Hello,

Maybe somebody was in my shoes and can give me some advice.

So two weeks ago I sold car privetly and new owner drove back with my plates. Two weeks passed and he havent returned them. What should I do? How to cancel them? He says that he will do it when he has time, but obviously, something is happening. Im leaving ch soon for good, how to fix it?

I don't think you are supposed to leave your plates to the guy...
You should tell the police and strassenverkehrsamt. I would expect you will pay a penalty.
Do you still have the Fahrzeugausweis ?
I think there is a possibility to "pause" the plates (if you want to give the guy more time) but it should be your responsibility to give the plates and cancel the Fahrzeugausweis (and with it the insurance)

Why on earth did you give him your plates?

You do realise that you will be personally responsible for any fines or accidents, right?

Tom

Get his address, go and get the plates....

You must immediately report the loss of your number plates to the police. They will issue a police report. Do this now.

Ummm, you do that by handing them in.

No plates, no pause.

Only alternative is to declare them as stolen, which may be difficult since you let him use them.

Tom

Because he bought car when road office was not working and he lives in other canton. Yeah, now I realise that was a mistake, but whats done is done.

This.

Plus call Strassenverkehrsamt.

isn't it so that in case of a letter you will have to provide information about the driver and in that case the OP would give the buyer's data? normally the recipient is the driver, but they ask who was behind the wheel, because you could have lent the car to a friend/family/etc.

Do you know that the new owner has sent the plates to the road traffic office??

Tell him you are coming to collect them. If he refuses, call the police and strassenverkehrsamt and explain that you didn’t know how selling a car worked here and you’ve lost your plates as a result.

This is possible..

I've bought a car with the plates still on before.. I took them back to the 'service des autos' a few days later and gave them back and got a new set for it.

Is it that unusual??
It seemed completely normal when i went to the office to do the admin.. No questions asked .. 'Hello office, i just bought this car, here's the old plates, can i have new plates please' .. ' Yes here you go, sign here'

Yes. You should organise your own insurance for the car, go and get your own plates, then go and collect your new car.

I think the insurance is only cancelled once the issuing office informs them the plates are cancelled. That has been my experience.

I hope the OP has at the very least a copy of the vehicle registration permit. I suspect the original was given with the car when it was sold. The OP's insurance company should have the details.

I also hope the OP has something in writing to confirm the car was sold. Even if paid for in cash one should always write a bill of sale and get the buyer's details.

I also understood that plates could always be returned by registered post to the road traffic office with the registration card during the pandemic.

If you sell your car to a dealer ususlly they take care of all this for you. If you are selling your car privately you need to make sure you know what paperwork and steps needs to be taken.

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But first the current owner must cancel their ownership and plates. As the seller you should ask for a deposit from the buyer and you issue paperwork so it is clear for both parties.

Yes, as the owner of the plates and their insurance are still responsible for any fines or accidents until the plates are handed in!

Tom

Fines for red lights, parking, and speeding below a certain threshold do not care about the driver (and probably some others).

Tom

Yes.

Even by normal post, and it has always been that way, nothing to do with the pandemic, I do it often when I take a vehicle off the road for winter.

Tom

No, the buyer can do that (if the seller trusts him), just bring the seller plates and grey card to the DMV (even in another canton), and they will deal with the old plates and give you new ones. I've also done that, but the previous grey card holder was a friend who gave me back a bike that I had lent him for a few years and had regisered in his name.

Tom

Once there's no insurance the vehicle must be taken out of circulation immediately, and the plates returned. Couldn't OP do just that? Like, inform the insurance supplying the sale contract as evidence, and providing the buyer's location so they also know where to send the information/copy.

In addition and subsequently, inform the police plus request advice, report unlawful possession if advised (not theft as they were handed over freely). Collecting the plates from the buyer is probably police business because OP "collecting" them may amount to theft.

That's the route I would check out first.

ETA
That's what my insurance hotline suggests as well:
OP, inform the insurance immediately and cancel the contract (the unused premium will be returned to you), and inform the police. Technically it may be the Strassenverkehrsamt that has to get the police active, but it's still necessary for you to inform the police about the plates gone missing (also, recommended to get their advice). And do inform the buyer about the lack of insurance, as once there's no insurance it's illegal to bring the vehicle into circulation and he risks getting it impounded, especially if caught on the roads.