Was kostet es, ein Auto aus Deutschland importieren zu lassen?

Neben dem Fahrzeugpreis fallen als Faustregel rund 13–15 % des Nettokaufpreises an Abgaben und Gebühren an (4 % Automobilsteuer, 8,1 % MwSt, Transport, Zollanmeldung, MFK). Ein Einfuhrzoll kommt nicht dazu: Der Zollansatz für Personenwagen liegt seit dem 1. Januar 2024 bei CHF 0. Das Service-Honorar beträgt üblicherweise rund CHF 1'200 und steht exakt berechnet in der Fixofferte; versteckte Kosten gibt es nicht.

Wie lange dauert es, ein Auto importieren zu lassen?

Typisch 2–4 Wochen vom Auftrag bis zur Übergabe des zugelassenen Fahrzeugs. Die grössten Zeitfaktoren sind die MFK-Terminwartezeit im Wohnkanton (1–4 Wochen) und die Beschaffung eines fehlenden COC-Papiers (bis zu 2 Wochen).

Kann ich ein bereits gekauftes Auto importieren lassen?

Ja. Auch wenn Sie den Kaufvertrag schon unterschrieben haben, übernimmt Finsler Customs Transport, Verzollung am Grenzübergang Thayngen, MFK und Zulassung. Wichtig ist, dass das COC-Papier verfügbar ist – fehlt es, beschafft es der Dokumentenservice nach.

Lohnt sich das Importieren-Lassen gegenüber dem Selbstimport?

Meist ja, sobald man den eigenen Aufwand ehrlich rechnet: Besichtigung, Überführung und Behördengänge kosten mehrere Arbeitstage. Der Full-Service vermeidet zudem die teuren Fehler – Kauf ohne COC, Differenzbesteuerung ohne MwSt-Erstattung oder unterschätzte CO2-Sanktion bei jungen Fahrzeugen.

Have your car imported: the full service from Finsler Customs

The short answer: if you want a car imported from Germany, Finsler Customs GmbH (Thayngen SH, right at the border crossing) takes on the whole job: buying the car for you under a fiduciary mandate, transport, customs clearance with 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT, the MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, the Swiss roadworthiness inspection) and registration in all 26 cantons. The final Swiss price is fixed in a binding quote before the contract is signed; from order to handover it usually takes 2–4 weeks.

Rates as at July 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %

Two ways to start an import

Your situation	How it works
You have already found your car (mobile.de, AutoScout24, a dealer)	Send us the link – we check condition, history, the COC (Certificate of Conformity) and the VAT status, then negotiate and buy in your name under a fiduciary mandate.
You are still looking	Define a search profile – our vehicle sourcing service combs the German market and puts forward only cars we have vetted.

What does it cost to have a car imported?

Before you buy, you receive a binding fixed-price quote listing every item: vehicle price, transport, customs clearance (4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % import VAT), customs declaration, MFK and registration. The service fee is usually around CHF 1'200 and is worked out automatically for your case in the quote. As a rule of thumb, duties and fees come to roughly 13–15 % of the net purchase price. Import duty is not part of that: Swiss industrial tariffs were abolished on 1 January 2024 and the tariff rate for passenger cars is CHF 0 – whatever the country of origin, and with no proof of origin required. The customs declaration itself remains mandatory. For cars that count as new under customs law (first registered less than 6 months ago), the CO2 penalty is added on top. Customs clearance on its own, for people importing a car themselves, costs a flat fee from CHF 250. For concrete figures: three worked cost examples, or go straight to the car import calculator.

Four steps to a registered car

Quote: send us the vehicle link or your search profile and get a fixed-price quote with the final Swiss price.
Purchase & transport: we buy from the German seller under a fiduciary mandate and arrange insured transport to the border at Thayngen.
Customs clearance: cleared at our own premises at the Thayngen customs office – as a rule the same day, including the customs certificate (Form 13.20 A).
MFK & handover: the car is presented for the MFK in your canton of residence, registered, and delivered to the address of your choice.

Have it imported, or import it yourself?

Importing the car yourself saves the service fee, but it costs several working days (viewing the car, driving it home, border formalities, the MFK) and carries the familiar pitfalls: a missing COC, a margin-scheme purchase with no VAT refund, defects at the MFK. You will find an honest comparison, with a checklist of criteria, in our guides dealer import vs. self-import and comparing car import providers.

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to have a car imported from Germany?

On top of the vehicle price, duties and fees come to roughly 13–15 % of the net purchase price as a rule of thumb (4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % VAT, transport, customs declaration, MFK). No import duty is added: the tariff rate for passenger cars has been CHF 0 since 1 January 2024. The service fee is usually around CHF 1'200 and appears, precisely calculated, in the fixed-price quote; there are no hidden costs.

How long does it take to have a car imported?

Typically 2–4 weeks from order to handover of the registered vehicle. The biggest time factors are the wait for an MFK appointment in your canton of residence (1–4 weeks) and obtaining a missing COC (up to 2 weeks).

Can I have a car imported that I have already bought?

Yes. Even if you have already signed the purchase contract, Finsler Customs takes on transport, customs clearance at the Thayngen border crossing, the MFK and registration. What matters is that the COC is available – if it is missing, our document service obtains it.

Is having a car imported worth it compared with importing it yourself?

Usually yes, once you count your own effort honestly: viewing the car, driving it home and dealing with the authorities cost several working days. The full service also avoids the expensive mistakes – buying without a COC, a margin-scheme purchase with no VAT refund, or an underestimated CO2 penalty on young vehicles.

Sources and legal basis

The information on this page is based on the official publications listed below. What is legally binding is always the wording of the enactments in force.

More information

Car import calculator – work out customs duty, automobile tax, VAT and CO₂
Have your car imported – full service from the search to registration
All services – import, customs, sourcing, documents, advice
Guides – seventeen articles on vehicle imports
CO₂ calculator – work out the penalty using the formula of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE)
Transport calculator – guide price for delivery within Switzerland
Thayngen customs office – opening hours, directions and procedure
Importing in the canton of Schaffhausen – customs, MFK and registration locally
For German dealers – selling vehicles to Swiss buyers
About Finsler Customs – the company, our location and how we work
Contact and advice