Import Consulting
In brief: Import consulting from Finsler Customs is free and comes with no obligation: we work out every cost of importing the vehicle you have in mind (4 % automobile tax, 8.1 % VAT, CO2 penalty, transport, customs declaration, MFK – the cantonal roadworthiness test, Motorfahrzeugkontrolle), check which VAT regime applies and how the warranty stands, and map out the timeline – by phone, by e-mail or in person in Thayngen.
Rates as at July 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %
Is the vehicle you have your eye on worth importing? In an import consultation, Finsler Customs goes through every cost item openly – 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 part of the work, such as the customs clearance or the paperwork.
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 Dealer import versus importing yourself; the criteria for picking a service provider are set out in Comparing car import providers.
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.
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 – right at the border crossing to Germany, Monday to Friday, 08:00–18:00.
Further services
Figures and deadlines at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of the consultation | CHF 0 |
| Automobile tax | 4 % of the customs value |
| Import VAT | 8.1 % |
| Import duty since 1 January 2024 | CHF 0 |
| CO2 target value for 2026 | 93.6 g/km at a kerb weight of 1'777 kg |
| Penalty per gram above the target value | CHF 95 |
| Rule of thumb for duties and fees | 13 to 15 % of the net purchase price |
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)
- Value Added Tax Act (MWSTG, SR 641.20)
More information
- Car import calculator – work out duty, automobile tax, VAT and CO2
- Have a car imported for you – full service from the search to the registration
- All services – import, customs, sourcing, documents, consulting
- Guides – seventeen articles on importing a vehicle
- CO2 calculator – work out the penalty using the SFOE formula
- Transport calculator – guide price for delivery within Switzerland
- Thayngen customs office – opening hours, how to get there and what happens
- Importing in the canton of Schaffhausen – customs, MFK and registration locally
- For German dealers – selling vehicles to Swiss buyers
- About Finsler Customs – the company, the location and how we work
- Contact and consultation