Sure, here you go. I know it's confusing with all the different times and dates and procedures

some info here: http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...gpKfo&typ=.pdf

Basically, if you are not a tourist, you have to declare the car when you import it (when you cross the border). If you want to bring the car as personal item and not pay tax, you have 18 months after taking up residency to do so. After importing, you have one year to change it to swiss plates.

Now the 15.30 is only supposed to be available for some categories, short term permits etc, but I asked the customs and they said that if I want to take the car back later, I could still get it, even though I yave 5 year permit.

If you own the car for more than 6 months before bringing it as personal belongings to Switzerland you don't have to pay any duty on it anyway.
I'm sticking with the 12 month rule to get the car sorted.
It's a great sea of info to get a car sorted here. Finding the quickest and easiest is the task and I'm nearly done

Are you in the process of doing the same?

Have now ordered a set of new headlights and the inspection booked for the 11th.
Everything is ready....

I tried but as I was stupid enough to try to find out everything you have to do and how much it would cost. Was not very encouraging. If I just started doing it, I probably would have finished as you know, half already done etc. I decided it was too much of a hassle so sent mine back to the old country and bought a new car here - got a good deal, so not complaining too much.

RECAP:
So, having driven my 1995 Jeep Wranlger over to Switzerland in March, it was decided that we would like to keep it if possible.
Rightly or wrongly, I hadn't done any paperwork regarding the Jeep since moving here so my first step was:

1. I went to the local customs office in Luzern where I obtained an 18.44 form (Declaration of clearance for household effects) and form 13.20A (contains vehicle info & number for obtaining insurance).
Cost approx 25chf

2. I went to a local Main Dealer to get the Abgas-Wartungsdokument. (Emission test).
Cost 100chf
They also cleaned the car ready for the inspection.
Cost 170chf
They carried out a mock vehicle inspection to see what may need doing.
Cost 170chf
Wasting 6 weeks waiting for the arrival of an ordered Cert of Conformity to arrive from main Jeep dealer in Sihlbrugg when it didn't exist.
Cost Priceless

3. Changed the headlights
Cost 180chf

4. Took it to the Inspection today in Steinhausen and......................................... ................................


it Passed

Only have to move the Fog light to the other side. Woo Hoo
Cost for test Approx 170chf.

Total= 815ch

Just got to sort the insurance and get my plates.

Glad its finally sorted

Congratulations Kevin. Do you need a hand moving the foglight?

wow, jeep headlights are as cheap as chips, don't forget your going to get a road tax bill as well, usually comes in the post a few days after its registered.

They were cheaper in Germany but I got the wrong ones. Thanks to Moabman's help, we got some locally at the 11th hour.

I'll have a chat with you tomorrow about it. See whats needed etc

Now comes the licence changing bit

I love reading threads like this; most threads about importing cars are met with an almost Swiss-like attitude of "too difficult, too expensive, cheaper to buy a car here".

Good to see a thread that shows otherwise.

All done and dusted.
Got my new plates and sorted the licence at the same time. I though I'd need an eye test but nothing was mentioned..which was nice.

I'm about to import a new car from the EU. Read through plenty of stuff on the net, and am not understanding everything! Hoping for some experienced advice here on the forum.

The new EU bought car needs to be submitted to the customs with:
EC certificate, to be supplied by the garage where the car is bought
Invoice, stamped and cleared for export by the EU country customs
EUR1 certificate of origin, to be supplied by who?
"permit de circulation", to be supplied by who?
License plates, but which ones? EU license plates? Temporary Swiss license plates?

At the customs, they issue a form 13.20A, they'll take 4% import tax and a further 8% VAT.

Then before going to the canton, the vehicle needs to go to a swiss garage for some forms and testing and further accreditation?

And finally, at the canton, to get the final Swiss license plates, the car needs to be submitted with the form 13.20A?

Maybe this section of the forum could do with a "how to import a new car" sticky?

Thanks in advance!

Search and you will find... 84 results from "Import car"

Please write a sticky on your findings.

Import new car, how to? (1) 24.Jan.2012
Swiss car prices - This is NOT a rant (9) 18.Jan.2012
Temporary car import 15.30/18.44 ? (5) 17.Jan.2012
Car import from Greece (8) 17.Jan.2012
I imported a car from America, almost... (27) 29.Dec.2011
Import car to France - Garage in St Luis that could do control technique (2) 16.Dec.2011
Importing a car after 15.30 expiry (8) 14.Dec.2011
car import from USA (123) 12.Dec.2011
Importing cars into Switzerland: info on import duties (54) 16.Nov.2011
After market parts on a import car (14) 15.Nov.2011
Yet another car import question... (25) 6.Nov.2011
[Import] Bring car to Switzerland? (176) 4.Nov.2011
Help: Tips on buying and importing car in Switzerland (4) 24.Oct.2011
Import a DeLorean? Am I insane?!? (21) 19.Sep.2011
Importing a Car on L Permit? (2) 15.Sep.2011
Way to avoid import cost of car in this case? (14) 14.Sep.2011
complex car import question (23) 11.Sep.2011
Customs form 13.20A Car Import? (7) 22.Aug.2011
Car group buying from Germany? (13) 11.Aug.2011
My experience importing a car from germany to switzerland.... (42) 8.Aug.2011
Import car from Geneva to France - anyone done it? (5) 7.Aug.2011
Driving a UK car to Zurich, registered in someone elses name (1) 6.Aug.2011
Exporting a car from CH to Russia (14) 4.Aug.2011
EU New Car Import Dealers (24) 2.Aug.2011
Car Import/Export Timing Question (5) 28.Jul.2011
Need advice on car issue - lease Vs buy Vs import (5) 20.Jul.2011
Garage for Import car pre MFK test (33) 14.Jul.2011
car duty to avoid? (30) 10.Jul.2011
No need to import UK car for 1 year? (10) 16.Jun.2011
Importing car from Italy (27) 14.Jun.2011
Buying a car abroad and then import it, convenient? (6) 2.Jun.2011
New car import (3) 30.Apr.2011
buying a car from germany (1) 28.Feb.2011
Re-import UK car back to UK (48) 3.Feb.2011
What car did you import? How much did it cost & real experiences only (27) 30.Jan.2011
Free Import Duty: "trousseau de marriage" (car) (10) 24.Jan.2011
Car import - still confused... (37) 10.Jan.2011
How I imported my car from the UK (29) 13.Dec.2010
Do I need my car title to import my car. (9) 18.Oct.2010
German Car Import (4) 16.Sep.2010
Looking for a garage that can import cars (2) 6.Sep.2010
Importing of a UK car, which is a grey import from Japan (10) 2.Sep.2010
second hand insurance for imported cars - facts and figures only please (6) 1.Sep.2010
Tax issues with car import (7) 15.Apr.2010
Volvo S60 import from USA (3) 9.Apr.2010
bringing my USA BMW to CH? (26) 7.Apr.2010
Transfer of Ownership to avoid car import duty/swiss plates requirement (23) 10.Mar.2010
Car import - where and how do they know about 6 month ownership? (16) 18.Jan.2010
car specifications [feasible to import from Dubai?] (22) 14.Jan.2010
Registering your car - where (4) 30.Nov.2009
Dodgy car question (again) (2) 25.Nov.2009
Importing Vehicle Procedure before 12mths is up (92) 19.Nov.2009
Importing car from US to Switzerland - anyone has Honda Pilot? (16) 16.Nov.2009
Fees/taxes about car import from US (8) 13.Nov.2009
Importing a car from France (15) 26.Oct.2009
In need for an car insurance relating to import (2) 21.Oct.2009
Car import to CH via Belgium? (2) 1.Oct.2009
Registering a car in Basel - STRANGE Emission Test request from MFK!!!! (5) 25.Sep.2009
Uk Car - 12 month rule - would like a bit longer ! (8) 22.Sep.2009
Import your car or better buy a new one? (3) 18.Sep.2009
5 cars and trailer to import (1) 21.Aug.2009
Buy a car in CH or import from US? (6) 24.Jul.2009
car inspection when importing (7) 23.May.2009
Importing a vehicle - car/campervan? (7) 29.Apr.2009
Keeping car on UK plates after importing it (75) 16.Apr.2009
Importing car from UK (20) 23.Mar.2009
Arrange auto insurance before arriving from US (28) 18.Feb.2009
Swiss Red Day Plates in Germany (4) 16.Feb.2009
Car insurance for a UK car, not intending to import (22) 11.Feb.2009
Cancelation car import? (1) 19.Sep.2008
UK car (14) 18.Sep.2008
Importing the Badest American Sports Car (54) 28.Aug.2008
UK - buy car locally or import from EU (2) 24.Aug.2008
Buying a Polish Registered LHD in UK and bringing to Switzerland (2) 4.Jul.2008
Car Import (10) 4.Jun.2008
UK vs CH car - buy/import (4) 7.May.2008
import of a new car (38) 2.May.2008
some UK cars are not allowed in Switzerland without substantial modification? (39) 26.Apr.2008
Pay tax on car if sold in CH & living here < 1 year? (4) 9.Apr.2008
Car imported as an "effet de demenagement". Le Carnet. What is it? (14) 17.Jan.2008
US Volvo XC90 in CH: modifications? (26) 21.Nov.2007
Buy Car In Switzerland (1) 1.Oct.2007
Pro/con of buying a demo car? (10) 20.Aug.2007
Can I import a car from The MiddleEast? (8) 6.Jun.2007

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Searched and read for hours, didn't understand everything about a subject and so posted a question hoping for help - seems a bit harsh or overreacting to move the topic to a 2 year old one that's irrelevant to the questions raised (new car vs old owned car import) and degrading popularity at the same time. Thought this was a friendly place with expats helping each other out? I must be missing something here.

the subject of importing a new or used car ( both have been covered) has been done to death and all the info is there, you just need to look, OR go to your customs import point or the STVA and they will be happy to assist you with whats required, thats what I did.

to be fair all the questions have been answered hundreds of times before

eur1 export certificate can be got from the country you bought the vehicle in, if its from the uk then your local uk tax office. it basically states the car has come from the UK, so you'll be charged import duty from the EU car rather then the more expensive import duty from a car from the USA