I am picking up new car from the dealer. I need Swiss number plates. What is the process of receiving them?
Shall I insure the car first and then go to Strassenverkehrsamt in Zurich with the insurance and Ausweis to request number plates? Do you know how long does it take to receive them?

- Seller writes car of his name and gives you the original old registration paper.

- You call an insurance, arrange your insurance on the phone and ask them to send a signal right away to STVA that the car is insured. (or do it all by paper if you are in no hurry)

- You can now go to STVA while bringing along your ID and the old registration.

- STVA will fix registration within minutes and hand you your new plates at the same moment.

- Put on plates and enjoy your new car.

Tip: Know the size of the numberplates you need so they can give you correct ones.

EDIT: Oh wait it is a new car, at least step 1 is different in your case. Talk to your dealer so you know who does what.

Yes, you take the insurance confirmation (usually they can check he insurance on their system, unless you made one last-minutes...).

Also take the registration with you (you get a new one).

You get your licence-place instantly (at least here in ZG)

Thank, what do you mean by this: "Also take the registration with you (you get a new one)." ?

Often for a new vehicle the dealer will pick up the plates, once you have insurance.

My steps were as follows:

Step 1, Buy vehicle (sign the dotted line)
Step 2, get insurance. You'll need the vehicle details.
Step 3, Send dealer a copy when you have it. Dealer gets your new plates and tells you to pick it up.
Step 4, Drive vehicle off the lot and try and enjoy the brand new car as it instantly drops 10% in value.

I think if you don't want the dealer to do it you can contact the Strassenverkehrsamt and they'll mail you the plates and the grey card.

*Or follow the advice of all of the quicker posters above

Have not got a clue what you need to do but surely the dealer should do it? Audi did mine, I had to insure the car first so that it came up on the system as insured but then he did everything. I would ring them as it’s so much easier. You just rock up and drive away.

I've meant the car certification paper (Fahrzeugausweis), which the dealer should give you with the car. Most probably with a stamp to make it invalid.

This would be valid for second hand cars bought from a dealer. Otherwise there will be no grey card stamped or unstamped.

If you buy from a dealer, it is enough to give the dealer the name of your insurance company, they will do the rest (new or used).

Unless you want to share plates, then you will also have to give them the grey card of the car that you want to share plates with.

Tom