By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
Compare car import providers: 7 criteria that really matter
You can recognise a reputable car import provider by seven verifiable criteria: a Swiss registered office in the commercial register, a fixed quote with all charges before you sign, the purchase handled for your account, insured transport with a handover report, command of the COC and other papers, MFK test and registration included, and contact people you can reach.
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director of Finsler Customs GmbH · Rates checked on 8 October 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %
The 7 criteria to check before you place the order
- Company domicile and commercial register: a Swiss legal form with a UID number, the Swiss business identification number (verifiable in Zefix) – if anything goes wrong, Swiss law and a Swiss place of jurisdiction apply. (Finsler Customs GmbH: CHE-416.189.052, commercial register of the Canton of Schaffhausen.)
- A fixed quote before the contract is signed: every item listed separately – vehicle price, transport, 4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % VAT, customs declaration, MFK. Be wary of "from" prices that leave out the duties and taxes.
- Escrow-based handling of the purchase: the money reaches the seller of the vehicle along a traceable path rather than disappearing into a black box; the purchase contract is in your name, or is concluded on a fiduciary basis in your interest.
- Transport with insurance and a handover report: CMR-insured transport and photo-documented handovers, both at collection and on delivery.
- Command of the paperwork: obtaining the COC, the customs document 13.20 A and handling the VAT side of the export (the 19/119 invoice) belong to the standard service – not to a catalogue of surcharges.
- MFK and registration included: the provider presents the vehicle for inspection in your canton of residence and delivers it registered – otherwise you are left to face the authorities alone once the import is done.
- Availability and references: contact people who can be reached by telephone, and traceable worked examples or reviews instead of anonymous promises.
The types of provider compared
| Route | Cost | Your effort | Typical risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Importing on your own | duties and taxes plus incidentals only | high (several working days) | missing COC, the margin-scheme VAT trap, MFK defects |
| Import service provider (e.g. Finsler Customs with Komfort or Premium) | duties and taxes plus a fee (at Finsler Customs from 3 % of the net purchase price) | minimal | choosing the provider – hence this list of criteria |
| Import dealer (buys and sells on their own account) | margin built into the vehicle price | minimal | a mark-up instead of a transparent statement of duties |
| Customs clearance only (the Basic package at Finsler Customs) | fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes | medium | the rest of the import stays with you |
Why we do not publish a "best in test" ranking
An honest word about our own position: this page comes from a provider – Finsler Customs GmbH. A "best provider" ranking awarded by ourselves would therefore be worthless. What you get instead are the criteria with which you can examine every provider – including us.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best car import provider in Switzerland?
No credible overall ranking exists – providers differ in the scope of their service, in the region they cover and in how they price. Check seven criteria instead: an entry in the commercial register, a fixed quote covering all duties and taxes, the purchase handled for your account, insured transport, command of the paperwork, MFK included and contact people you can reach.
How do I spot a dubious import offer?
By "from" prices that omit the duties and taxes, by a missing entry in the commercial register, by advance payment to a private account or without written confirmation of the order, by evasive answers about obtaining the COC and by the absence of a fixed quote. Reputable providers disclose every item – from transport through the 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % VAT all the way to the MFK.
What is the difference between an import service provider and an import dealer?
The service provider imports the vehicle of your choice for a fixed fee and discloses all duties and taxes; the dealer buys on their own account and earns through the margin in the sale price. Either can be the right fit – it only becomes comparable once you set the final prices, including all costs, side by side.
Is importcheck.ch an independent comparison portal?
No. importcheck.ch is run by the owner of Finsler Customs GmbH. Its value lies in the tabular market overview with verifiable details – the assessment is one you make yourself, against objective criteria.
Sources and legal basis
The information on this page is based on the official publications listed below. What counts is always the wording of the legislation in force.
- Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
- FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes when importing a vehicle
- Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51) (German text)
- Value Added Tax Act (MWSTG, SR 641.20)
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