

And one US insurer does insure cars in Switzerland. For very less. (liability only for ~$550/ year). And this 'may' be acceptable for US authorities since my car would technically 'not' be in the US. So double insurance (both in the US and Switzerland) would not be necessary.

So looks like I'm golden atleast for a year in Switzerland, at which point, I just have to decide to 1) junk my car or 2) try to get the Swiss authorities to inspect it.

On comparis, it looks like the $550 is a real steal!!!!! I was quoted for atleast 2.5 times that amount.

Does anyone know what the 'bare minimum' coverage limit for cars in Switzerland is?

I don't understand your $550 liability. That is the policy cost, your own deductable if you claim or what?

You need to ensure that the 3rd party is fully-covered - there is no "no-fault" law in Swizterland or any of Europe as far as I know.