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

By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:

In short: Form 13.20 A is the inspection report issued by Swiss customs (FOCBS), proving that a vehicle was properly imported and assessed at 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT. No road traffic office registers the car without it. The customs office charges CHF 20 to issue and certify it, or CHF 5 if the declarant affixes the Stammnummer.

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 register the car with the road traffic office, in most cases with the MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, the Swiss roadworthiness test)

Fees at a glance

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.

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 under item 9.12 GebV-BAZG where the customs office issues and certifies the form — CHF 5 under item 9.22 where the person liable to declare affixes the Stammnummer themselves. On top of that come 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT.

Where do I get Form 13.20 A?

Directly at a staffed customs office when you import the car (for example Thayngen, Basel or Kreuzlingen), or through a forwarder or customs declarant who prepares the clearance electronically. With Finsler Customs the complete clearance including the 13.20 A is part of the package.

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.

How much duty is there on a car from Germany?

The duty rate is CHF 0. With the abolition of industrial tariffs, Swiss import duties for tariff chapters 25–97 have been set to zero since 1 January 2024; passenger cars fall under tariff number 8703 and so into chapter 87. This applies whatever the car's origin and route. Many guides still quote a weight-based duty of CHF 12–15 per 100 kg: it no longer exists. The customs declaration remains mandatory, however, and automobile tax (4 %) and VAT (8.1 %) are unaffected.

How high is the automobile tax on passenger cars?

The Confederation levies 4 % automobile tax on the vehicle value (customs value including transport to the border). Since 1 January 2024 this also applies to electric vehicles; the Federal Council lifted their exemption on 8 November 2023. On the value including automobile tax, 8.1 % VAT is then added.

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.

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Finsler Customs GmbH · Rebbergstrasse 6 · 8240 Thayngen · +41 77 246 76 37 · info@finsler-customs.ch · Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00

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