Hi....
I have just moved from Geneva to Vaud; you seriously would think you have moved countries not cantons.
Does anyone know how long you have before you need to change number plates ?
..... do you really need to do it ? (presuming this bit is a yes)

Thanks

Two weeks.

Yes.

and it's really really really easy.

1. Get insurance cover note
2. Drive to licencing office with car document and new permit (or letter stating permit is coming)
3. Hand over plates, document, insurance note and permit to person at counter
4. Receive new plates and document for car

Only just noticed your username.

Obviously, changing number plates is like making love to a beautiful woman...........

Do they give you the new number plates there and then, or is there a wait?

EDIT: More info...I don't have Swiss number plates, so am looking to get new ones, I now have all the docs..but am wondering when I can get the car.

Speaking for St Gallen, you get them straight away from the main vehicle office, or there's a delay of you go to a local one. An alternative is to send in the docs and the plates come in the post but only as far as the post office - then they have to be collected.

Couple of points I didn't realise when I did this.
Its easy to do, so don't pay the garage to do it.

The name on the insurance is the name the car is registered too, makes no difference who paid for the car

You need to get your insurance dated from the day you get your number plates, not the day you pick your car up.

If the insurance isn't in your name you need the person whose name it is in or their ID papers...

Make sure you show the MFK documents, this date gets added onto the owners papers.

The desk marked Kontrollschild isn't where you get your number plates..its where foreigners stand waiting for someone to tell them to go the same desks as everyone else.

Make sure you check what size of number plate you need...e.g. O I dunno, if you just bought a land rover the back plate is probably a Hoch Format plate..tum te tum.