 | | 
05.08.2011, 16:26
| Member | | Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Meilen
Posts: 139
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
| | Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
Hi all - sorry if this sounds stupid, have searched on internet and forums but cant get answers to these questions
Can I buy a car without a visa. I applied for my work visa yesterday, but it is pending. In an ideal world we'd like to get a car this / next week. I'm 99% sure the visa will come through. Cant see why it wont.
Do you need a visa to buy a car, or is this a different thing?
Thanks
Graham
| 
05.08.2011, 16:58
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Far far away
Posts: 2,178
Groaned at 2 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 1,324 Times in 700 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through? | Quote: | |  | | | Do you need a visa to buy a car, or is this a different thing?
Thanks
Graham | | | | |
Not if you buy mine | This user would like to thank kevlegs for this useful post: | | 
05.08.2011, 17:14
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
Posts: 32,516
Groaned at 2,578 Times in 1,840 Posts
Thanked 39,652 Times in 18,690 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through? | Quote: | |  | | | Do you need a visa to buy a car, or is this a different thing? | | | | | No, but you need a residency permit to register it!
Tom
| 
05.08.2011, 17:18
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rolle VD
Posts: 13
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
Hi Graham
I guess there a number of questions for which you need the answer:
Can you get insurance cover without a residence permit?
Can you register a Swiss car without a residence permit?
I guess if your paying cash the actual purchase would not be a problem. Most of the big dealers - including Volvo in Kusnacht have English speaking sales people who could answer your questions. (These guys were very helpful for me).
Good luck with the visa
| 
05.08.2011, 17:21
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
Posts: 32,516
Groaned at 2,578 Times in 1,840 Posts
Thanked 39,652 Times in 18,690 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
Well, when I moved from ZH to TI, I couldn't register my vehicles here for several months until I got my new permit (no problem, I just kept the ZH plates).
Tom
| 
08.08.2011, 10:20
| Member | | Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Meilen
Posts: 139
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
OK - but say I buy a 2nd hand car from a dealer. With cash, I can walk away with it. But then when do I have to register it? and at this point do I need a visa?
| 
08.08.2011, 10:27
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
Posts: 32,516
Groaned at 2,578 Times in 1,840 Posts
Thanked 39,652 Times in 18,690 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
You have to register it to be able to drive it, and you need a residency permit to register it.
Tom
| 
08.08.2011, 12:05
| Member | | Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Meilen
Posts: 139
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
OK - so to simply. Can't buy a car until I get my visa sorted! application letter not enough, need visa.
| 
10.08.2011, 18:31
| Newbie | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: London
Posts: 1
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
I have a slightly different question re: buying 2nd hand car.
We are EU citizens moving to ZG and need to buy a car within our first week in Switzerland.
Unlikely that I will have been able to exchange my license by then.
What are the steps for buying/registering/insuring the car? Should everything be set up in advance of purchase?
| 
10.08.2011, 18:40
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Far far away
Posts: 2,178
Groaned at 2 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 1,324 Times in 700 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through? | Quote: | |  | | | I have a slightly different question re: buying 2nd hand car.
We are EU citizens moving to ZG and need to buy a car within our first week in Switzerland.
Unlikely that I will have been able to exchange my license by then.
What are the steps for buying/registering/insuring the car? Should everything be set up in advance of purchase? | | | | | You can use the UK licence for upto 1 year before changing it. There are lots of helpful threads on here tohelp you.
| 
11.08.2011, 08:51
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
Posts: 32,516
Groaned at 2,578 Times in 1,840 Posts
Thanked 39,652 Times in 18,690 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through? | Quote: | |  | | | What are the steps for buying/registering/insuring the car? | | | | | 1) Get a residency permit.
2) Buy a car
3) Insure the car
4) Register the car
If you buy from a dealer or garage (new or used), they can take care of 2,3 and 4 themselves.
Tom
| 
19.09.2011, 09:02
| Member | | Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Meilen
Posts: 139
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through?
Thanks guys - OK, so just to get my head clear on the timeline. So say...
1) agree price
2) make payment
3) insure
4) change registration - we both go together.
I guess it's only at step 4 I have the question - say we both go and do the registration / transfer together, how soon after this can I drive / take ownership of the car. Is it immediate, or is there a need to wait for some paperwork etc?
Thanks
| 
19.09.2011, 09:05
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: Buying used car in Switzerland - visa not yet through? | Quote: | |  | | | Thanks guys - OK, so just to get my head clear on the timeline. So say...
1) agree price
2) make payment
3) insure
4) change registration - we both go together.
I guess it's only at step 4 I have the question - say we both go and do the registration / transfer together, how soon after this can I drive / take ownership of the car. Is it immediate, or is there a need to wait for some paperwork etc?
Thanks | | | | | You can go on your own, you can drive away with new plates.
| This user would like to thank fatmanfilms for this useful post: | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 21:21. | |