Import a car from Sweden into Switzerland
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In short: Importing a car from Sweden into Switzerland costs 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT, plus the CO₂ penalty if the vehicle counts as new under customs law. Import duty has no longer applied since 1 January 2024. The 25 % Swedish VAT comes back after export if the car was bought under the standard VAT scheme.
Why Sweden?
Swedish cars are traditionally well equipped — heated seats, auxiliary heating and all-wheel drive are the rule there, not extras. At 25 %, Sweden has the highest VAT rate together with Norway, and so the largest refund on a standard-rated purchase.
Road salt is the real issue here, not the price
Sweden salts heavily in winter, and does so for months. On vehicles from around eight years old a targeted underbody inspection is therefore worth it — wheel arches, sills, brake lines and the rear axle mounting points. On younger, fully galvanised vehicles this is not a concern. For older Swedish vehicles we have an expert report drawn up before the purchase; that costs less than the first repair after the MFK, which fails on exactly this point.
How much tax comes back from Sweden?
In Sweden a car with the tax shown on the invoice is called a “momsbil”: at SEK 250,000, 25 % or SEK 50,000 of the price is moms, net SEK 200,000. If the dealer sells under vinstmarginalbeskattning (VMB, the margin scheme), he pays tax only on his margin and no moms appears on the invoice. Then nothing comes back after export either.
On the Swiss side, origin makes no difference, not even for a car from Sweden: a zero duty rate, 4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % import VAT and, on cars that count as new under customs law, the CO₂ penalty. How the amounts are worked out is set out in the country comparison; motorcycles and caravans pay no automobile tax.
Which papers does export from Sweden need?
Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish transport agency, only deregisters a vehicle once its permanent export is proven: by the foreign registration certificate, a confirmation from the foreign registration authority, the export customs papers or a certificate from the professional carrier. The number plates are sent by post to Transportstyrelsen in Örebro. Until then the keeper owes vehicle tax and insurance, unless the car is laid up (avställt). For the journey itself there is a temporary export registration for one month, which cannot be extended; it requires a passed kontrollbesiktning, the periodic inspection, from the last twelve months.
What to watch when buying
Expect long transport routes and correspondingly longer delivery times. For a single vehicle Sweden is rarely economical; for a rare and well-equipped one it certainly is.
How far is it from Sweden to Switzerland?
From Malmö to Thayngen it is 1,315 km, from Gothenburg 1,589 km and from Stockholm 1,932 km. From Stockholm the route crosses the Øresund Bridge and Denmark into Germany and ends via the A81 at the Bietingen–Thayngen crossing, around 20 hours of pure driving time.
We arrange transport from Sweden on request: tell us the collection point and we will calculate concrete figures.
As a rule, you buy the car in Sweden yourself. What stays with you after that and what we take on, up to MFK and registration, depends on the package (package overview). The import calculator works out the final price for a car from Sweden.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VAT rate in Sweden?
25 % (moms). If the car is sold under the standard VAT scheme and the export is declared correctly, you can reclaim it — the highest refund of any EU country.
What should I look out for with a Swedish car?
Corrosion. Sweden salts its roads heavily in winter. On cars of about eight years and older we recommend an underbody inspection before you buy — wheel arches, sills, brake lines and the rear axle mountings.
Is there any import duty on a car brought in from Sweden?
No. Since industrial tariffs were abolished, the Swiss duty rate for vehicles has been CHF 0.00 since 1 January 2024 — whatever the country of origin, and with no proof of origin needed. Automobile tax, import VAT and, on new vehicles, the CO₂ penalty are still payable. The customs declaration itself remains mandatory.
How long does an import from Sweden take?
Allow two to four weeks from the purchase contract. From Sweden we arrange transport on request; collection needs a little more lead time. We usually clear customs at the Thayngen customs office on the same day.
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)
Company
Services
- All services
- Vehicle import DE→CH
- Customs clearance
- Vehicle sourcing
- Document service
- Import advice
- Vehicle detailing
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 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