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

Guide

Financing and leasing an imported vehicle

Imported vehicles can be financed or leased in Switzerland like any other car. The options are a personal loan (e.g. from BANK-now or Cembra), leasing through a leasing company or balloon financing; you apply yourself. As with any credit, the provider checks your creditworthiness, and once the car is registered in Switzerland it serves as security.

Open the import calculator
Swiss banknotes, a calculator and a car key

The sequence that works

  1. Obtain a financing commitment in principle, based on the calculated end price
  2. Complete the import — purchase, transport, customs clearance, inspection, registration
  3. The Swiss vehicle licence is issued; the lender pays out against it

Our invoice is due within 5 days of the vehicle crossing the border, or in advance if we also handle the purchase; bridge financing or your own funds cover the period in between. Reckon on two to four weeks.

Leasing

Swiss leasing companies generally accept imported vehicles, but usually only once they are registered here. Some require a minimum residual value or set a maximum age. Clarify this before the purchase contract, not after the car has arrived.

What to bring

Proof of income, residence permit if applicable, the calculated end price and the vehicle details. A written cost calculation from us covers the last two.

The three routes

ModelHow it worksSuits
Personal loanYou pay the seller cash, repay freely, and the car belongs to youBuyers with solid credit, older vehicles
LeasingFixed monthly payment, residual value, the car belongs to the leasing companyNear-new cars, predictable costs
Balloon financingLow instalments plus a final payment at the endAnyone who wants to protect liquidity

What is different about an imported car

  • Leasing only starts after Swiss registration. The leasing company takes the vehicle over once the inspection and registration are done; the import phase is bridged with a down payment or interim financing.
  • The valuation uses the Swiss market value (Eurotax), not the cheaper German purchase price. That works in your favour: the loan-to-value ratio improves, because the car is worth more than you paid for it.
  • Residual value leasing is standard for imported vehicles too, with terms of 12 to 60 months.

What lenders require

  • Residence in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, a B or C permit or Swiss citizenship
  • A positive credit check (ZEK) and a budget calculation under the Consumer Credit Act (KKG)
  • Fully comprehensive insurance for the duration of the lease or loan

Swiss providers and rates

ProviderProductRate
GowagoLeasing marketplace3.99 % nominal for electric cars
Cembra Money BankPersonal loan5.95 – 9.95 %
BANK-nowPersonal loan4.9 – 9.9 %
Migros BankPersonal loan4.9 – 7.9 %
BANK-nowLeasing4.5 – 5.9 % nominal
CembraCar leasingworked example 6.16 % effective

Rates as published by the providers, September 2026; conditions depend on creditworthiness and term, without guarantee. Since 1 January 2026 the legal maximum rate for cash loans has been 10 %. Finsler Customs is not a financial service provider, does not obtain offers and does not broker credit; the providers named are a market overview, not partners. You apply yourself and sign directly with the financier.

Worked example: a BMW X3 30e

Swiss purchase price CHF 55,000. As a car loan with CHF 10,000 down, the loan amount is CHF 45,000; at 6.9 % APR over 60 months that is roughly CHF 887 a month and CHF 63,220 in total. As leasing with a CHF 10,000 first payment and a CHF 22,000 residual value, at 4.9 % APR over 48 months it comes to roughly CHF 615 a month, plus about CHF 90 for the mandatory comprehensive cover. Non-binding figures; the actual terms depend on creditworthiness, where you live and the provider.

Check before you sign

  • The effective annual rate, not the nominal one — only that figure is comparable.
  • The mileage cap on a lease — going over it costs 10–30 centimes per kilometre.
  • Mandatory comprehensive insurance on a lease — budget an extra CHF 80–150 a month.
  • The return condition — a realistic assessment avoids a bill at the end of the contract.
  • The 14-day right of withdrawal for consumer credit (KKG, Art. 16).

Frequently asked questions

Can an imported car be leased in Switzerland like any other?

Yes. After the inspection and Swiss registration the leasing company takes the car over like any other; leasing companies finance imported vehicles too once they are registered in Switzerland. The import phase itself is bridged with a down payment or interim financing, because the lease can only start with the Swiss registration.

What requirements apply to a loan or lease on an imported car?

The same as for any car purchase in Switzerland: residence in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, a positive credit check (ZEK) with a budget calculation under the Consumer Credit Act, and fully comprehensive insurance for the term. The financing decision usually comes within 24–48 hours; where the car comes from makes no difference.

Is a lease based on the German purchase price or the Swiss market value?

The valuation is based on the Swiss market value according to Eurotax, not the lower German purchase price. That works in your favour: the loan-to-value ratio is better because the car is worth more than you paid for it. Residual-value leasing with terms of 12 to 60 months is common for imported cars too.

A non-binding cost calculation comes with our import consultation; the monthly payment is quoted by the financier.

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

Company

Services

Calculators and tools

Location

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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