This is what I did when I got my car from Germany:

1) Make sure the dealer can provide “"EG or EU -Übereinstimmungsbestätigung (CoC)” Certificate. Most fairly new cars will have this, this is to ensure that it meets Swiss/EU standards.

2) You need German export plates which are 50 to 150 EUR depending for how long (10 to 30 days), this also gives you 3rd party insurance on the car – Your dealer should be able to provide this, probably for free as part of the deal

3) Declare the car is for export with the local German customs. My dealer also did this for me.

4) Collect your car, pay the full price. Drive it to Basel (or another big border that can do everything)

5) Stop at the German side or part (or floor in Basel) and show them the German export papers. They will just stamp it, it’s a formality.

6) Go to the Swiss side, they will give you the vital "Prüfbericht" 13.20 A” (this is a yellow, data sheet). They will fill in part of the form with your “Stamm” number on it, which is your actual cars registration number in CH. Fill in the rest yourself.

7) Get your card out and pay all the Swiss taxes (about 11%)…..don’t forget the vinette

8) Call a Swiss insurer and get a insurance offer in principle (with your stamm number), which they will send this to the Strassenverkehrsamt

9) Go to a garage and get a "Abgas test". This is the Swiss Emission/Exhaust Gas, most cars will pass easily. You will get a small card and a sticker on the car. Cost about 25CHF. If the car has European warranty, it’s a good opportunity to get to know your local main dealer/garage

10) Go to to Strassenverkehrsamt desk 4-9, with the Prüfbericht 13.20 A, the EG/EU- Übereinstimmungsbestätigung, Abgas test and the carpapers. They will make you an appointemt to check the car

11) After the Check, and if your Car is okey. you will get the swissplates, they will take your german plates,

12) Send back the receipt from the Swiss customs and a copy of the Prüfbericht 13.20 A and get your VAT refund from the dealer.


To note:

• VAT on Germans cars is applicable only to those sold by a Dealership or company, if its private or the dealer bought it from a private person then you don’t pay VAT, so don’t get that refunded. German VAT is 20%, but you still save on the low EUR and lower prices.
• Most new cars with Euro Warranty will be covered by the Swiss. But check that will the dealer. Servicing is never free on a import

I have zero german and never bought a car from a dealer before. So if I was able to do it anyone can, its pretty simple.

Can someone stick this to the top?
Much more information then post on "Vehicle Import Duties"....which just has a link in it.

Agree. V useful. Can I ask which garage you used in Germany and what sort of savings did you get in total.

Thanks

First question about i have is about Prüfbericht" 13.20 A. It contains lots of questions to which i don't have any answer. Here below is a "tutorial" on all fields on that form:

http://www.kapomuck.ch/wp-content/up...gleitung-1.pdf

What did you put in "Ueberhang vorne/hinten" or "Code" or "TGI-Code" or Tankprufnuemmer or "LSVA-OBU". There around 20 fields i don't know what to put in.

How long did whole process take? How long have you waited for car's control test?

Its best to know the car you want, the more north you go the cheaper it is.
I just chose a Merc C class and looked at big dealerships within travel distance and ended up getting a car from Frankfurt. http://www.kunzmann.de (they have 4 garages around the city)

Guess if your buying from the father land its easy to find a good dealer for Merc/BMW/Audi. But all the big cities have a good selection of dealerships for all brands, Asain brands are also plentyful. I didn't find a "supermarket" type palce. But I didn't look to hard and knew what I wanted.

I got the car 1.5 years ago just when the Euro was in free fall. I would say I saved at least 25% on the Swiss version. Remember the German VAT is almost 20% and Swiss 8%, even after paying the import tax (4%), you are saving money. Then you add the low EUR factor and the fact that everything in CH seems to be overpriced for no good reason, it all adds up to a good saving.

I had an offer from the main Zurich merc dealer to buy back the car a few months ago, even though I had the car for 14 months, the EUR was even lower and it was a dealer (they alway under value as they want to resell), If I sold I still would have made a bit of money on it.

Also remember that you only get the German VAT back from the dealer once you have imported it tp CH, so there maybe a period where you have paid both GER and CH taxes, and waiting for a GER refund. So make sure you have enough in the bank so cash flow wont be a problem.

Most of it is filled in by Swiss customs, I just did all the basics. The one in Basel was really good, they even had a English translated version you could reference. The customs guys were really helpful (well you are about to payout 11% of a near new car price to them). Its best to go to a big boarder were they will be used to doing these things all the time.

Depends how busy they are, when I went I was given a few dates to choose within a week. I know other people who had to wait a bit longer.
All in all between buying the car and having Swiss plates on it took about 10 days.

Very useful and correct. Thanks.

just one thing, a very important one, to add: there is a new CO2 Tax / sanction to be introduced 1st of July, and it might make the new car very expensive. it is depending on the weight and the CO2 emmission.

the formula to calculate is quite complicated and is also depending on the brand besides the CO2 emmission and weight. Even if the car is low emmission, the COC and 13.20 must go to Astra in Bern, we plan to make a CO2 Exchange where some clean cars do get some money back and the other cars might be less expensive then doing it on your own; and it will be less hassle for you.

The tax is to pay juste before you can register the car, not at the custom. you can contact me on [email removed] if you have a question and if you want to know how much the tax is.

Does this apply to new car imports or all car imports ie. 2nd hand cars?

Just did it myself. No problem!
Before you arrive here, get an "Export as own property" document from the Swiss Consulate.
Have this stamped when you enter Switzerland at the (German) border.
1st step: Get it insured with a Swiss insurer, like Baloise. They inform the police it is now insured.
Do not cancel your own foreign insurance yet.
2nd Got to traffic police and get a MOT appointment.
Get your MOT certificate.
Return certificate back to police and get your Swiss plates and pay road tax.
Cancel your old insurance.
Voila!

PS don't get blitzed!

I want to bring car over. I am not Swiss citizen. Only foreigner here and visit often. I have family here and when visit need bigger minivan. I want to bring over American van so my family will drive occassionally and when I am in CH I will travel in. Do I have VAT to pay if owned more than 6 months, more than 10k km. can I license it? If my relatives license then is it taxed?
Any ideas?

OK...i brought the car from Germany. I couldn't simply do abgas test in any garage. When i went to garage. I've shown to them Fahrzeug Brief and EWG document where the could read the nominal CO2 amount. They want me to go to my car brand dealer and from there obtain some documents. I didn't understand quite well because they spoke to me german and swiss german. The other problem should i send original documents to german dealer? I'm talking about payment slip from the border + 2 A4 format documents - one with calculated customs and other one for VAT (Mwst.). I sent them those through fax and they were not satisfied. The want it by post - but a little bit reluctant to send original documents.

The main dealer can give you the Abgas papers for your car, they will probably want to do the test as well. Expect a bill nearer 200 chf as they will have to do some research on your car first.

Does anyone know what the process is / is it different to use German export licence plates for a used car ? I have a dealer - a bit north - that thinks you can not use export plates on a used car. I think he may just be lazy / unwilling but am not sure. Any advice ? Thanks

You can use German export plates for any German registered car leaving the country. (Germany that is)

Hi, very useful thread for someone like myself who will be doing this soon.

Quick question, when paying the tax on the Swiss side, how is that done? Can you pay by Credit card for example or does it have to be done by cash?

Just want to make sure I am prepared.

Thanks.

hello,

it applies to all cars that are new or up to 6 months old (1. registration). we will run an emission exchange, where all the private buyer will have to pay less or even get money out if it is a clean car.

http://www.co2-exchange.ch/

have a nice day.

Thanks Marcus, so a 10 year old TVR for example wouldn't be liable to the co2 tax.

On Friday i have a car check in Strassenverkehrsamt. Do i have take any extra measures? For instance, do i have to buy a CH sticker for the car? Or maybe buy any other extra equipment to pass it?

Thanks - seems that some dealers are either unwilling or simply ignorant of the export plates - finally found a different dealer

Indeed, a lot don't know but one can get them one's self also