Swiss car import calculator
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In short: The calculator works out every cost of importing a car into Switzerland — vehicle tax (4 %), Swiss VAT (8.1 %), the CO₂ penalty based on the WLTP figure, transport and the roadworthiness test. Customs duty has been zero since 1 January 2024. Enter purchase price, kerb weight and CO₂ value, and you get a realistic Swiss end price.
Which costs does the import calculator work out?
Every charge at the border: 4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % import VAT, CHF 20 for inspection report 13.20 A and, for cars that count as new under customs law, the CO₂ penalty of CHF 95 per gram. Customs duty shows as CHF 0, because the Swiss rate for vehicles has been zero since 1 January 2024.
| Item | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | CHF 0 | Industrial tariffs abolished in 2024, regardless of country of origin |
| Vehicle tax | 4 % | Purchase price plus transport to the border |
| Import VAT | 8.1 % | Customs value plus vehicle tax |
| Inspection report 13.20 A | CHF 20 | Per vehicle; CHF 5 if the declarant affixes the Stammnummer themselves |
| CO₂ penalty | CHF 95 per gram | Only for cars that count as new under customs law |
German VAT of 19 % falls away when a VAT-registered dealer exports the car. It does not fall away under the margin scheme (§ 25a UStG) or when buying privately.
What details do I need for the calculation?
You need 5 details: purchase price, whether VAT is stated on the invoice, kerb weight, WLTP CO₂ figure, and first registration with mileage. All of them are in the listing, the dealer invoice, the CoC document or the registration papers. Weight and CO₂ only matter for young cars, the only ones the CO₂ penalty can hit.
| Detail | Where to find it | What it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Contract or listing | Basis for every charge |
| Whether VAT is stated | Dealer invoice | Decides whether the German 19 % VAT falls away |
| Kerb weight | CoC item 13, registration field G | CO₂ target value for young cars |
| CO₂ figure (WLTP) | CoC item 49, registration field V.7 | Size of the CO₂ penalty |
| First registration and mileage | Registration document | Whether the penalty applies at all |
Worked example
A VW Tiguan at EUR 32,000 net, 1,650 kg, 152 g CO₂: the calculator arrives at roughly CHF 4,900 in import costs and sets that against the Swiss market price, including the saving. Every item is explained in the guide calculating import costs.
What can the calculator not work out?
In 3 cases a formula is not enough and a person has to assess: classic car assessment, relocation goods when moving to Switzerland — where vehicle tax and import VAT fall away entirely — and cars without a CoC document, which require an individual appraisal. Talk those through in a free import consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Finsler Customs?
Finsler Customs is an import service provider in Thayngen (canton of Schaffhausen), in the same village as the customs office. We are not a dealer: we do not sell vehicles and hold no stock. You buy your vehicle from the seller yourself, or you commission us to handle the purchase on your behalf and for your account. We take care of customs clearance and, depending on the package, transport, the MFK and registration.
Is importing a car still worth it?
How much you save depends on the model. On two of our orders the import price came in about CHF 14,140 (Mercedes GLS) and CHF 9,120 (BMW X5) below a comparable Swiss listing. For some models an import does not pay off. The calculator shows what it means for your car.
How long does a car import to Switzerland take?
Allow 2–4 weeks from purchase to Swiss number plates. Customs clearance itself usually takes half a day at the customs office, the wait for an MFK appointment is 1–8 weeks depending on the canton, and registration then takes 1–3 days. In cantons with long waiting times such as Zurich or Geneva it takes longer. A single import with a COC needs no FEDRO type approval, and since 2026 young passenger cars (registered abroad for no more than a year, no more than 2,000 km) are registered without an inspection.
Is the calculator free?
Yes, free and without signup. The calculation and the offer are not binding; you only pay the invoice you receive once we have accepted your order for a package.
How long is the offer valid?
7 days. Within that period you can commission us bindingly in your customer account on the terms offered. After that we are happy to prepare a new offer.
Which import packages does Finsler Customs offer?
Three. Basic: a fixed import fee of CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes; customs documents, the declaration at the customs office and Form 13.20 A, with the charges running through our customs account; you handle the purchase, collection and the drive across the border. Komfort: purchase handling (if you commission us), transport, clearance through our customs account, exchange-rate protection and delivery to your door; the MFK and registration are up to you. Premium: as Komfort, plus the MFK, registration in your canton, Swiss number-plate holders and the digital motorway vignette. The fee for Komfort and Premium depends on the net purchase price in francs: 3 % up to CHF 70,000, 3.5 % up to CHF 100,000, 4 % above that, each applied to the whole price. For a car costing CHF 40,000 that is CHF 1,200 with Komfort. With Premium it comes to CHF 1,450 in the same example, because the MFK test, registration, plate holders and vignette are included. VAT is added; the quote states the exact amount.
Why Finsler Customs rather than an ordinary garage?
We specialise in imports and are based in Thayngen, about a kilometre from the customs office. We know how the FOCBS works and have contacts with German dealers. With Komfort and Premium we organise the transport, with Premium the MFK appointment and registration as well. Instead of hiring a forwarder, a customs agent and a garage separately, you deal with one contact.
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)
- FTA – Value added tax
Company
Services
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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