My wife and I are planning to relocate at the end of the year from UK to Zug. Since I find the relo companies too expensive, I decided to rent a truck and do it myself. Would like to find out what the process is for clearing customs. Ie. Do I need to do anything at entry point? Am I taking my stuff to my new home or do I need to show up at a customs office immediately after entry point? Can anyone please give me some advice?
Thanx

have a look here http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en

I have... at the moment it's a bit of information overflow.... Can anyone please explain in plane and simple English, so slow and dumb people like me could get it!?

- detailed packing list

- stop at custom at point of entry (office hour ,mostly 8am-5pm)

- import goods ( anything you own for over 6months is considered household good)

Okay that is what I can think of for now, I am sure there is more to it....

Please go to an import export agent in London. You need the correct forms, a copy of your passport and your permit showing your new address. They need to know the make & registration number of the van you are using.

A detailed inventory is a must: boxes numbered and contents listed eg Box 1 of 45 kitchen equipment, Box 2/45 ladies clothes, Box 3/45 books. You have to pay duty on any alcohol.

With your belongings you can add a car to the list and import it separately tax free and a few months later if you have owned it at least 6 months.

You might have to get the paperwork stamped at Dover & Calais & other borders, so you need to decide which route you will be taking and keep to it. Always cross the borders at the truck crossings, usually open 6 am to around 6 pm. When you arrive at Basel, you take the truck route and go to the German office for a stamp on your forms, and then to the Swiss Zoll office. It should all then be tax free.

If you don't follow the procedures they can refuse you entry. I was once marched to the boss of Italian customs at Trieste, because I didn't open the boxes in front of an Italian official.

Thanks! What I got from all the infos around, was that after point of entry I need to go to a customs office with the mandatory form and do it there...

did the same. didn't have a box by box list. just a big long inventory which the customs guys just stamped without checking.

Ok. what I was planning:
Do the box by box inventory that's easy. Rent a truck, get the ferry tickets, drive down to Basel and stop at the border guards. Will they clear me or do I need to go to a different customs office?

Just fill in the paperwork and drive the van through the border as normal.

If they stop you show them the forms, if they don't stop you just keep going.

First time we bought stuff over we went the truck route and was a waste of time (also be aware that it shuts at the weekends) the person in the office was surprised that we went in the truck section when we were the only van.

Since then we just drive through the normal car/van lanes, last time I got stopped (uk reg van) they said what have you got in the van, I said ' a fridge freezer, some furniture and some bikes' they said ok and waved me through.

They were more interested in if I had a motorway sticker.

You can still stop and park up if you go in the car/van lanes to take the forms to the office.

Got it. So drive through the border if not asked a thing And than? Have seen a bloody long list of custom offices all over the place and need to go to one of them? Or everything is done at the border eg. at Basel?

If you don't wait to be stopped. You stop at the border and give them the papers. You'll need to make sure you stop at a border crossing that is big enough & during opening hours.

Rubbish

This is a requirement - however even though we did it, nothing was actually checked.

To be honest, it's quite useful at the other end when you want to find something.

I haven't heard of anyone having to do this.

Be prepared for a long, long wait! The actual form stuff is quite quick but the queue of lorries can take a long time to move.

Other points:

1. It's almost impossible to get contents insurance if you self-drive. We didn't realise this until too late. We had a 7.5tonne lorry full to the brim with everything that we owned.
Luckily we parked up for the night at a French motel with a security gate.
Unluckily, the motel doubled as a brothel.

2. You'll need to factor in rest-stops for your driving which you need to adhere to as the Police do check your tachograph.

3. Arrange with the local Police here to cordon off a section of road for your lorry to park. It costs almost nothing and removes a lot of stress when you arrive.

4. Don't bother to try and find one-way hire.

Just unload, drive the lorry back and catch a flight back here.

Have fun - I thought it was cool playing truck driver for a few days.

The van company I used just wanted an inventory (not even a detailed box by box one) and my address in Switzerland. They picked up my stuff on the way to Dover as I was in Kent so I don't think they prepared any other documentation before the crossing. There was spare space on the van so I even got to add more items that weren't on the inventory. It should be just as simple with you accompanying your stuff.

The OP asked for the procedure for clearing customs, and I gave it. If you disagree, please don't write "Rubbish".

I gave the correct European procedure, if you want to encourage people to deviate, I hope you are prepared to help them out when some obnoxious French customs officer seizes their van.

The Schengen agreement does not cover transfer of goods, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement

You described needed the services of an import/export agent in London. It was this point that I was rubbishing (the rest of the advice was sound).

You don't.

You need to fill in form 18.44. It's in PDF format.

Other details, are here. Click on the English link to get the info in English.

You don't even need a residence permit if you come from one of the original EEC countries.

It is very straightforward.

Thanks guys. I think I got all the info I was missing. Will rent a 3,5t luton van which is 19m3 way big enough... No tachograph, no stopping. (will drive with a friend)and hit the border (I already downloaded the 18.44 form).

Would you get in the car or truck lane with a luton van? Would I look obnoxious if I'd get in the car lane?

Not true. You can bring up to 200l of alcoholic beverages below 25% alc., and 12l of spirits (ie above 25% alc). Source

You're relocating to earn CHF25 per hour??

Something strange going on here.....why would they want somebody from UK to move with family for that...?