By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
Type approval and the COC certificate
The COC (Certificate of Conformity) is the manufacturer's EU certificate of conformity and confirms the vehicle's type approval. For the Swiss MFK and registration it is in practice mandatory. New cars come with it; for used cars the manufacturer issues a duplicate, usually for EUR 50–250 and with a delivery time of one to four weeks.
What to do if it is missing
| Route | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Order a replacement from the manufacturer | EUR 50–250 | 1–4 weeks |
| Swiss type approval already on file | no extra cost | immediate |
| Individual proof from a test centre and individual approval at the road traffic office | usually CHF 800–2,500, depending on the vehicle and the canton | weeks, with measurements |
For a replacement you need the vehicle identification number and proof of ownership. Manufacturers such as VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes run their own online portals for this.
Why it matters before you buy
A missing COC is the single most common reason an import stalls. Ask the seller for it before the purchase contract, not afterwards — at that point you still have leverage, and the cost is a fraction of an individual approval.
What the COC actually contains
The certificate carries everything that matters for type approval: the vehicle identification number, the EU type approval number, dimensions, weights, emission figures (WLTP CO₂), noise levels and the permitted tyres. The cantonal road traffic office copies those figures straight into the Swiss vehicle licence. That is why it pays to check before you buy that the COC really matches the type, variant and version of the car in front of you.
Why Switzerland leans on an EU document
Switzerland recognises the EU whole-vehicle type approval. A car with a COC — and any car you bring in for your own use — is exempt from Swiss type approval altogether: the cantonal office inspects it individually, and the MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, the Swiss roadworthiness test) is limited to comparing the vehicle against the documented data. Without a COC the office asks for a data confirmation from the manufacturer or the general importer, and in the worst case for individual proof from a test centre plus an individual approval: weeks of waiting and usually CHF 800–2,500, depending on the vehicle and the canton.
Where to get it
- New cars: the COC comes with the vehicle documents. Ask for it explicitly at the point of sale.
- Used cars from a dealer: have the handover written into the purchase contract; many dealers obtain it at no charge.
- Used cars from a private seller: it is often filed in the service folder. If it is not there, the original owner is the next call.
- Replacement: from the manufacturer, or through the Swiss general importer — AMAG for VW, Audi, Škoda and SEAT, for example. A duplicate usually costs EUR 50–250 and takes one to four weeks: Audi, BMW and Mercedes at the top of that range, VW, Škoda and Hyundai at the bottom.
Stammnummer, type approval number, COC — three different things
The Stammnummer, the Swiss reference number, is a nine-digit figure in the format 123.456.789 that identifies your individual vehicle in the Swiss register. It sits in field 18 of the vehicle licence and stays with the car for its entire life, even when the keeper or the plates change. On an import it appears on the 13.20 A inspection report. Do not confuse it with the type approval number in field 24, which designates the vehicle type: on direct imports there is often no number there at all but a marker such as “IVI”, because the vehicle is exempt from type approval.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a car in Switzerland without a COC?
Hardly ever by the direct route. Without a COC the road traffic office wants a data confirmation from the manufacturer or the general importer, and in the worst case individual proof from a test centre plus an individual approval. That takes weeks and costs usually CHF 800–2,500, depending on the vehicle and the canton. Have the COC promised to you in writing in the purchase contract, or obtain it before the inspection appointment.
What does a replacement COC cost and how long does it take?
A duplicate from the manufacturer usually costs EUR 50–250, with a delivery time of one to four weeks; the Swiss general importer can also obtain it. Many German dealers obtain the document free of charge if you ask, so always try the seller before you pay for a replacement.
Which figures does the road traffic office take from the COC?
The vehicle identification number, the EU type approval number, dimensions, weights, WLTP emission figures, noise levels and the permitted tyres. Because the EU whole-vehicle type approval is recognised, a demanding individual technical assessment falls away and the inspection stays an ordinary one.
If the COC is missing
Our document service obtains missing COC papers and data confirmations, including for cars that have already been imported. Together with the customs certificate (form 13.20 A) handed over at the border and the inspection report, that makes up the complete registration file.
Related reading
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.
- FOCBS – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
- FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes on a vehicle import
- Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51) (German text)
- Federal Act on Value Added Tax (VAT Act, SR 641.20)
- Ordinance on the Licensing of Persons and Vehicles for Road Traffic (VZV, SR 741.51) (German text)
- asa – Association of the Swiss road traffic offices (German text)
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