I have a few questions about bringing a car to Switzerland for maybe four months over the Winter.

The car is currently in my sons name with myself as a named driver. I don't want to import the car, but just drive it over at the beginning of December to drive back in April.

1. Do I have to re-register the car to my name with the DVLA as I will be the one mostly driving it?
2. Will I be breaking any laws whilst I use it here over the winter?
3. Does anyone know any UK based Insurance companies that are happy to insure a car knowing it will be overseas for a long period?
4. Will my european breakdown last that long?
5. Do I need to get winter tyres, legally?

Sorry the list is soo long. If you can think of anything else I need to know or consider let me know! Ta

1. no
2. maybe
3. all uk insurance companies have to cover it 3rd party, your insurance is euro wide, not just the uk, you only need a green card to extend your fully comp bit, companies like direct line will only give you one for 30 days at a time, so you'll have to keep asking.
4. no idea, check your policy!
5. No, but if you skid on ice / snow and crash, and you don't have them then you could be in some bother! Having used normal tyres then winter tyres on snow the difference is amazing, I wouldn't risk not using them!!!

HI Lavender,

this may help,

1 - no re-registration needed
2 - well, that depends on how good your driving is , but as long as you don't break any law, then no... remember the vignette for the motorway, high visibility jackets and red trangle
3 and 4 -i think UK insurances give you a european cover for about 30 days - check your insurance policy - but at the end of the day it depends if you tell them of not - give your insurance a call and see what they say
5 - you don't need to have winter tyres or snowchains unless is specified in road signals (usually in certain weather condition)

Would he need to buy a "Autobahn Vignette" to drive on the motorways over here? Im not sure but it could be asked.

5. No, except when specified.
Will you go skiing during winter time? With the car? No trip somewhere in the mountains?
In case of an accident in snowy conditions, you can get trouble with your insurance company. They will say your car is not suitably equipped for the winter, which might cost you more than snow tyres.

Franlky speaking, you are a public danger to other road users when driving without snow tyres in snowy conditions.

just to clear somthing up, snow tyres are not just for snow, they are really winter tyres, they have a different compound to normal tyres and so work much better, and quicker in lower temps, they also have deeper tread.

As you'll know it gets cold here in winter!!, winter tyres will be much better regardless if there is snow on the ground or not.

Its not just your insurance comapny you need to worry about if you crash with non-winter tyres on, the police may also do you!!

no idea what car you have, but for a 'normal' hatchback you can get winter tyres from euromaster here from 75chf

Thanks guys this has been really helpful. I was just a bit concerned that I would be doing something illegal. We are still waiting for our B permits (hopefully anyday soon) so although my husband has a swiss registered car I thought it would be a good idea to bring one over that we can all use until we buy another swiss car.

We all ready have a vignete (sorry about spelling) that runs out at the end of January, and I will probably change my current Insurance supplier as I know Direct line are fussy over their 30 day rule.

With regard to the tyres I will get some asap its a clio so hopefully wont be too expensive.

Moving over to Switzerland makes for lots of questions and yet again you have not let me down. Thanks a million

my advice would be to do it but, when the car's here, don't rely on it. Public transport is good here. Be prepared to leave the car at home if necessary (your home here).

winter tyres do make a massive difference (they would stop the UK from "halting" on days with 1cm of snow).

also if you have a prang, your insurance company could suggest that you're the main driver as you've taken the car with you. Check into this before rather than after (or don't mention you're Swiss resident in the worst case )

we just paid 900chf for wheels (some nice 5 spoke alloys) and goodyear winter tyres from euromaster for our Swift, they are probably the same size as clio wheels (more or less).

you only need the green card from directline if you want to be fully comp, our uk car was insured via direct line as was here for a long time, we only called them up and got a new green card if we where doing a special trip, eg back to the uk, hols to italy etc etc. Of course we still have an address in the uk and the car was always taxed and mot'ed

oh thats another thing, to be legal here it has to be legal in its home country, so you cannot let the uk road tax, insurance or mot slip!! If you cannot legally drive it in the uk then you cannot legally drive it here. There are a couple of members here who have interpreted the rules differently and will argue all day that this isn't the case, please ignore them!! the laws are quite clear and unambiguous

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