this may be slightly off topic, but to buy a car in CH do you need a Swiss Driving license or should it not matter?

Really? And you told them it was on UK plates?

Did they get specific UK underwriting on a temp basis? Or just add it to one of your policies?

Yes it was very clear that the car was on UK plates. I even gave them the plate number. I'd have to dig up the paperwork, but as I recall it was a new policy, not related to the other car.

I don't know how they did it from their side, but i asked for a confirmation in writing that the car was insured for the drive UK to Switzerland, and I got it.

4% Automobile duty (based on the value of the car) + Customs duty based on the weight of the car (CHF 15 per 100kg) + VAT at 8% (on the combined total, i.e. car value + automobile duty + customs duty)

In addition an "emissions penalty" has also been introduced (from 1 July this year) for imported cars. My understanding is that for second hand cars which have been registered for more than 6 months this is not an issue.

However, if you are buying and importing a new car there is a sliding scale charge based on the amount of CO2 emitted. Can get pretty hefty if you are buying a performance car.

http://www.bfe.admin.ch/themen/00507...x.html?lang=en

Thanks I'd forgotten about the 15 CHF per 100kg...explains the "additional fees" i couldn't account for.

Yes the "sliding scale charge based on the amount of CO2 emitted" only applies to new cars as discussed here New CO2 tax - Importing soon. otherwise i'd have been up the creek with a tree-killing 4.2L Supercharged V8 with 400PS...

I am thinking of buying an Amorak in Austria or Germany but not sure if its possible. I will lease it and have a residents permission in both places. I work in Austria and live in Swiss. Wife is Swiss and works here. Any one have any thoughts on this. Great Truck, Good fuel economy, Fun to drive! Want to see if I can make it work!

Thanks All,

Christopher

Does anybody has experince in buying a second had car fro a dealer in Germany or France? Can you get the VAT back at the swiss border if you paid it in germany or france while buying the second hand car?

this would make a big difference as the VAT is 19% in Germany

That's a very good question. Also, what taxes/duties on the Swiss side does it imply? I've read several posts but still not clear whether it's worth the whole hassle as 8 % tax plus 4 % customs fee plus CO2 duty may offset all benefits...Or am I missing something?

if the car is older than 6 months the co2 tax doesnt apply

What about a German VAT? Is it possible to claim it back for used cars? Thanks

From a dealer yes, from a private person no

Very useful post, thanks, but not sure why you needed to pay for the export?

When I bought my car in I got a French export stamp from the desk the French side of the Zoll office, for free, before taking the car documents to the Swiss side to get the import form.

The only charge was 20 CHF's for the Swiss Import form which I then took to the police station to register the car so that I can now finish the import (or take it back and sell it in England) within the next 12 months.

It looks like people here have some experience in it. I am thinking of buying a used car. My options are
1. to buy it in Switzerland
2. to buy it in Germany and then pay Swiss tax and claim back the German tax.
Has anyone compared these options and what would be the preferred one? Is it supported by any sort of calculations?
Thanks

i wondered about that also.

i brought mine in thru the main basel/weil border. i filled in the paperwork at the swiss desk, went downstairs to the german desk who stamped the swiss form and that it.

If you are bringing a car for which you already have UK insurance you are covered 3rd party in Europe anyway, and fully comp if your policy includes European cover (but limited to number of days per trip).

When getting the Certificate of Conformity find the contact details of your cars manufacturer and email them direct.

The cheapest I found for mine searching on line was £150 but a quick email to VAG group and they sent me a form to fill in with the vehicle chassis number and my address etc, and then less than a week later I had my CoC delivered to my address in Switzerland for a grand total of £25...

I can only assume it was because the car was exported from the UK, but the German Zoll had to make the stamp? In your case the car was exported from France & the French Customs stamped it. I dunno...the Swiss Zoll told me I needed an export document and the agent made it for me.

That's if you already owned the car, or a UK citizen or resident, and you can get an insurance policy in the UK. In my case being Australian & a Swiss resident, & only just having bought the car, UK insurance was not a practical option. Sure I could have found someone to temporarily insure me in the UK, but it was easy enough to get my Swiss insurer to do it, didn't cost me anything extra either.

You are correct, but JLR head office in Coventry charged £100, I didn't bother asking Emil Frey, since they would be a middle man who'd a) put a mark up on it & b) take even longer to provide the document.

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2005 Jaguar XJR X350: 13.254 @ 105.440 MPH

fully comp yes, but if you have insurance you are covered 3rd party in Europe without a restriction on days as far as I know.

Mine (with LV) was 180 days which was ok as I went back to the UK at least twice a year and just drove with 3rd party cover when I didn't.

Other policies may be different, or I might be wrong, but my understanding is that you have liability insurance regardless as long as your UK insurance hasn't expired.

No, my car was exported from the UK.

The French Customs stamped it because I needed an export from EU to import to Switzerland.

They do it all the time for UK people importing possessions and/or vehicles in to Swiss. Same at the German/Swiss border.

Mine was also from the UK. As I went DE>CH I need the export document stamped by DE. the Swiss office gave me everything I needed and it was done within about 20 mins Inc waiting in line. If an agent does it then there will be a fee as it's normally quicker.

OK but did you previously own the car in the UK? i.e. the import was part of moving a household? Maybe that's the difference...