Question 1

What is Finsler Customs?

Accepted Answer

Finsler Customs is an import service provider in Thayngen (canton of Schaffhausen), in the same village as the customs office. We are not a dealer: we do not sell vehicles and hold no stock. You buy your vehicle from the seller yourself, or you commission us to handle the purchase on your behalf and for your account. We take care of customs clearance and, depending on the package, transport, the MFK and registration.

Question 2

Who sells me the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

The seller you found the vehicle with, a dealer in Germany for example. The purchase contract is concluded directly between you and the seller, even if we handle the purchase on your behalf. Finsler Customs does not become a party to it and organises the import.

Question 3

Is Finsler Customs a dealer?

Accepted Answer

No. Finsler Customs is an import and processing service provider, not a seller of vehicles. FlexiMoto.ch is a brand of Finsler Customs GmbH. On finsler-customs.ch the company does not sell vehicles; it handles imports.

Question 4

Who benefits most from importing a car from Germany to Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

An import is particularly worthwhile for vehicles from around CHF 15,000 upwards, for premium brands (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche), for new cars where the German VAT can be shown separately on the invoice, and for well-equipped models. On two of our orders the import price came in about CHF 14,140 (Mercedes GLS) and CHF 9,120 (BMW X5) below a comparable Swiss listing. For some models an import does not pay off. Import duty has no longer applied since 1 January 2024.

Question 5

Which countries can vehicles be imported from?

Accepted Answer

The focus is on Germany (the widest choice, the best prices). Through Finsler Customs, imports are in principle also possible from Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden and Norway – EU and EEA countries whose vehicles hold a European type approval (COC, the Certificate of Conformity).

Question 6

Can I import both as a private individual and as a company?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Finsler Customs handles imports for private individuals, SMEs, fiduciaries and Swiss garages. Companies commission us the same way as private customers, through the import calculator or by enquiry, and can reclaim the import VAT as input tax.

Question 7

Which languages is Finsler Customs available in?

Accepted Answer

The website is available in German, French, Italian and English. You receive the offer, the invoice and our answers in the language you choose.

Question 8

How does an order with Finsler Customs work?

Accepted Answer

1. Work out the costs in the import calculator and click “Get a quotation” (you create a free customer account for this; your calculation stays saved)
2. The offer arrives by e-mail and is valid for 7 days
3. In your customer account, add the documents, accept the terms and the privacy policy and click “Place binding order” (if your e-mail address is not confirmed yet, you first get a link by e-mail)
4. We check the order. Once we accept it, the invoice arrives by e-mail; it confirms the order, and work starts straight away. The invoice is payable within 5 days of the vehicle crossing the border; if we handle the purchase, the full amount is payable in advance, and we start once it has been received
Without an account you can reach us at any time via the contact form or on WhatsApp, and by phone Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Question 9

Do I need to do anything myself?

Accepted Answer

That depends on the package. You buy the vehicle yourself unless you commission us to do so with Komfort or Premium. With Basic you also collect the vehicle and drive it to the border yourself; with Premium you receive it registered. In every case you provide the necessary documents (such as the proof of insurance) in time.

Question 10

How long does the import take?

Accepted Answer

Usually 2–4 weeks, depending on inspection appointments and the handover by the seller.

Question 11

What can delay the process?

Accepted Answer

Delayed vehicle handover by the seller or lack of short-notice inspection appointments.

Question 12

Why shouldn't I do the import myself?

Accepted Answer

The import is a complex, multi-step process involving authorities, taxes and logistics. With Finsler Customs, the process is as simple as buying from a Swiss car dealership.

Question 13

How does the import work, step by step?

Accepted Answer

1. Enter the vehicle in the import calculator (the link to the listing is quickest) and choose the package.
2. Click “Get a quotation”. If you do not have a customer account yet, you create one along the way. An e-mail address and a password are enough, there is no confirmation e-mail; then it carries straight on.
3. The offer arrives by e-mail and is valid for 7 days. You will also find it in your customer account, together with the order we have set up for it.
4. In your customer account, add the documents, accept the terms and the privacy policy and click “Place binding order”. For your first order we send you a link to confirm your e-mail address.
5. We check the order. Once we accept it, the invoice arrives by e-mail; it confirms the order, and work starts straight away. The invoice is payable within 5 days of the vehicle crossing the border; if we handle the purchase, the full amount is payable in advance, and we start once it has been received.
6. Customs clearance at the Thayngen customs office (4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % import VAT) is part of every package. With Basic you buy the vehicle yourself and drive it to the border. Komfort and Premium add the transport and, if you ask us to, the purchase on your behalf; Premium also covers the MFK and registration.
Without an account you can reach us at any time via the contact form or on WhatsApp, and by phone Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Question 14

Do I have to travel to Germany myself?

Accepted Answer

Not if you choose Komfort or Premium: we collect the vehicle and bring it to Switzerland. You can complete the purchase remotely yourself, or commission us to handle it on your behalf. With Basic you collect the vehicle yourself.

Question 15

Can I also have a vehicle of my own choosing imported?

Accepted Answer

Yes, that is the normal case: Finsler Customs does not sell vehicles. Either you send us the link to a listing (on mobile.de or AutoScout24, for example), or you give us the make, model, equipment and budget and, with Komfort or Premium, we look for a suitable vehicle for you. You enter the link directly in the import calculator; a search request reaches us via the contact form or by phone.

Question 16

Which import packages are there?

Accepted Answer

Basic: a fixed import fee of CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes. It covers form 13.20 A, the customs documents with the electronic assessment, the import declaration at the customs office, the Stammnummer (the Swiss vehicle reference number), which the FOCBS assigns at customs clearance, and the papers for the MFK. The duties and taxes run through our customs account and are passed on without a mark-up. You handle the purchase, the collection from the seller and the drive across the border yourself.
Komfort: purchase handling (if you ask us to do it), fully insured transport, export, clearance via our customs account, the Stammnummer, exchange-rate security and delivery to your door. The MFK and the registration are down to you.
Premium: as Komfort, plus the MFK, registration, Swiss plate holders and the digital motorway vignette. Plate holders and the vignette come only with Premium.
The fee for Komfort and Premium depends on the net purchase price in francs: 3 % up to CHF 70,000, 3.5 % up to CHF 100,000, 4 % above that, each applied to the whole price. For a car costing CHF 40,000 that is CHF 1,200 with Komfort. With Premium it comes to CHF 1,450 in the same example, because the MFK test, registration, plate holders and vignette are included. VAT is added; the quote states the exact amount.

Question 17

How does Finsler Customs keep in touch with me during the import?

Accepted Answer

You receive the offer and the invoice by e-mail. The status of your order and its documents are in your customer account. While the import is under way, we get in touch at each important step by e-mail, phone or WhatsApp.

Question 18

How does payment work?

Accepted Answer

Against invoice. It arrives by e-mail once we have accepted your order and is payable within 5 days of the vehicle crossing the border; we start work as soon as we have accepted the order. If we also handle the purchase of the vehicle for you, the full invoice amount is payable in advance, and we start once it has been received. If an official duty or fee turns out higher than offered, we pass on the difference at cost and without a mark-up (terms and conditions, clause 9).

Question 19

What happens with my money?

Accepted Answer

The duties and taxes (automobile tax, import VAT and, where applicable, the CO₂ penalty) go through our customs account to the customs administration and are passed on to you without a mark-up. If we handle the purchase on your behalf, we pass the purchase price on to the seller in your name; any discount negotiated goes to you in full. If you buy yourself, you pay the seller directly.

Question 20

What if there are price differences?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the package. With Komfort and Premium the official customs exchange rate on the date of the quotation applies; we do not charge for exchange-rate fluctuations. The exception is the purchase price where we buy the vehicle on your behalf: we settle it at the rate actually paid. The Basic package has no exchange-rate protection: amounts in euros are likewise settled at the rate actually paid. In every package the duties apply as the FOCBS assesses them.

Question 21

What costs are involved in the import?

Accepted Answer

Vehicle price, transport & logistics, import & customs, automobile tax (4 %), Swiss VAT (8.1 %), inspection & registration.

Question 22

Which payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

You pay our invoice by bank transfer; it arrives by e-mail as a Swiss QR-bill. You apply for leasing or financing yourself with a provider of your choice, via gowago.ch for example. Finsler Customs does not obtain offers for this and does not broker credit.

Question 23

Is a deposit required?

Accepted Answer

There is no deposit payable to us. Once we have accepted your order, you receive the invoice by e-mail; it is payable within 5 days of the vehicle crossing the border. If we take on the purchase, the full invoice amount is payable in advance: the invoice then also includes the purchase price, which we pass on to the seller in your name, and we start once payment has been received. If you buy the vehicle yourself, you agree any deposit and payment directly with the seller.

Question 24

Will I receive a VAT-compliant invoice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You receive a complete Swiss invoice with 8.1 % VAT shown separately – including a QR-bill for easy payment and, for business customers, all the details needed to reclaim input VAT.

Question 25

Are there any hidden costs?

Accepted Answer

No. The final price shown includes every item of the package you choose: customs declaration, automobile tax (4 %), Swiss VAT (8.1 %) and any CO₂ penalty, plus transport and delivery from Komfort upwards. The MFK and registration are included only in the Premium package. With Basic you pay a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes. From Komfort upwards we do not charge for exchange-rate fluctuations, except on the purchase price where we buy the vehicle for you; the duties apply as the FOCBS assesses them.

Question 26

How much Swiss VAT is payable on a car import?

Accepted Answer

Swiss VAT is 8.1 % and is calculated on the customs value plus the automobile tax plus all incidental costs (transport, services).

Question 27

What is the automobile tax and how is it calculated?

Accepted Answer

The automobile tax amounts to 4 % of the customs value (the net vehicle price, converted into CHF) and falls due at customs.

Question 28

When is a CO₂ penalty charged?

Accepted Answer

The CO₂ penalty only applies to vehicles that count as new under the CO₂ Ordinance: never registered, registered abroad no more than six months ago, or registered six to twelve months ago with less than 5,000 km. An older used car pays no penalty. For such a vehicle it is charged when its CO₂ emissions are above the current target value. It is calculated per gram of excess and, depending on the model, can run from several hundred to several thousand francs. Electric vehicles are exempt.

Question 29

Can the German VAT be refunded?

Accepted Answer

Yes – provided the German VAT can be shown separately (often the case with new cars and dealer vehicles). It is refunded under the export procedure, so that only the Swiss VAT of 8.1 % remains payable.

Question 30

What do “VAT shown separately” and “margin-taxed” mean?

Accepted Answer

“VAT shown separately” (MwSt. ausweisbar) means that the dealer states the 19 % German VAT as a separate item – and that amount can be refunded on export. “Margin-taxed” (differenzbesteuert) means the dealer taxes only his own margin; in that case no refund is possible.

Question 31

Which customs tariff number applies to passenger cars?

Accepted Answer

In Switzerland, passenger cars are declared under customs tariff 8703. The duty rate is CHF 0 per 100 kg gross: with the abolition of industrial tariffs, import duties for customs tariff chapters 25–97 have been set at zero since 1 January 2024, and passenger cars belong to chapter 87. The total import charges therefore consist of the automobile tax (4 %) and Swiss VAT (8.1 %).

Question 32

How much customs duty is payable when importing a car into Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

The import duty is CHF 0. Since 1 January 2024, Switzerland has no longer levied import duties on industrial products in customs tariff chapters 25–97 – passenger cars fall under tariff number 8703 and are therefore covered by this abolition. That holds regardless of the vehicle's origin and of the route it takes: it applies to a car from Germany just as much as to one from the USA or Japan. Many guides still quote a weight-based duty of CHF 12–15 per 100 kg that supposedly “does not apply with an EU proof of origin (EUR.1)” – that information is out of date. Important: the customs declaration remains mandatory, and the automobile tax (4 %) and import VAT (8.1 %) are not affected by the abolition.

Question 33

Do I need an EUR.1 certificate of origin to import a car?

Accepted Answer

No. For a vehicle that is imported into Switzerland and stays here, a preferential proof of origin no longer serves any purpose – neither for the customs duty (which has been zero since 1 January 2024), nor for the automobile tax (4 % of the value, irrespective of origin), nor for VAT (8.1 %, likewise irrespective of origin). One thing not to confuse with this: for the German seller to be exempt from German VAT, proof of export is still needed (the exit confirmation from ATLAS, the German customs IT system). Export papers therefore remain necessary.

Question 34

Who calculates the customs value?

Accepted Answer

The customs value is based on the purchase price (net, in CHF) plus all costs incurred up to the Swiss border (transport, insurance). Finsler Customs draws up the customs declaration and files it electronically with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).

Question 35

Do I have a warranty on the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Liability for defects in the vehicle lies with the seller, not with Finsler Customs. You can also take out a Quality1 warranty with us.

Question 36

Which vehicles can I have imported?

Accepted Answer

Finsler Customs does not offer vehicles itself. You choose the vehicle from a dealer or a private seller, or with Komfort or Premium we look for one to your specification. It has to be eligible for registration in Switzerland; for vehicles from the EU the decisive document is usually the COC (the manufacturer's certificate of conformity).

Question 37

What if there are problems with the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Problems with the vehicle are handled directly with the seller. Finsler Customs is only responsible for the agreed import services.

Question 38

What about hidden defects?

Accepted Answer

The seller is responsible for defects. Claims must be made directly against the seller.

Question 39

Can I return the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

A return is only possible by arrangement with the seller.

Question 40

Does the manufacturer's warranty apply in Switzerland as well?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Factory warranties (from BMW, Audi, Mercedes or VW, for instance) are valid internationally and can be claimed at any official brand dealership in Switzerland – no matter which EU country the vehicle was bought in.

Question 41

What about the EU new-car warranty?

Accepted Answer

New vehicles carry a manufacturer's warranty valid throughout the EU, as a rule for 2 years (some manufacturers 3–5 years). It applies in full in Switzerland and is handled through AMAG, BMW Switzerland, Mercedes-Benz Switzerland and the like.

Question 42

Can I take out additional warranty cover?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can take out a Quality1 warranty with us; we will tell you the terms on request. You can equally choose another warranty insurer: several insurers in Switzerland offer extended and used-car warranties for 12 to 36 months, usually covering the engine, gearbox and electronics.

Question 43

How does statutory liability for defects differ from a warranty?

Accepted Answer

Liability for defects is prescribed by law – the dealer is liable for defects that were already present at handover (2 years in Germany, often reduced to 1 year on used cars). A warranty is a voluntary additional undertaking by the manufacturer or the dealer.

Question 44

What is the MFK and why is it necessary?

Accepted Answer

The Motorfahrzeugkontrolle (MFK) is the technical inspection at the cantonal road traffic office. Since 1 January 2026, M1 passenger cars that were registered abroad for no more than a year and have covered no more than 2,000 km count as new: they are registered on paper alone, without being presented, and need their first MFK only five years after first registration (Art. 29(5) and Art. 30(1) VTS). All other imported vehicles are presented at the road traffic office before registration.

Question 45

How long does the MFK take after the import?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the canton, reckon on a wait of 1–8 weeks for the appointment, longest in Zurich and Geneva. The inspection itself takes around 45–90 minutes. With the Premium package, Finsler Customs books the appointment and presents the vehicle on your behalf. Young passenger cars (registered abroad for no more than a year, no more than 2,000 km) have been registered without presentation since 2026.

Question 46

Which documents do I need for registration?

Accepted Answer

You will need: the COC (Certificate of Conformity, which confirms the vehicle's EU type approval), Form 13.20 A (the technical inspection report), the customs assessment decision (Veranlagungsverfügung), the electronic proof of insurance (eVN) from your Swiss insurer, a copy of your ID and proof of residence.

Question 47

What is a COC certificate?

Accepted Answer

The Certificate of Conformity (COC) confirms the vehicle's EU type approval. It is a prerequisite for Swiss registration and is issued by the manufacturer. With a new car it comes with the vehicle documents; for a used car it can be requested from the importer (AMAG for VW/Audi, for example).

Question 48

What is the Stammnummer and where do I find it?

Accepted Answer

The Stammnummer is a nine-digit number that every vehicle in Switzerland receives once. For an imported vehicle it is assigned by Swiss customs (FOCBS) at customs clearance and appears on the 13.20 A inspection report. It is not the type-approval number, which identifies the vehicle model. Nor is it the manufacturer's chassis number (VIN). On the Swiss vehicle registration document it appears in field 18. If you import through Finsler Customs, you receive the Stammnummer at the border crossing with Basic, and as soon as the vehicle is in Switzerland with Komfort and Premium.

Question 49

In which canton is the vehicle registered?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle is registered in your canton of residence. With the Premium package, Finsler Customs handles registration in all 26 cantons – including booking the appointment and handing over the licence plates. With Basic and Komfort, you register the vehicle with the road traffic office yourself.

Question 50

Is it worth importing an electric car?

Accepted Answer

Yes, often considerably so — but not because of the automobile tax. The Federal Council abolished the exemption for electric vehicles on 8 November 2023; since 1 January 2024 an electric car pays the same 4 % as any other vehicle. Many older guides still claim the opposite. What does remain is the advantage on the CO₂ penalty: a pure electric car emits 0 g/km and pays nothing there. On top of that comes the import duty of CHF 0 as of the same date. The price difference compared with the Swiss market is the real reason — with models such as the Tesla Model Y, ID.4 or Audi Q4 e-tron, savings of CHF 8,000–20,000 are realistic.

Question 51

Do hybrid vehicles also benefit?

Accepted Answer

Plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids pay the regular automobile tax and, where applicable, the CO₂ penalty – though often a lower one thanks to reduced CO₂ emissions. Full hybrids without a charging plug are treated like petrol cars.

Question 52

How are range and battery health checked?

Accepted Answer

Ask the seller for a current battery certificate (state of health, SoH); many dealers have one produced by diagnostic readout. If there is none, an independent battery health check can be commissioned from a brand workshop or a testing service. If we buy on your behalf with Komfort or Premium, we ask for the certificate before the purchase. Readings below 85 % should be reflected in the price.

Question 53

What happens to the warranty on the battery?

Accepted Answer

Manufacturers normally give an 8-year / 160,000 km warranty on the battery (at least 70 % remaining capacity). This warranty is valid EU-wide and applies in Switzerland too at the official brand service network.

Question 54

Can I lease an imported vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You submit the leasing request yourself to a provider of your choice, for example via gowago.ch, where you can compare the offers of several Swiss leasing companies. Finsler Customs does not obtain offers and does not act as a credit broker. You sign the contract directly with the leasing company.

Question 55

How does financing an imported vehicle work?

Accepted Answer

You choose the vehicle, obtain an offer from the leasing company or bank yourself and sign the contract directly with them. The financier checks your creditworthiness and agrees with you how the purchase price is paid. Leasing companies often take over an imported vehicle only after its Swiss registration, so clarify this before you buy. Our offer lists every import cost separately and gives you the figures for your request.

Question 56

What creditworthiness requirements apply?

Accepted Answer

The requirements are: Swiss residence, a steady income (or self-employment with proper accounts) and no open debt collection proceedings. The credit check runs through ZEK and IKO – usually within a few hours.

Question 57

What happens at the end of the lease?

Accepted Answer

You can take the vehicle over at its residual value, lease a new vehicle, or hand the car back (check the standard return conditions).

Question 58

What is the difference between Finsler Customs and importing on your own?

Accepted Answer

When you import on your own, you find, buy, transport and clear the vehicle yourself, arrange the MFK and have it registered. With Finsler Customs you decide how much to hand over: with Basic we take care of the customs papers and the declaration at the customs office, with Komfort also the transport and, if you ask us to, the purchase on your behalf, and with Premium the MFK and registration as well. The purchase contract is always in your name.

Question 59

Is Finsler Customs more expensive than importing on your own?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by our fee. The duties and taxes are the same either way, and we pass them on without a mark-up. With Basic the import handling costs a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT; with Komfort and Premium it is from 3 % of the net purchase price, CHF 1,200 with Komfort on a CHF 40,000 car, and the exact amount is in the offer. Any discount negotiated with the seller goes to you in full. In return you save time and do not carry the formal mistakes that can make a self-import expensive: an incorrect assessment, a missing COC, a missed refund of the German VAT.

Question 60

What are the risks of importing on your own?

Accepted Answer

The main risks: dubious sellers, an incorrect or missing COC, defects with no recourse, a missed VAT refund, transport damage and a failed MFK. Before the purchase we check the papers, the COC and whether the VAT is shown separately, and we handle customs and transport. The seller, not Finsler Customs, is liable for the condition of the vehicle; our own liability is governed by the terms and conditions.

Question 61

Can I book customs clearance only?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Customs clearance on its own is the Basic package: a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes. You handle the purchase, the collection and the drive across the border yourself. We prepare form 13.20 A and the customs documents, declare the import at the customs office and supply the Stammnummer, which the FOCBS assigns at customs clearance, and the papers for the MFK. The duties and taxes run through our customs account and are passed on without a mark-up.

Question 62

Does Finsler Customs also work for garages and dealerships?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Swiss garages and dealerships commission us just like private customers, via the import calculator or by enquiry, for single vehicles or regular imports. There is no sales platform on finsler-customs.ch. Dealerships in Germany selling to Swiss customers have their own dealer area with us, with registration. For recurring orders we are happy to agree the process in person.

Question 63

How do German dealers work with Finsler Customs?

Accepted Answer

German dealerships use our dealer area: they register, we unlock access after a short video call, and for each vehicle they order with the Swiss price in CHF. The export declaration is made as usual. Finsler Customs collects the vehicle, clears it in Thayngen and delivers it to the Swiss customer, including MFK and registration depending on the package. The purchase contract is between the dealership and the customer. We do not publish listings.

Question 64

When does my order become binding?

Accepted Answer

Your order becomes binding on your side when you click “Place binding order” in your customer account after accepting the terms and the privacy policy, or when you confirm the order in writing by e-mail. In both cases the contract is concluded once we have checked and accepted the order; with our acceptance you receive the invoice by e-mail, which confirms the order. Until then, the calculation and the offer do not commit you to anything; the offer is valid for 7 days. An order cannot be ended, except in individual cases by agreement; services already provided and expenses already incurred then remain payable.

Importing a car to Switzerland — frequently asked questions

General