It looks like we can take my wife's UK company car to Switzerland to ease the urgency of getting a Swiss car out there in the first few months.

I am a named driver on her insurance. Is there anything we need to do to the UK car for a temporary stint (<6 months) over the winter in Switzerland? I know you can only do this for 1 year from issue of residency, but as it is a company car, and not registered to us are there any additional issues/limitations?

Will there be an issue crossing the boarder if I am a resident and my wife may or may not be at that stage?

I couldn't spot any obvious answers to the specific scenario on other threads.

Thanks

Couple of things:

1) Check the terms of her company car - she may have to ensure access to it - IE be available to use the car at short notice - which might be a challenge if the car is in Switzerland. AND YES - I had this in a contract when I had a company car.

2) Check the terms of her company car insurance - it may not include a 6th month stay abroad. In fact I doubt it.

Hi yes checked all those and it is OK. If we get any issues (breakdown/accident) they will take it back to UK and repair, but we will have to pay for return journey. The rest is ok for short term.

I was wondering on the Swiss paperwork side i.e. with company ownership potential mixed residency at the boarder i.e. myself and not my wife.

Plus winter tyres, lights etc. for a temporary UK car in Switzerland. I am not sure we can do it as the lease company likes to do everything and not sure they will pay for anything non UK standard.

As dodgyken says, in the past I could not find a single UK insurer (except a few dodgy ones) which would offer a Green Card (International Motor Insurance Certificate) for longer than 90 days, so it might be worth double checking that.

The insurance is company car insurance through lease plan. They have said it is OK as long as we know any work needed due to breakdown or accident will be done in UK and we will have to pay to come back.

Or am I missing something?

Found a few other threads saying that snow tyres are not compulsory but triangle, GB and light converters are. Snow chains are needed if conditions require it. Will be in Basel - do you ever need snow chains in that local area?

Unless I'm missing something (in which case I'm sure someone will correct me ), you will still need a Green Card regardless of what assurances your lease people give you - so ask for one and see how long it is valid for.

Check the AA website for a list of stuff you need depending on which countries you stray into when driving to Switzerland (Germany requires more stuff if I remember correctly).

green card is only reqired to maintain the same level of cover as you have back in the UK. ALL uk insurance policies must provide the legal minimum within the EU mainland - ie third party only.

Will there be a problem with the Swiss import rules, as you are bringing a car here which does not belong to you. Looking at the import with Swiss eyes, what is to stop you selling it here for spare parts and thus avoiding import taxes? I think if they get nasty they could demand the import fees and taxes as a bond, until the car is exported again.

I had one with Norwich Union when I came to CH, I had been claim free for 16 years, they did not want to loose the business.

In the UK third party is not the legal minimum, Road Traffic Act is. RTA only covers personal injury not property damage.

It always used to be possible to get an exemption by making a £10,000 high court deposit. The Post office always did & had an exemption disc in the windscreen.

You won't need snow chains in Basel, however there might be the odd 1/2 day that you will get stuck with summer tyres.

RTA 1998 Part VI (143) (1) (a) Users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against third-party risks.
A person must not use a motor vehicle on a road [or other public place] unless there is in force in relation to the use of the vehicle by that person such a policy of insurance or such a security in respect of third party risks as complies with the requirements of this Part of this Act

The RTA deposit and exemption (2 different things) has changed significantly and if you can find me someone that actually has a deposit in place then I would like to hear about it.

RTA 1998 Part VI 144 (1) Exceptions from requirement of third-party insurance or security.E+W+S

Section 143 of this Act does not apply to a vehicle owned by a person who has deposited and keeps deposited with the Accountant General of the [Senior Courts] the sum of [£500,000], at a time when the vehicle is being driven under the owner’s control.

I would suggest the chances of the Account General accepting the sum is slim to zero.

But I digress.

You can drive around with summer tyres in the towns in winter but TBH I wouldnt recommend it, there are still quite a few hills and having seen UK and french cars stuck on slight hills its quite inconvenient - and you look a prat. If the worst happens and you have an accident during winter conditions you will be blamed.

Use public transport

OK So the updated the RTA in 1998 after I left the UK.
I kind of like the idea of a deposit, if I could aford it. It would be amusing everytime Plod pulled you over.

yes very amusing but it would grow old quick i guess with the use of ANPR now ..... The RTA 1991 amended the RTA 1988. the figure used to be 15,000 but it was changed to the newer amount i suspect to prevent people depositing the amount. The post office prob had the exemption as it was a state owned organisation so would then make sense.

If I was the OP I would have in writing from the underwriter NOT the broker, that the vehicle would remain fully insured (at present level of cover) for the complete duration the vehicle is not present within UK and stating who can drive the vehicle with the insuarance policy in force.