Import a car from France into Switzerland
Why France?
France has one of the largest used-car markets in Europe, at a price level below the German one, above all for compact cars and French brands. French VAT is 20 %.
TVA sur la marge — the rule in France, not the exception
A striking number of used cars in France are sold under the margin scheme ("TVA sur la marge"). No VAT is then shown on the invoice, and the 20 % does not come back. Anyone who budgets with the refund in mind is quickly out by several thousand francs. Listings for standard-scheme vehicles say "TVA récupérable" or "prix HT"; if that note is missing, ask explicitly before any deposit is paid. On request we check this together with you before the purchase contract.
What you get back
You reclaim the 20 % VAT from the seller after export, provided the car was sold under the standard scheme and the export is declared correctly. We produce the export documents the seller needs.
What the Swiss side costs
The Swiss charges are identical for every country of origin. No import duty has applied since 1 January 2024: with industrial tariffs abolished, the rate for vehicles is CHF 0.00 whatever the origin, and no EUR.1 preferential proof is needed. The customs declaration itself remains mandatory.
| Charge | Rate | Basis of assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile tax | 4 % | vehicle value plus incidental costs up to the border |
| Import VAT | 8.1 % | as above, plus the automobile tax |
| CO2 penalty | CHF 95 per gram | only vehicles new in customs terms |
| Import duty | CHF 0.00 | since 1 January 2024 |
The 4 % does not hit every vehicle: motorcycles and caravans are not named in the Automobile Tax Act, nor is a van over 1,600 kg unladen weight. For a motorhome the CO2 penalty falls away.
What to look at when buying
For a sale, France requires a certificat de situation administrative, colloquially "non-gage": it proves the car is neither pledged nor blocked. Without it the export cannot be handled cleanly. Added to that are the carte grise with the deregistration entry and the purchase contract.
Transport and process
We arrange transport from France on request. Tell us the collection point and we will cost it out concretely; the Swiss charges you can work out beforehand in the calculator.
The process is the same everywhere: you choose the car, we obtain the documents, handle export and collection, clear customs at the Thayngen customs office and take you through MFK roadworthiness test and registration. Allow two to four weeks.
What it costs
The final price for your car comes out of the import calculator: origin, vehicle type, all charges and transport from your collection point, with no sign-up. The individual items are explained in calculating import costs, three fully calculated cases under cost examples.