I have just moved to Switzerland with my family. I have been here since 14 June, and we moved all our belongings on 9 August. I have declared two of our cars on 18.44 form and lorry driver had that form stamped, owever, there is written "reserve" next to both cars.

I have not been at customs office on entry to CH border due to arriving late at 22:00 with kids sleeping.....

What do I need to do next? We have owned those two cares for many years and I need to get them registerred on CH plates. Also, UK insurance will only last for another month and a half, hence need to act quite swiftly.

Can anyone help me on this?

Regards
Darko

Here is a link from Comparis....seems to be a bit more details about my situation. Everything else stated in the original post stays and is very useful.

http://en.comparis.ch/immigration/in...-fahrzeug.aspx

The import process is very easy and simple as is the registration process if you have a standard car, modified can be harder depending on what and to what extent.

The comparis guide is a good overview, I however have no clue about the reserve written on the form though.


Do you have a form only for the cars with a stammnummer field and a customs zoll stamp ? - can't remember the form number sorry but maybe 13.20

If I have a chance I shall scan it and post it here. Also alongside 18.44 form there was a separate list of household items like beds, wardrobes etc.... The cars themselves are declared on 18.44 form itself. I have third car and I have not decided wether to import it yet, however, if I do not sell it in UK, I might bring it here as well, have a year to do so....

Inland customs ASAP or to the border crossing that can produce the paperwork, (13.20A) is the magic form. This gives you the stamm number you need for CH insurance. Expect to pay more than the locals as you're a dirty foreigner.

Zurich has inland customs if you're moving there.

UK insurance is technically invalid after you become resident in CH so if it's about to expire renew it. To give you more time to import the car.

COC someone mentioned depends on the model, you don't need it if it's common but depends on the day/canton as to how interested they are in it. If it's Zug ensure you have it they are a PITA for paperwork/ box ticking.

Abgas is not required for cars which have a OBD2 port (Quote Zug Car inspection guys) newer than around year 2000 you should be okay.

3rd car do not leave, as you'll find you cannot legally insure it, second problem if you leave it too long you cannot import it as household goods. 18 months I believe = large tax bill rather than 0 chf.

You will need the V5's for both cars. Bill of sale will help faster production of a 13.20A in the customs office.

Modified cars can be done but every part which is not standard will require a DTC form which proves the part change is "legal" in CH, or you may get lucky and they don't notice

Thanks Catal1st.

Now, where do I find "inland customs" is a first question.

I got COC from one of our cars which is Mercedes, and that one is euro 4, 2006.

For Land Rover, I am a bit worried, as it is v8 4.0 Discovery 2 made in 1999. Still has OBD2 port though, but it is Euro 2 emissions level.

Third car is also Land Rover Disco 2, only made in 2000. Also, the reason for not getting third car is that Land Rover issues COC per car and charge approx £130 per car, then it would cost me another £750 or so to go to UK and drive it here plus lost weekend. Also, I just do not need third car here, hence I have given it to my brother for now to do whatever he likes with it.

Regards
Darko

Just to add that we live in St. Gallen canton, but I work in Zurich.

Zurich Inland customs = here

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/dienstleistu...Nzg%3D&lang=de

OBD2 is related to the "abgas" or emissions test requirement, not the COC. OBD2 = No abgas test.

You can drive down and ask the friendly MFK guys if they want a COC for the car as you are missing it. (Leading Q and they probably will answer yes, best to ask what paperwork you need!) The COC is used to work out IF it is acceptable under Swiss standard. Similar to UK "type approval"

Regardless of the 130 quid, if they need it you will pay.

I've paid for x3 now so feel your pain here. (They also take time to arrive so I'd ask politely and quickly!)

I suspect you can only import 1 car tax free per person, the car has to have been registered for at least 6 months before moving here.

If you are moving to CH and bringing all of your belongings at the same time, then there is no limit on how many cars you can bring, as long as you have had them for more than 6 months. If less than 6 months, then you pay 8% VAT + 4% import duty and a few other things. All you have to do is to declare them on separate page. I have checked that one out already. Even if I have not imoported my third car, I can do it wihtin my first year of staying here, only you would have to fill in some more paperwork and pay for that paperwork to be stamped (still trying to find out what paperwork)....

6 year old Zafira. How do I establish the value of it for import duty purposes?

OK, finally I have registered cars with Swiss Customs. It costs 20CHF per car. You need to go there with all car's paperwork, 18.44 form and your passport and B permit document (or whatever other visa you hold).

In Zurich, customs office address is:

Zollinspektorat Zurich
Luggwegstrasse 9
8048 Zurich

Zentrale Tel: 044 497 88 00
Fahrzeuge Tel. 044 497 88 07


I have now received a letter from Sankt Gallen STVA with list of papers required to get cars registerred. None of those requests needs EU Certificate of conformity.

Regards

I need to import my car and I can no longer find the bill of sale. However the UK registration clearly shows that I had it for longer than 6 months. Am I going to have a problem with this?

I came across this lovely short film explaining the steps, authored by the Swiss Customs Agency

For all who search before they ask, enjoy

Nobody has asked me bor bills of sale, however, I have read somewhere that you can even make one yourself. There are blank contract available for download on The AA website for selling private vehicles, so fill one in yourself it it comes to the worst.

Execllent post..just one question did you pay the 1600 in cash or could you use credit/debit card..?

Hi I have a short question: If I want to use my RHD car to only bring my staff from Ireland and then sell it and buy Swiss car - how long can I use it in CH without registering and what are the procedures on the border?

Thanks for help!

You don't have to do anything. Bring the car over and drive it around for as long as you like. Don't worry about whether your insurance is valid nor having to get a roadworthyness test.

The added bonus is that because you aren't on Swiss plates you won't get any speeding tickets!!

Trust me on this

As far as I know you can use it for up to 1 year with your foreign plates, however it must be road legal in the country of origin (i.e. up to date NCT, road tax, insurance).

When I crossed the border there was no "procedure". Remember to buy the Swiss motorway sticker and place it correctly on your windscreen.

I'm not sure about your question regarding selling the car, but I don't think you can sell it in Switzerland without importing and registering it here.

In all honesty, I'd like you to ask yourself a very serious question before you do this:

"What do you think the market for a second hand RHD car will be in Switzerland?"

For what my opinion is worth, I'd sell the car in Ireland. Use the money to transport your goods here. Ride the AMAZING Public transport system for a while and save a shit load of money.

keep your eye on this www.autoscout24.ch to find a car you do like when you get here.