Dear all,

I have been searching online, especially in this website http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=fr
but unfortunately I cannot find the answer I need. I hope some of you can help?

1) I'm a foreign PhD student in switzerland, and I already changed my eu driving licence for a swiss one (but I did not have a car so far).

2) my father bought himself a second hand (quite old) car, which he wants to borrow me while I am here (in suisse).

I have found I need a signed form to use a borrowed car, in this site http://www.tcs.ch/it/viaggi-camping/...i-doganali.php

Q: can I do the formulaire 15.30 for temporary import on a borrowed car?
where can I find this formulaire 15.30? I have tried the douane website with no success.

Thank you very much for your help!

It would be a lot easier for you if your father transferred the car ownership to you, then you can import it free of tax and get Swiss insurance and plates.

But do you really need a car in Switzerland? Public transport is excellent and we have mobility car sharing (MUCH cheaper solutions!)
https://www.mobility.ch/en/private-c...s/appropriate/

My French is poor, so forgive me if this is wrong, but does it say here that you get the form from le bureau de douane, if you present all the valid documents at a cost of 25 francs? (page 4 of 5)

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/dokumentatio...oKSn6A--#page4

You can probably import a borrowed car with difficulties, but will you be able to get Swiss insurance and drive it here?

Most insurance companies will NOT insure a car that does not belong to you!

No Swiss insurance = no car registration = no plates = no driving car.

Yes, I know the public transport system is great!
but unfortunately I found accomodation quite far from my working pplace and I take 45-55 minutes (more than 60 now that m1 is under upgrade) by public transport. By car I could take the highway and be in office in 15-20 minutes (tried with a rented car)... Which would make my life much easier!

The car was insured in Italy, does it mean it is not insured here?

About the plates, if I have the form.15.30 I still need to get swiss plates? I thought in that case I could keep the italian one?

Thank you, but the document you found is for professional use of the car... I would use it privately only...

But you were much better than me! I could not even find this! could you please share the link where you found this document?

thank you again!

To be honest, I just googled "formulaire 15.30 douane Suisse".

Good luck, I hope you can find what you need.

No, just because it's insured in Italy doesn't mean it's insured here. Also as has been said many times on the forum you can't drive a foreign registered car here if you're a Swiss resident. This is quite clear in the link you provided ClaF.

"Use of foreign private vehicles in Switzerland
The temporary use of foreign private vehicles by persons resident in Switzerland is prohibited in principle.

The temporary use of foreign private vehicles by persons resident in Switzerland is prohibited in principle. Concerning customs and road traffic legal notification obligations with regard to the use of foreign vehicles in Switzerland, experience shows that there is often uncertainty and confusion. There is even some false information being circulated in internet forums, for example. It is for this reason that we would like to provide information on the main principles.

People resident in Switzerland
In principle, people who are resident in Switzerland are not allowed to use a foreign vehicle registered abroad in Switzerland. This also applies to vehicles which relatives or acquaintances from abroad allow you to use occasionally, for example."

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

Your father would have to transfer ownership of the car to you, you would have to import it and insure it here in Switzerland before you could drive it legally.

How long are you planning to use the car for in Switzerland? You can get the customs form stamped when you first bring the car into Switzerland and drive it for up to one year on Italian plates but I think it would be better if the car were registered in your name rather than your father's.

This will only be possible if your car is fully taxed and insured in Italy. You need to check very carefully if your Italian insurance covers you for driving for such a long time in a foreign country as most policies don't. You will also need yo verify with your cantonal authorities that you are allowed to drive the car on a Swiss licence during the import process.

If you don't import it within the one year you will have to drive it out of the country again.

I think if you really need a car here it would probably be easier to buy a cheap second hand one here or officially import your fsther's car in your name right from the outset.


Edit in response to Medea's post. I drove my Belgian registered car here for several months before officially importing it with a Swiss driving licence. I was told by the SCAN office in Neuchatel at the time that this was ok as long as I had the form stating that the vehicle was being imported and that my Belgian insurance coverage was valid ( which they verified themselves).

Dear Medea,

Actually in the paragraph just below the one you cite they say that for people who work, study or make a stage here (as I said I am doing a PhD) it is possible to use a foreign car, provided they get the autorization from the customs.
The problem is, I have not clear how to get this authorization and in particular which would be the documents to present.

Not correct, to import a car tax free it must be owned for at least 6 months before coming to CH

I forgot that rule about importing, so basically forget importing it as the OP doesn't own the car.

Public transport is good here, the journey might take a bit longer, but you can study on the bus & train.
Also looking for a parking place can also takes time in a city, morning and evening.

But s/he is a PhD student which means s/he most like does not have his residence in Switzerland , thus he can use a foreign registred and insured car with customs approval for a longer period than usual.

Where to get the apporval: Swiss borader crossing when you enter with the car during business hours.

Sorry to lazy to link to law see ZGB, Zollgesetz and Zollverordnung. http://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifie.../national.html

@Sbrinz Law does not say anything about ownership in case of temporary use.

I would thank you, if that option was available to me... hope it still counts like that!

Easiest, ask them your self in your own language: http://www.ezv.admin.ch/org/04135/04...x.html?lang=it