Ponte Tresa border crossing: clearing a vehicle from Italy on Lake Lugano
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In Ponte Tresa we clear vehicles from Italy in the Basic package for CHF 350 incl. VAT. The customs office on Piazza Dogana clears vehicles Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00, not on Saturdays. The crossing is a bridge over the Tresa; you enter the order online and collect the papers at the counter.
Where is the Ponte Tresa border crossing?
Ponte Tresa is on the western arm of Lake Lugano, in the Malcantone. The bridge over the Tresa is the border; opposite lies Lavena Ponte Tresa in the province of Varese. The office «Ponte Tresa» (CH004101) is on Piazza Dogana. There is no motorway here; Ponte Tresa is on the cantonal road from Lugano.
Who is Ponte Tresa a good fit for?
Ponte Tresa suits vehicles from the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, from Luino and the north of the province of Varese. On the Swiss side it is the nearest crossing for the Malcantone and the west of Lugano.
Weekdays until 17:00
Ponte Tresa handles vehicle imports only Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 17:00. If you want to enter later in the day or on a Saturday, use Chiasso in Ticino (until 18:30, Saturdays until 14:00) or Stabio (Saturdays 08:00–12:00). The price is the same at all three crossings.
How customs clearance works with Finsler Customs
- Enter the order online. In the import calculator you choose the Basic package and the Ponte Tresa crossing. Then you upload the purchase contract, registration certificate and COC and set the day you will cross the border.
- Declaration. We file the electronic import declaration for the vehicle. On site, a customs partner we work with handles the clearance for us.
- Collect the papers. On the agreed day you cross at Ponte Tresa and collect the assessment notice and the inspection report 13.20 A at the counter in Ponte Tresa.
- Charges. The 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT go through our customs account and are passed on without mark-up; import duty has been CHF 0 since 1 January 2024. Our flat fee: CHF 350 incl. VAT, the same at every crossing.
Export formalities in the country of origin are not part of the Basic package: the export declaration is made there by the seller or a customs agent. If you want us to handle transport and export as well, choose Comfort or Premium. With the inspection report 13.20 A you then book the vehicle inspection (MFK) and registration in your canton.
Opening hours for vehicle imports
| Day | Import and clear a vehicle |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 08:00–17:00 |
| Saturday | closed |
| Sunday, public holidays | closed |
Retrieved on 28 October 2026 from the FOCBS directory of customs offices (Dienststellenverzeichnis des BAZG) for the office Dogana Sud – Ponte Tresa (CH004101), service «Strassenfahrzeug direkt bei der Einfuhr verzollen» (clear a road vehicle directly on import). The directory is always authoritative.
The Swiss customs office
| Address | Piazza Dogana, 6988 Ponte Tresa |
|---|---|
| Customs office | Dogana Sud – Ponte Tresa (CH004101) |
| Phone | +41 58 465 53 11 |
| dogana.sopraceneri_ec@bazg.admin.ch |
Crossings nearby
The price is the same everywhere. These crossings are the nearest:
- Stabio (Italy)
- Chiasso-Brogeda (Italy)
- Simplon/Gondo (Italy)
Read on
- All 17 border crossings on the map
- Thayngen customs office: our head office and the border procedure in detail
- Importing a car from Italy
- Import calculator: work out the charges and choose your crossing
Frequently asked questions
Are there two places called Ponte Tresa?
Yes. Ponte Tresa is the Swiss municipality in Ticino, Lavena Ponte Tresa the Italian one on the other side of the bridge. The office where we declare your vehicle is on the Swiss side, on Piazza Dogana.
Is Ponte Tresa on the motorway?
No. Ponte Tresa is on the cantonal road from Lugano; you only reach the A2 motorway at Lugano. On the Italian side the road continues from Lavena Ponte Tresa towards Luino and Varese.
When can I clear a vehicle in Ponte Tresa?
The customs office in Ponte Tresa clears vehicles Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, closed on Saturdays, never on Sundays or public holidays. The hours come from the FOCBS directory of customs offices. Plan your trip so you are not at the counter just before closing time.
What does customs clearance via Ponte Tresa cost?
Our Basic package costs CHF 350 incl. VAT, the same as at every other crossing. On top come the charges: 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT; import duty is CHF 0. The import calculator shows what that means for your vehicle.
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)
- FOCBS – Frequently asked questions on clearing vehicles through customs
- FOCBS – Passar, the goods traffic system for customs declarations
- FOCBS – Opening hours of the customs offices
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