Hello everyone.

I relocated from Spain to Vaud, Switzerland (still relocating as we speak) about 1-2 months ago and brought my car from that country (I had owned it for more that 6 months so I understand no TAX has to be paid). I have a spanish license and a car insurance in that country which, for what I understand, also covers me here as well.

I know I have to take care of my swiss transportation/license paperwork but I do not know in which order.

For what I understand, the "logical" procedure would be as follows:

A) Exchange my driver's license (although I know I have up to 1 year to do so)
B) Insure my car with a Swiss company (since it seems to be a requiremente in order to Register my car here)
C) Register the car (get the plates) in Switzerland (although I did not "declared" it when I crossed the border, can I still declare it and register it now?)

Does this make sense?.
Could I have the opinion of someone that has already done it?.

Thanks in advance!

I have just registered a car here (though I bought it used in Switzerland). The steps were as follows:
1. Get insurance. You can use www.comparis.ch to get quotes but when you go to the car registration office they will need to have a record that you have insurance. This record is transmitted to them electronically.

2. Fill out the Demande d'Immatriculation. Attached is a link that you can fill out on line and then print.
http://www.san.vd.ch/documents/0211_070223_000.pdf
You'll need to check which shape of number plate you need for the back of the car. You can get a square one or a long thin rectangular shape according to the make of the car.

3. Go to one of the offices with the original ownership document of the car, the completed "Demande d'Immatriculation" and a copy of your work permit as well as your passport. My permit was not yet issued so I took an "attestation" from my employer that the application was made. The various addresses for the offices where they issue the registration are printed on this form. I went to Lausanne and it took about one hour. I did not need to have the car checked but that might be the case fo you because the car was not originally registered here. If so, they will apparently give you an appointment for a later date when you'll need to go back for the inspection.

4. They give you the plates there and then and hand you a printed car registration document (a grey form). Make a copy of the grey form and keep it in case the original is lost or stolen. Keep the original in the glove box of the car.

About a week later you'll get a bill in the mail. I had to pay about CHF375 for half a year (Peugeot 207).

Good luck.

You can "declare" the car after you arrive if you did not do it at the border. To get the Swiss numberplate you will need the customs declaration (which is really, really easy), proof of Swiss insurance and a road worthiness inspection.

Transferring your licence is completely independent. But when you inform the STVA that you are importing your car and they send you the paperwork for that, they will probably send you the licence application form. You might as well do it at the same time rather than leaving it to the last minute like I did.

hello, I'm new to this site so please bear with me!

Can you signpost me to the postings telling me what to do if we take a vehicle from the UK to Geneva, for use there.

I need to know everything about taking a 2nd-hand vehicle there!

Also, can we use our UK licences ? And for how long? Do we need to change them and do we need to retake driving tests?? (hope not!!)

We want to buy this vehicle here and leave it at our apartment in Geneva.

I'd appreciate some help please!

thanks a lot

Ruth

Hi Ruth and welcome to this site where nice and funny people meet! As this is your first post, I suggest to let us know a little about yourself. Then, go to the "Search" function in the head line - several threads with your questions had been opened before. Good luck with your move!