Document service
In brief: the Finsler Customs document service obtains and checks every paper needed to import a car: the COC certificate (Certificate of Conformity, from the manufacturer, CHF 100–300, one to two weeks), the customs certificate Form 13.20 A, the inspection report and the registration file for the cantonal road traffic office – retrospectively too, for vehicles that have already been imported.
Rates as at July 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.
Documents can also be obtained after the event, for vehicles that were imported some time ago.
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, CHF 100–300, one to two 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 Form 15.25 (Vormerkschein, the temporary admission document) works, is explained in the linked guides.
Frequently asked questions
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 (CHF 100–300, one to two 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 at the MFK.
Does this work for vehicles that have already been imported?
Yes – even if the import was months ago, we obtain the missing documents afterwards and put the registration file together.
Our other services
Figures and deadlines at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Obtaining the COC from the manufacturer | CHF 100–300, one to two weeks |
| Kerb weight in the COC | item 13 |
| CO2 figure to WLTP in the COC | item 49 |
| Without a COC: individual vehicle approval | CHF 800–2'500 |
| Inspection report Form 13.20 A | CHF 20 |
| Other papers required | registration certificate Parts I and II, purchase contract |
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)
- Value Added Tax Act (MWSTG, SR 641.20)
Further 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 importing a vehicle
- CO2 calculator – work out the penalty using the Federal Office of Energy formula
- 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 – company, location and how we work
- Contact and advice