We are moving to Switzerland in September, using the advice from this forum we have realised our car won't pass the MFK test and we need to get another one.

Can we buy a new car (new to us that is) by 1st May and use our old car for 90 days when we arrive, drive back to the UK and collect the new one and thus import it after the 1st November? Will this avoid taxes or do we need to register the car from the day we arrive in Switzerland. There doesn't seem clarity on this on any website. Presumably you need to state on the registration form the day you arrived in Switzerland to live? If so then this won't be possible to do this.

Has anyone any thoughts for us or is there a thread covering this? I did search but couldn't find anything.

Many thanks

Sophie

You will have to pay taxes, as you have to own it for 6 months before your arrival, not before you bring it here.

Tom

Why not buy it here?

You'll then avoid needing this:

For a tax free import you need to own it at least 6 months before your move to Switzerland.

But you may use it up to two years tax free. After that you will have to pay tax and duty on its then value (which is hopefully lower than it is now).

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en

We may well do that now we need to pay taxes anyhow

Thanks for this, out of interest does the 2yr system work for everyone whether Swiss or foreigners and does it work for new and used cars? Seems a bit odd that the Swiss authorities would lose out on the maximum tax they could get on car importation?!

And meanwhile you will have to pay much higher insurance rates.

Tom

So many factors to consider, ideally we coax our car through the test but we have doubts as is S reg golf - we can give it a go and if it fails consider our options. We would like a VW again so it might be worth our while getting a used LHD one in Germany and importing it as a 3yr old Touran of the same spec/mileage was around £4000 more in Switzerland than the UK and maybe Germany cheaper than UK? That makes it worth paying the import tax rather than buying in Switzerland presumably.

1. Bring the Golf but take it back at the end of the year (in line with the regulations). You should/must declare it on entry forms but you have a year cushion to get to know the place
2. You may choose to get a one year green card or just go 3rd party on the car. Given its age, that's what I'd do. I don't think you need a green card but check with your insurer as they are duty-bound in my opinion to cover 3rd party
3. Get an MOT done just before you come. This will save you driving back to get an MOT....without MOT, you're not legal and you can't tax or insure the car
4. Take the car back after 12 months and do what you've decided to do then.

Why make a decision about something significant like this before you've moved.

Are you an ex-squaddie family by any chance? Or moving just to get away from the garrison?

Hi Sean,

Thanks for replying to Sophie's posts, it's her husband here. This whole move is a big team effort!

Just to clarify, are you saying that we should keep the Golf registered and insured in the UK (but with insurer's permission to use it in the EU and Switzerland, i.e. green card), and that for 12 months we can drive it in Switzerland with UK number plates?

If so, that sounds quite similar to the British Forces Germany scheme. Funnily enough the Golf was purchased under that scheme when I served in Germany many years ago! (I am not in the military anymore btw but just happen to live in Aldershot :-) we are moving because of a good job offer).

yes, Sophie's husband, you have 12 months so just keep the car legal and declare it as part of your belongings when you come.

I fondly remember an N reg Escort my Dad had under that scheme......the first N reg, not the one from 1995!!

And there is no NAAFI here, just Coop, Migros, Denner.....