Guides on importing a car to Switzerland

In short: These guides explain importing a vehicle into Switzerland step by step, from working out the costs through customs clearance to the MFK test and registration in your canton. All figures apply to 2026: zero customs duty since 1 January 2024, 4 % vehicle tax, 8.1 % import VAT and CHF 95 per gram of CO₂ above target.

All guides at a glance

Car customs clearance in Switzerland — The main guide: costs, process, documents, CO₂, MFK and the common pitfalls — all on one page.
Eleven countries compared — Eleven countries of origin side by side: what depends on the country and what stays the same in Switzerland.
Determining the customs value — How Swiss customs sets the value of your vehicle, and which rate turns euros into francs.
Emissions maintenance document — Who needs the document, who has been exempt since 2013 and when a measurement is still taken.
Importing a classic car — Veteran status from 30 years and the relaxed FEDRO directive in force since August 2026.
Motorhome: the weight decides — Why the gross vehicle weight decides the charges on a motorhome.
Buying a car in Germany — Standard-rated or margin scheme — around 19 % of the purchase price hangs on that one question.
VAT refund on export — When the German 19 % VAT is refunded on export, and when it is not.
Calculating import costs — Every item worked through, with the rate that actually applies and the four places where almost everyone miscalculates.
Cost examples 2026 — Three imports costed to the last franc: a small car, a mid-range car and a premium SUV.
Import process — What has to be settled before you buy, what falls due at the border, and what holds things up when it takes longer.
FEDRO confirmation — When FEDRO requires a confirmation — and why the fee often quoted for it appears in no ordinance.
Is importing worth it? — When importing pays and when it does not — including the cases where we openly advise against it.
Warranty for imported vehicles — Manufacturer warranty, dealer warranty, and which of them survives the border.
Moving to Switzerland — Relocation goods: free of charges, but the conditions are reported wrongly almost everywhere.
Type approval & COC — No COC, no straightforward registration. How to check before buying whether one exists.
MFK & registration after import — The commonest reasons imported vehicles fail — and when the inspection falls away entirely.
Import service or import it yourself — What importing yourself really costs once you count the journey, cash at the border and the risk.
Comparing import providers — Seven criteria you can check when choosing an import service provider.
Importing an electric car — The CO₂ penalty falls away, the automobile tax does not — and no VAT comes back from Norway.
Financing & leasing — Who finances an imported vehicle, which documents are needed, and what is possible before registration.
Insurance for imported cars — The electronic insurance certificate, its 30 days of validity, and the cantons that do not retrieve it online.

Where to start

The process step by step — what happens when, and who does what
Calculating import costs — every item explained, with the common mistakes
Buying a car in Germany — where to look and what to check before you pay
Is an import worth it? — the price gap at which the effort pays off

Paperwork and approval

The type approval and COC guide explains which documents customs and the inspection office need. The guide on the roadworthiness test and registration covers what happens after clearance, including the cantonal differences. Both matter more than people expect: a missing COC is the single most common reason an import stalls.

Costs and taxes

Separate guides deal with customs costs, the VAT refund on export, the CO₂ penalty, warranty, insurance and financing. Every figure is dated and sourced, because the Swiss rules moved twice in recent years — customs duty went to zero in 2024, and electric cars have paid the 4 % vehicle tax since then.

Frequently asked questions

Which guide is the right place to start?

If you are still weighing it up, start with “Is importing a car worth it?” and work out your specific case in the import calculator. If you have decided, the guide “The import process step by step” sets out the full sequence with every deadline and document.

Are the figures in the guides up to date?

Yes, as of 2026: customs duty CHF 0 since 1 January 2024, vehicle tax 4 %, import VAT 8.1 %, CO₂ target 93.6 g/km at a reference kerb weight of 1,777 kg, and CHF 95 for every gram above it. Every article shows the date it was last updated.

Which guide explains the costs most precisely?

The cost examples guide works through three complete cases, a small car, a mid-range car and a premium SUV, item by item. “Calculating import costs” explains the system behind them and where the most common calculation errors lie.

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.

Finsler Customs GmbH

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Calculators and tools

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Import by country of origin

Import by vehicle type

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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