I'm looking for information (or where I can get) about the legality/proper procedure for modifying my car.

For example, if I wanted to make a major change to the powertrain such as building a custom engine or converting to electric.

Can I "just do it" with no legal ramifications? I know that when I register a car I get taxed on how "big" the engine is in displacement (surprisingly not in efficiency though...) in Fribourg anyways so I'm guessing not.

I've heard somewhere that any modification resulting in more than 20hp the car has to be "re-approved" for use on the roads. Same goes for any changes to the exhaust.

If this is the case, what is the procedure to have a car "re-approved" for use on the roads?

Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated!!

any changes not attributed to the OEM must be declared and you must have a permission slip for this.

I had a fruity exhaust and alloys on a car with the slips. Same car had a Hirsch-modified ECU and this did not have to have a permission slip. This was a stage 1 tuning from Hirsch Performance, quite a common upgrade for certain cars

You must immediately take the modifed car to the StrassenVerkehrsAmt (Road Transport Authority) for testing. If the mods are approved, then those will be remarked on the registration certificate.

Even mounting wheel rims that are not "original equipment" requires endorsement.

I have a couple projects I'm thinking of doing...
One is dropping a v8 into a car that currently has an OEM inline four.
The other is getting a kit to convert to electric.

For the v8, the engine itself is anything but original. Custom ECU as well. As there is not an "official" brand on most of the parts I plan on using, does this present an issue? How does one obtain permission for this?

Also, is the 'StrassenVerkehrsAmt' the same thing as the OCN??

Thanks for the replies so far!!

completely off topic

NICE!!!!! sick projects.

I have a karman Ghia in a garage at home completely restored the chassis and body work just waiting to slip a juicy Porsche engine in the back

Damn this placement in switzerland ruining my fun.


keep up the good work.

Back on topic I have no idea about your question.

Pointless: the first bend you come to and you'll go straight on...

Guess it is the same: "Office de la Circulation ...".
Same place that issues driving licenses, number plates, etc.

The modifications you propose are very extensive and will completely invalidate the original certification. Can result in expensive testing to verify road worthiness. Also you will be challenged to find an insurer!

One approach
Do the mods abroad; get the car registered abroad & then do a self-import into Switzerland.
usually importing a modified car is easier than trying to register a car modified in Switzerland

Speak to the guys at the Dynamic Test Center, near Biel :

http://www.dtc-ag.ch

Thats EXACTLY the kind of place I'm looking for... Their website contains a vast amount of useful information... Thanks alot!!



I suppose I could always do that as a last resort... From France would be my only option in that direction...
Assuming I legally do the mods and register in France, is it likely that Switzerland would turn down the "import" ?? I have heard of people having problems importing cars (Lamborghini I think) to Switzerland due to not meeting all the correct safety standards, even though the cars were legally registered in Italy.

the Swiss like standard and then like permission to be issued to deviate from standard.

try to work outside this framework? be prepared for failure.

if you manage to make the car too noisy, be prepared for constant problems; I know someone who had a TVR and was always being stopped by the Rozzers as it was too loud.

I don't think this would work, we imported our car recently and the test centre checked everything, even arguing that the body kit wasn't standard (it was) if they spot non oem parts then you have to take them off and replace them.

Couldn't agree with you more...
Though it really sucks when certain "standards" are about politics rather than safety, technological innovation, or just common sense