Vehicle sourcing

In short: Finsler Customs' vehicle sourcing service finds the car you want on the German market: you tell us the model, the equipment and the budget, and we work through our dealer network, mobile.de and AutoScout24, check condition, history and VAT status and buy on your behalf, as your agent. The final Swiss price, with every import cost included, is settled before you buy.

Rates as of July 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %

You name the make, model, equipment and budget – Finsler Customs searches the German market (dealer network, mobile.de, AutoScout24), checks condition and history and negotiates the price.

Before you commit, you receive a transparent all-in calculation covering every import cost, so that the final Swiss price is clear from the outset.

We handle the purchase in your name, including a check on whether the invoice shows VAT separately, which is what makes the refund of German VAT possible.

How we find the car you want

  1. Search profile: make, model, equipment, mileage, colour and budget – the more precise your brief, the better the result.
  2. Market research: we work through mobile.de, AutoScout24 and our German dealer network – with roughly 6.5 million changes of registered keeper for passenger cars a year (KBA annual figures 2025, the German federal motor transport authority), the German market offers a far wider choice than the Swiss one.
  3. Vetting the candidates: history, service record, accident-free status, VAT status and availability of the COC (Certificate of Conformity) – you only ever see cars that have been checked.
  4. All-in calculation: the final Swiss price, with every import cost included, is settled before the purchase.
  5. Purchase and import: fiduciary purchase, export, customs clearance and registration from a single source.

What we look at on every vehicle

What matters when buying in Germany is set out in the guide Buying a car in Germany.

Frequently asked questions

I have already found the car I want – is that possible too?

Yes. Simply send us the link to the listing: we check the condition, the paperwork and the VAT situation and, if you wish, take over the negotiation and the purchase – as your agent and with no margin on the vehicle price.

How long does the search take?

Common models usually turn up within a few days; rare configurations can take several weeks. You decide afresh on every proposal – with no obligation to buy.

What happens if no suitable vehicle is found?

Then you are under no obligation – the search profile stays active if you want it to, and we get in touch as soon as a suitable car comes onto the market.

Further services

Figures and timelines at a glance

ItemValue
Basis for the checka link to the listing is enough
Points checkedcondition, history, VAT status, eligibility for import
German VAT19 %, refundable on export
Full-service feeusually around CHF 1'200
Import advice before the purchaseCHF 0
Typical duration of purchase and transport1 to 8 days

Sources and legal basis

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

Further information