Hi,

Could somebody please clarify the following. We will be moving from France to Switzerland in a couple of weeks. We will be doing the move ourselves with a lorry etc....

I read somewhere that we need to check through customs on the way in and complete an 18.44 form. Can anyone please clarify this?

Thanks

Alex

Hi Alex,

Check the customs website, there is all kinds of information, plus the forms on the bottom right corner. Make sure you declare everything on the form 18.44, even stuff that you might bring in (up to 18 months) later, as this would need to be declared all in one go, even if you decide not to bring it in the end. Otherwise you'd have to pay the usual duty/VAT on those additional goods.

Plenty of people on here that have gone through it before and customs usually answer questions as well if you have any.

Good luck..

__________________
Nullus Anxietas - Oook

Wish I could help, but in my ignorance (10 yrs ago... not that I am saying I am any wiser now), I simply drove with all my belongings in a car (Renault Espace - yes my entire life's possessions could fit into that car) to the border and bluffed my way through the border.

That is the plan but I think I will complete the form just incase, knowing my luck I will be stopped. I will be in a van and it will be pretty obvious I am moving.

The removal company that we used never even got checked at the border and when I drove my Jeep here fully packed, I was waved through.

Sweet

Sounds good. I have driven a few times from Nice to Montreux via the St Bernard and never seen anyone at all. But I think I will do the form anyway.

I move the 13th, start work the 15th so this means I have to register the 14th in Vaud (Lausanne I think). I need to provide health insurance but I wont have that till I get there. Also my car is less than 6 months bought so I dont really want to register it before the 6 months is over, is this too risky?

Sorry, should of created a new topic

Alex

Hi,
You have a couple of months before you have to have health insurance, so this can be setup after you get your permit, bank A/C, etc.etc. I believe it's 3 months but a quick search here should confirm. I would not go through the hassle of importing your car, it is a lot easier to sell it and then get a new car over here (unless it's LHD).

Ok, I was just worried that when I go to register on the 14th I will not have any Health Ins docs...

For the car, I have just bought it! So I think I will keep it in Switzerland for a while (think I have a year) and then import it. I dont need to drive it for work, only at weekends so will 'chance it' a little.

Alex

The 6 month rule is applied on your entry date to Switzerland. If you register in Switzerland and have a car that was less than 6 months old when you register and you subsequently import that car you will pay the standard duties.

Correct. You do not need to import it for a year. When you do, however, you will pay the duties .

For the car you have to make sure that it's been owned for over 6 months, and will not be re-sold within 12 months for it to be imported duty-free. Also there are further regulations and emissions tests that need to be carried out, so I would look about here for the exact details before making a decision. Lots of people have found it's just easier to get a car here, rather than import.

Ok, what if I left the car with a friend in France and collected it in December when the 6 months were up?

Alex

Nope. You register on 14th Sept. The car must be older than 6 months on that date. It doesn't matter where you hide it .

You still 'owned' the car before it was 6 months old. Just because you didn't use it doesn't mean it's not counted..

Damn and blast

Hi Alex, for us, we just had to register at the local commune in Aigle....it may be the same for Montreux. I think the local commune office for Montreux is on Grand-Rue, directly opposite the steps coming down from the station to Grand Rue.

I know our B-Permits came from Lausanne, but my work organised that.

As others have said, you get a bit of time to get health insurace in place but it starts fom day 1 so you will have to back pay when you get it sorted.

Hope that is of use.

Cheers

Sean

Ok sounds good. I'll call Montreux tomorrow to find out, if not I can always go to Lausanne.

At least I can relax about the health ins etc now.

Thanks

Alex

Also your health insurance will be backdated to the day you (and your family arrive! Your wife and child will need accident insurance, your accident insurance will normally be covered by your employer!

I think you may need a copy of your rental contract as well. When OH was moving his stuff over we forgot that and I had to write a statement that he was living with me. It´s all less complicated than it seems (apart from your car situation maybe!).

We move to Switzerland Monday, I will be driving the van from Nice to Montreux via the Grand St Bernard tunnel.

I have printed off the 18.44 form for customs and I am in the process of completing it as I pack.

Does anyone know if I need to contact customs prior to my boarder crossing or do I just roll up and go to the customs stop?

Thanks

Alex