Hi,

I have a Mazda 3, 4 door automatic 2.0L car that I would like to import Switzerland. I have owned it for 3 years and have not done any modifications to it at all. I have been told that even with a japan made car there are certain regulations the car will not pass as it was made for Canada. Something about seatbelt, lights, exhaust ..... Where can I find out if my car meets Swiss regulations?

I would think as long as it passes roadworthy / safety inspection it should be fine. I don't know what the difference is between the Mazda 3 in Canada and in Switzerland if any .....

Thanks

There are a lot threads about this already in the transporting and driving section - and similar questions have been asked a lot of times before. Did you try to use the search function?

Hi, have a look at these page... there is only written someting about import/regulatian which meets for USA.

http://www.ag.ch/strassenverkehrsamt..._101646_116316

here is the translation of the main part by Yahoo Babelfish. I hope these might help you.

3. USA import With light engine cars with gasoline or diesel engine, which the California exhaust regulations fulfill starting from model year 1996, the sticker attached by the manufacturer in the engine compartment is recognized as proof over the adherence to the Swiss exhaust regulations in the following cases: * Class M1 with total weight ≤ 2' 500 kg to 31.12.2005 * Class N1 with unloaded weight ≤ 1' 280 kg to 31.12.2005 * Class M1 with total weight > 2' 500 kg to 31.12.2006 * Class N1 with unloaded weight > 1' 280 kg to 31.12.2006 if it to the California regulations for Low, Ultra Low or super Ultra Low emission Vehicles (LEV, ULEV or SULEV) for passport-closer cars or light duty trucks correspond. * Class M1 with total weight ≤ 2' 500 kg starting from 01.01.2006 * Class N1 with unloaded weight ≤ 1' 280 kg starting from 01.01.2006 * Class M1 with total weight > 2' 500 kg starting from 01.01.2007 * Class N1 with unloaded weight > 1' 280 kg starting from 01.01.2007 if it the California regulations for Ultra Low or super Ultra Low emission Vehicles (ULEV or SULEV) for passport-closer cars or light duty trucks correspond. As equivalently to be accepted the requirements of the U.S EPA national emission Low Vehicle of program (NLEV). Such vehicles exhibit a sticker in the engine compartment. It carries the title „for VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION “or IMPORTANT VEHICLE INFORMATION “and contains among other things the name the vehicle manufacturer, the capacity, the engine designation, different engine attitude data and model year as well as the confirmation that the vehicle fulfills the appropriate exhaust regulations. Vehicles with diesel engine have to correspond additionally to the requirements of the RL 72/306/EWG and/or the ECE regulation No. 24 (Trübungsmessung) in the version valid for the vehicle. The proof of the adherence to the noise regulations is to teach (see number 1,2). Furthermore it is to be made certain that USA vehicles * are equipped with tires, for the possible maximum speed of the vehicle are suitable; * a windshield of compound safety glass have; * a speedometer have, which indicates also km/h and for the possible maximum speed is appropriate; * correspond concerning arrangement, color and circuit to the lighting (including direction turn signals and reflectors) the Swiss regulations. Are recognized: * " the marking of the lights with; SAE “or " DOT “; * the examination of seat belts and their points of anchorage according to the USA standards.

Canada is not part of the U.S. .

...yet.

I know that!!!!! Thats way I wrote: "I only found something..."
But you are right I'm all in all a very stupid idiot!

I grew up under the impression that they were a territory of the US; kind of like Puerto Rico. Something like almost citizens but they couldn't vote or something of the sort. Regardless, even if they aren't part of the US, why does 90+% of their population mass themselves on the US border?

They're preparing for the invasion.

Death by poutine awaits the freedom loving people of the United States!

Without any insult to your Hiroshima taxi, does the cost of shipping, compliance and the paperwork quagmire stack up against buying a car here. The headaches don't stop with the compliance and passing of the test, ongoing service and repair costs may well be higher, due to braking, exhaust, suspension spec's etc. So for older cars unless it's specialist or high end, it normally works out easier to sell and buy over here.

Oh that is easy! It is far too cold north of within a mile of the U.S. border for people; you'll only find Bears and Cariboo that far away... and um, Alaska eventually (but we won't get into that will we?).

Back OT. It'll be a hassle to bring the Mazda to CH, unless you want its registration to be your social life.

When you take it to the Vehicle Inspection Office for inspection---

Lots and lots of regulatory differences.

What looks the same on the outside is different underneath.
Headlights often need to be changed, as your beam pattern likely won't meet Swiss regulations.

But its only a Mazda. Common as muck over here and cheap to find / buy, and the ones here will come nicely specc'ed with European nav systems and two sets of tyres or even wheels (winter and summer) and all the little Swiss bits and bobs like exhaust emissions compliance, proper homolgation, easy insurance and repair, and heck, even a warranty if you buy a new one.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. It's not worth the hassle for a bog standard average family car. Save you pennies and worries for skiing and hiking :-)

May be worth it for exotic or high-end high-spec cars (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche) but you still have conversions costs and headaches. But a Mazda? I doubt it.

Thank you for the feedback. It certainly would not be worth the cost to bring it over. I was considering bringing the car over if the shipping cost would be paid for by my employer. However I had no idea there are so many minor differences, sounds like a hassle ......

At the sametime selling the car here and buying one in Switzerland would be a difference of around $10,000 from my pocket (if I did not have to pay shipping). I would not get more then $10.000 Canadian for the car here and I looked at 3 year old mazdas for sale and most of them are around $17,000 Swiss Francs.

In the end I like to avoid hassles so regardless if Employer pays for it or not I think I will take the advice and purchase a car there, besides this will give me the oppertunity to buy a bit bigger car. A wife and 2 kids, the Mazda 3 is a bit small for travelling.

Thanks everyone.

PS: give it a few more years say by end of 2010 and Canada and Mexico and the US will be one.