Car import to Switzerland: Your vehicle. Safely across the border.
In short: Finsler Customs GmbH in Thayngen (SH) handles vehicle imports into Switzerland from Germany and ten other countries: customs clearance (4 % vehicle tax, 8.1 % import VAT), transport, MFK and registration in all 26 cantons. You buy the car yourself or, if you instruct us, we buy it for you. Customs is in Thayngen, so clearance is usually same-day.
What you get
- The Swiss end price before you sign — every duty and fee listed separately in the quote
- Savings: depends on the model; on two of our orders about CHF 14,140 (Mercedes GLS) and CHF 9,120 (BMW X5), on some models none
- Same-day customs clearance from our office in Thayngen, about a kilometre from the customs office
- Registration in all 26 cantons, with one contact person throughout
What it costs at the border
| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | CHF 0 — industrial tariffs abolished on 1 January 2024 |
| Vehicle tax | 4 % of the customs value plus incidental costs |
| Import VAT | 8.1 %, calculated on the customs value plus vehicle tax |
| CO₂ penalty | CHF 95 per gram above the target — only for cars that count as new under customs law |
The foreign VAT comes back after a correct export declaration — 19 % in Germany, 17 % in Luxembourg, up to 25 % in Sweden. It does not come back under a margin scheme, and in Norway there is normally nothing to reclaim at all.
How it works
Three phases: we clarify the vehicle, budget and registration and inspect offers in Germany; you buy the car yourself or hand the purchase to us, and from Komfort upwards we handle the transport, with customs clearance part of every package; with Premium we also arrange the inspection appointment where required and the registration, and you take over the registered car. Reckon on two to four weeks.
Know-how from practice
Our guides answer the most common import questions:
- When is importing worth it?
- What does an import actually cost?
- Three worked cost examples
- What is the COC document?
- How do MFK inspection and registration work after import?
- What applies to electric cars?
Short answers are in the frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions about importing a car
What does importing a car from Germany into Switzerland cost?
At the border you pay 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT, plus the CO₂ penalty on vehicles that count as new under customs law. Import duty has not applied since 1 January 2024 — the rate for passenger cars is CHF 0.00. Depending on the package, transport, the MFK inspection and registration come on top, plus our fee: a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT for the Basic package (customs clearance only), for Komfort and Premium from 3 % of the net purchase price, CHF 1,200 with Komfort on a CHF 40,000 car, with the exact amount in the quote. The import calculator works out the final price for your specific vehicle, with no sign-up and no email address.
How long does importing a car into Switzerland take?
Two to four weeks from the decision to buy to Swiss plates. The clearance itself usually takes half a day at the Thayngen customs office — our premises are about a kilometre away. Two things stretch it: a missing COC that the manufacturer has to supply (one to four weeks), and the wait for an MFK slot, which differs considerably from canton to canton.
Do I get the German VAT back?
Only on a standard-rated purchase, that is when the VAT is shown on the invoice. A great many German used cars are sold under the margin scheme of § 25a UStG — no VAT appears there, so there is nothing to reclaim. On a EUR 30,000 car that is a difference of around EUR 4,790. Ask the dealer explicitly before paying a deposit; on mobile.de there is a filter for it, “Mehrwertsteuer ausweisbar”.
Which countries do you import from?
From eleven countries: Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechia, Poland, Sweden and Norway. The Swiss charges are the same everywhere; what differs is the refund of the foreign VAT — from 17 % in Luxembourg to 25 % in Sweden. From Norway nothing comes back at all, because used cars registered there are normally sold without VAT.
I have already bought the vehicle — is that possible too?
Yes. The purchase handling then falls away and we take over from where the vehicle stands: export, transport, customs clearance and, depending on the package, MFK and registration. In the import calculator, tick “I have already bought the vehicle or will handle the purchase myself” at the package step — the purchase price is then not part of the import price. If all you need is customs clearance, that is the Basic package: a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes.
What is included that others charge extra for?
In every package the duties run through our customs account, so you need no cash at the border. From the Komfort package upwards you also get, at no extra cost: exchange-rate security at the official customs rate on the quotation date, with no charge for fluctuations (except on the purchase price where we buy the vehicle for you); refuelling to at least half a tank; the check of an existing tow bar; and fully comprehensive transport insurance from collection to handover. Swiss plate holders and the digital motorway vignette come only with Premium, because they require the registration.
Sources and legal basis
The statements on this page rest on the following official publications. The wording of the enactments in force is always decisive.
- FOCBS – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
- FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes on a vehicle import
- Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51) (German text)
- Federal Act on Value Added Tax (VAT Act, SR 641.20)
Figures and deadlines at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle tax / import VAT | 4 % / 8.1 % |
| Customs duty on cars since 1 January 2024 | zero; the customs declaration is still required |
| Customs clearance only (Basic package) | CHF 350 flat incl. VAT fee plus duties and taxes |
| Fee for Komfort and Premium | 3 % up to CHF 70,000, 3.5 % up to CHF 100,000, 4 % above that, each applied to the whole price; for CHF 40,000 that is CHF 1,200 (Komfort) or CHF 1,450 (Premium), plus VAT |
| Validity of the quote | 7 days |
| Rule of thumb for duties and fees | 13 to 15 % of the net purchase price from CHF 55,000 |
| Registration | in all 26 cantons |
Google reviews
As of October 2026
-
Roger Bührer
«Das ist Dienstleistung pur. Auch bei nicht alltäglichen Aufgaben stets die Lösung gefunden und zielorientiert kommuniziert. Besten Dank.»
-
Patrick Weberin French
«Très professionnel, très réactif. A recommander et je n'hésiterai pas à faire à nouveau appel à eux.»
-
Miriam
«Habe mein Auto über Finsler Customs erhalten und war mit dem Prozess sehr zufrieden. Der Ablauf war sehr schnell und ich konnte mein Auto dadurch wesentlich günstiger erhalten als in der Schweiz. Vielen Dank, gerne wieder :)»
Google reviews, quoted word for word in the original language (German or French).
Company
Services
- All services
- Vehicle import DE→CH
- Customs clearance
- Vehicle sourcing
- Document service
- Import advice
- Vehicle detailing
Calculators and tools
- Import calculator
- Swiss customs fees
- CO₂ calculator
- CO₂ penalty
- Transport calculator
- Car transport to CH
- Check the Stammnummer
- FlexiMoto.ch
Location
Import by country of origin
- Importing a car from Germany into Switzerland
- Importing a car from Austria into Switzerland
- Import a car from France into Switzerland
- Import a car from Italy to Switzerland
- Import a car from the Netherlands into Switzerland
- Import a car from Belgium to Switzerland
- Importing a car from Luxembourg into Switzerland
- Importing a car from Czechia into Switzerland
- Importing a car from Poland into Switzerland
- Import a car from Sweden into Switzerland
- Import a car from Norway to Switzerland
Import by vehicle type
- Importing a passenger car into Switzerland
- Importing a motorcycle into Switzerland
- Importing a van up to 3.5 t into Switzerland
- Importing a motorhome into Switzerland
- Importing a caravan into Switzerland