Hi,

I'm an EU-national and a permit B holder in Switzerland. May I borrow my father's car that is registered in an EU country and drive it to Switzerland (like for a week and then back to the EU)?

I've heard some rumors that this would be illegal.

Thanks

It is not illegal; but you might be forced to pay import duty on the value of the car

Illegal or paying import duty, that both sucks. I just want to move some stuff to CH and then leave with the car. So basically I can't do it.

It would be ok if your dad was with you.

Anyone know the reasoning behind this rule?

Countries do not like people importing valuable objects without paying import fees

Haha - yeah, but the valuable object are not staying for very long in the country in this example. And the guy driving the car into CH doesn't even own it... I just can't see how they can justify this regulation?

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

as JagWaugh said, better if your dad sits in the car with you...

This thread might have some additional clarification, as we recently discussed the issue with respect to rental cars. Same concept - Swiss resident driving on EU plates = potential import duties.

New EU law regarding car hire

Try entering any country with an object worth tens of thousands and telling the Customs officer "It is not mine and I will be leaving soon"

Do you know the expression "Possession is nine-tenths of the law"?

Works both ways, i.e. an EU resident driving a Swiss registered vehicle.

It's a customs violation, it's not illegal. BUT it can cost you 80% of the value of the vehicle!

Legally, it's enough to declare it at the border, and re-export after a couple days.

Tom

I wonder how the airline pilots get away with it.

The planes do not cross the border! They stay in the international area on the "non Land side" of the airport; you know, before Customs and Immigration.

Maybe, but showing a rental contract from any respected rental-company, should be enough proof that your intentions are to return the vehicle :-)

Good answer. Hadn't thought of that.

Not to be a piss ant, serious question to any pilots: What about private aircraft? Affoltern a Albis and Birr haven't got non land zones, do they?

They are supposed to make their first landing at a "designated port of entry" which automatically has Customs.

And nobody would ever think of scanning such a document, making some adjustments and then printing it?

...I'm sure there is, but if you're willing to commit forgery in the first place, you won't have any problems driving an EU-registered car into Switzerland...

There will always be criminals, I'm just wondering what underlying problems (and how big they really are) this law actually fixes.

When you enter Switzerland you have to declare goods over 300CHF, that you have acquired since you left CH. You can do a temporary import & pay for the paperwork which is valid for a few days. Smuggling is the offence this law fixes.

Just did this today. In exchange I got a nice paper with a stamp which allows me to use the car for the next 8 days
You have also to show the cars registration document.

Interestingly, and non Switzerland like, the customs paper was free of charge.