Hi all,

I'm moving soon from Switzerland to Germany. I am planning on renting a van and driving up there. Since I live in Zurich now, is it cheaper to rent a van from europcar say, in Konstanz and drive back to Zurich and then up to Germany again? Also, I know that I need to compile a list of my personal household effects when exporting out of Switzerland, but does anybody know if I need to fill out anything for "importing" into Germany? Thanks a lot in advance for your answers!

Cant help you with the 2nd question, but on the first one I'm sure, as I've done the trip with the same purpose a few times till now (didnt bother with customs paperwork, and no one ever asked me anything about it).

Its much cheaper to rent it out from Germany, not to mention that you could choose to return the car in your destination city (costs a bit extra, but at least you wont have to drive back an empty car). The one thing you need to be careful is that you'll need to stop at the border when entering&leaving Switzerland with the rental car from Germany, and declare it, otherwise you'll end up having problems with the Swiss police (in case they stop you - something about import taxes).

Thanks for your quick reply! However, won't it look a bit suspicious if you have a van of stuff, the Swiss or German border patrol will not stop you? And what do I need to do to "declare" the hired van?

Here you can see some details regarding the declaration of the van:

Short term driving foreign registered car and insurance

And regarding the border patrol.. I never said you shouldnt have the paperwork in order.. I just said that I passed a few times (in the last 5 or 6 years 4 times into CH and 3 times back to DE) and no one ever asked me anything. Maybe I got lucky?

When you cross the border your need to declare items you are exporting from Switzerland. As you are entering the EU. If you risk it and are controlled by customs in Germany you are technically smuggling. When all you have to do is declare what you have and be totally legal without charge.

I just moved household items today for someone from Switzerland to Germany,

Germany deal with these moves usually very serious if they are available when you cross the boarder, sometime you will find no one at all , it depend according from where you are crossing the boarder, or if you will first enter Austria or france to get in Germany and what time you are crossing the boarder and which person is dealing with you .

it is really every time another story.

in case they are there , you need to prepare list of everything , plus the confirmation of your new home in Germany , your residence permit in Germany and sometime the de-registration that you got it from Switzerland , which will be as confirmation that you were living there for while .

They will fill up some paper for you at there office ( boarder ) , ask you how much the items cost..stamp, it and then you go ...


at all the case don´t worry at all and take it easy everything will be very smooth .

good luck with your move ,

Can confirm simpa.

-Prepare a list with all your items (not too detailed--> so many boxes with books, so many with laundry, matress, bed, kitchenstuff, wife) with roughly estimated values (in euros)
-Copy of swiss "Abmeldebestätigung"
-Copy of a confirmation of your new "Wohnsitz" (eg Mietvertrag)
-Copy of id/passport may help

the germans are not interested in the fact if you have paid all your taxes but the swiss will be bear inmind that the swiss can AND will block your bankaccount if you haven t

Beware: you have one year to change your drivers license in germany.

cheers

Pieter