Document service for your vehicle import
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In brief: The Finsler Customs document service obtains and checks every paper a car import needs: the COC (a duplicate from the manufacturer usually costs EUR 50–250 and takes one to four weeks), customs form 13.20 A and the registration file for the road traffic office. It is included in every import package from Basic to Premium and is not sold separately.
Rates checked on 8 October 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %
Missing paperwork is the most common stumbling block in a car import. Finsler Customs obtains the COC certificate from the manufacturer or the importer and checks that the file is complete.
We put together the complete file for the cantonal road traffic office: customs certificate Form 13.20 A, inspection report Form 13.20 A, the assessment decision and proof of insurance.
The document service is included in every import package and is not sold separately.
The documents we obtain and check
| Document | What it is for | How it is obtained |
|---|---|---|
| COC certificate | EU type approval – without it there is no MFK (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, the Swiss roadworthiness test) and no registration | from the manufacturer or the importer, usually EUR 50–250, one to four weeks |
| Customs certificate Form 13.20 A | proof that duty has been paid – mandatory document for the MFK | issued during customs clearance at the border |
| Inspection report / registration file | the complete set of papers for the cantonal road traffic office | compiled by Finsler Customs |
| Proof of insurance | transmitted electronically to the office before the car is put on the road | by your Swiss insurer |
Why missing papers bring an import to a halt
Without the COC the cantonal road traffic office refuses the MFK, and without the customs certificate Form 13.20 A it refuses registration – the car then sits in the garage, unusable. That is why we check before you buy whether all documents exist or can be obtained, and why we write the handover of the COC into the purchase contract. What type approval actually means is explained in our guide Type approval and COC.
What type approval actually means, and how temporary certificate form 15.25 (Vormerkschein) works, is explained in the linked guides.
Our other services
- Vehicle import Germany–Switzerland
- Vehicle cleaning and preparation
- Customs clearance
- Vehicle sourcing
- Import advice
Figures and deadlines at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Obtaining the COC from the manufacturer | usually EUR 50–250, one to four weeks |
| Kerb weight in the COC | item 13 |
| CO2 figure to WLTP in the COC | item 49 |
| Without a COC: individual proof and individual approval | CHF 800–2,500 |
| Inspection report Form 13.20 A | CHF 20, or CHF 5 if the declarant affixes the Stammnummer themselves |
| Other papers required | registration certificate Parts I and II, purchase contract |
If the vehicle reaches the border outside the counter hours, the temporary certificate form 15.25 lets you clear it inland within 2 working days; the papers listed here are needed either way.
Sources and legal basis
The information on this page is based on the official publications listed below. The wording of the legislation in force is always decisive.
- FOCBS (Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security) – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
- FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes on a vehicle import
- Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51) (German text)
- Value Added Tax Act (MWSTG, SR 641.20)
Frequently asked questions
What is a COC?
The COC (Certificate of Conformity) is the EC certificate of conformity. It makes the vehicle check in Switzerland considerably easier.
I bought my car without a COC – what now?
No reason to panic: in most cases the COC can be obtained afterwards from the manufacturer or the Swiss importer (usually EUR 50–250, one to four weeks). We take care of the application and the paperwork.
What is the customs certificate Form 13.20 A?
It is the stamped form of the Swiss customs administration confirming that the vehicle has been duly cleared. It is issued on importation and has to be presented in the original to the cantonal road traffic office for registration.
Do I always need certified translations?
No. For German vehicles the original papers are almost always enough.
Can I book just the paperwork?
No. The document service is included in every import package, from Basic to Premium, and is not sold separately. If all you need is customs clearance, book the Basic package: a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes.
Google reviews
As of October 2026
-
Roger Bührer
«Das ist Dienstleistung pur. Auch bei nicht alltäglichen Aufgaben stets die Lösung gefunden und zielorientiert kommuniziert. Besten Dank.»
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Patrick Weberin French
«Très professionnel, très réactif. A recommander et je n'hésiterai pas à faire à nouveau appel à eux.»
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Miriam
«Habe mein Auto über Finsler Customs erhalten und war mit dem Prozess sehr zufrieden. Der Ablauf war sehr schnell und ich konnte mein Auto dadurch wesentlich günstiger erhalten als in der Schweiz. Vielen Dank, gerne wieder :)»
Google reviews, quoted word for word in the original language (German or French).
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Services
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- Vehicle import DE→CH
- Customs clearance
- Vehicle sourcing
- Document service
- Import advice
- Vehicle detailing
Calculators and tools
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- CO₂ calculator
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- Check the Stammnummer
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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