Import consulting for private individuals and companies

By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated: 16 October 2026

In brief: Import advice from Finsler Customs is free and commits you to nothing. We work out every cost for the car you have in mind (4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % VAT, CO₂ penalty, transport, customs declaration, MFK test), check whether the German VAT can be reclaimed and which warranty applies, and plan the steps by phone, e-mail or in Thayngen.

Rates checked on 8 October 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %

Is the vehicle you have your eye on worth importing? In an import consultation, Finsler Customs calculates every cost item separately: customs value, automobile tax, Swiss VAT, CO2 penalty, transport and the MFK.

We look at the VAT position (VAT shown separately versus the margin scheme), the warranty situation and the registration requirements of your canton.

The consultation also suits people importing on their own account who want to hand over only the customs clearance. That is the Basic package: a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes.

What we settle in the consultation

• Full cost calculation: automobile tax (4 %), Swiss VAT (8.1 %), CO2 penalty, transport, customs declaration and MFK – worked out for your specific vehicle. Import duty has no longer been levied since 1 January 2024.
• VAT position: VAT shown separately (19 % refundable) or margin scheme? The single biggest factor in whether the import pays off.
• CO2 penalty: an estimate based on the WLTP figure in the COC (Certificate of Conformity) – before you buy, not afterwards.
• Warranty and papers: manufacturer's warranty, availability of the COC and the seller's liability for defects.
• Sequence and timing: a realistic schedule from the order through to registration in your canton.
• Individual services: which steps you can take on yourself and where our support is worth the money.

How to prepare for the conversation

• A link to the vehicle you want, or its key data (model, price, date of first registration, mileage)
• If you know them: kerb weight and WLTP CO2 figure – both appear in the listing or on the COC
• Your questions about the process, the costs or the risks – nothing is too basic to ask

You can draw up a first cost estimate before we even speak, using the car import calculator; whether importing pays off at all is the subject of the guide Is importing a car worth it?

The two routes are compared in the guide Import service or import it yourself? The criteria for picking a service provider are set out in Comparing car import providers.

Further services

• Vehicle import Germany–Switzerland
• Vehicle cleaning and preparation
• Customs clearance
• Vehicle sourcing
• Document service

Figures and deadlines at a glance

Sources and legal basis

The information on this page rests on the official publications listed below. What counts is always the wording of the legislation in force.

• FOCBS, the 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 does the consultation cost?

The first consultation, cost calculation included, is free and without obligation – you are then entirely free to decide whether and which services you book.

Do I have to book a package after the consultation?

No. The consultation is a service in its own right.

Which import package is the right one?

Basic if all you need is customs clearance (a fixed CHF 350 incl. VAT plus duties and taxes). Komfort covers transport, clearance and delivery to your door; on request we also buy the car on your behalf. Premium adds the MFK, registration, Swiss number-plate holders and the digital motorway vignette.

Is the consultation worthwhile for people importing on their own too?

Yes – all the more so. We show you which steps you can handle comfortably yourself and where the usual traps lie: VAT refunds, obtaining the COC, deadlines and the CO2 penalty on late-model vehicles.

How does the consultation take place?

By phone on +41 77 246 76 37, by e-mail or in person at our offices in Thayngen, about a kilometre from the customs office, Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00.

Do you advise garages as well?

Yes. We work with Swiss garages on a regular basis.

Finsler Customs GmbH

Company

• About us
• Author
• References
• Guides
• FAQ
• Contact

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

• Thayngen customs office
• Car import in Schaffhausen
• Have your car imported

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

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