Customs form 13.20 A: how to clear your car at the Swiss border

In short: Form 13.20 A is the official proof from the BAZG (Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, FOCBS) that a vehicle has been properly imported into Switzerland and assessed (4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % import VAT). Without this document no cantonal road traffic office will register the car. The issuing fee at the customs office is CHF 20.–.

The procedure: clearing a car in 6 steps

1. Declare the export to German customs (this matters for the VAT refund when you buy from a dealer)
2. Drive to a staffed Swiss customs office (Thayngen, Basel or Kreuzlingen, for instance)
3. Hand over your documents: purchase contract, COC (certificate of conformity), the vehicle title (Fahrzeugbrief) and your ID – a EUR.1 proof of origin is no longer required
4. Assessment: 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT, and on new cars the CO₂ penalty on top
5. Pay the duties plus the CHF 20.– fee for the form
6. Collect Form 13.20 A and book the car in for the MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, the Swiss roadworthiness test)

Fees at a glance

• Import duty: CHF 0 – Switzerland abolished its industrial tariffs on 1 January 2024, whatever the country of origin and without any proof of origin (plenty of guides still quote 12–15 francs per 100 kg)
• Automobile tax: 4 % (since 1 January 2024 electric cars pay it too)
• Swiss import VAT: 8.1 % on the value including the automobile tax
• Form 13.20 A: CHF 20.–
• Forwarding agent (optional): CHF 80–350

Frequently asked questions

What is customs form 13.20 A?

The FOCBS's official proof that a vehicle was imported and assessed correctly. Without a 13.20 A there is no MFK inspection and no Swiss registration.

What does form 13.20 A cost?

CHF 20.– as an issuing fee at the customs office (as at 2026), on top of the duties themselves: 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT.

Which documents do I need to clear a vehicle through customs?

Purchase contract or invoice, the COC document, the vehicle title (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II) and your ID. A EUR.1 proof of origin is no longer needed: since 1 January 2024 the import duty on passenger cars has been CHF 0, whatever the country of origin.

Can I clear the car myself?

Yes, at any staffed customs office – with complete papers it takes 30–60 minutes. A forwarding agent who files the declaration electronically beforehand saves you the waiting and costs CHF 80–350.

Sources and legal basis

The figures on this page come from the official publications listed below. What counts in each case is the wording of the legislation in force.

• FOCBS – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
• FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes on a vehicle import
• Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51)
• Value Added Tax Act (MWSTG, SR 641.20)
• FOCBS – Frequently asked questions on vehicle customs clearance
• FOCBS – Passar, the goods traffic system for customs declarations
• FOCBS – Opening hours of the customs offices

More information

• Car import calculator – work out duty, automobile tax, VAT and CO₂
• Have a car imported for you – full service from the search to registration
• All services – import, customs, sourcing, documents, advice
• Guides – seventeen articles on importing a vehicle
• CO₂ calculator – work out the penalty with the Federal Office of Energy formula
• Transport calculator – guide price for delivery within Switzerland
• Thayngen customs office – opening hours, how to get there and what happens
• Importing in the canton of Schaffhausen – customs, MFK and registration on the spot
• For German dealers – selling vehicles to Swiss buyers
• About Finsler Customs – the company, where we are and how we work
• Contact and advice