By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
The Stammnummer on a Swiss car
The Stammnummer is a vehicle's 9-digit Swiss identification number, written 123.456.789, in field 18 of the vehicle licence and on inspection report 13.20 A. It stays with that one vehicle for life, through changes of owner and canton. For an imported car, Swiss customs (FOCBS) assigns it at customs clearance, before the MFK test, not after it.
Rates checked on 8 October 2026: automobile tax 4 %, Swiss VAT 8.1 %
What the Stammnummer is for
- Unambiguous identification of the vehicle across every change of keeper (unlike the licence plate, which follows the keeper).
- Reference for proof of insurance, the used-car trade, recalls and official registers (MOFIS/IVZ).
- When selling: with the Stammnummer the buyer can look up the vehicle's history and type data.
The Stammnummer on an imported vehicle
A vehicle from abroad does not yet have a Swiss Stammnummer. It is assigned by Swiss customs (FOCBS) at customs clearance and appears on the inspection report Form 13.20 A. Your insurer issues the electronic proof of insurance on this number, and the road traffic office carries it over into the vehicle registration document at the registration. The Stammnummer is not the type approval number: that one identifies the model, and the technical data behind it comes from the COC document (Certificate of Conformity).
Stammnummer vs. type approval number vs. VIN
| Number | What it identifies | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Stammnummer (9 digits) | the individual vehicle in Switzerland | vehicle registration document, field 18; inspection report 13.20 A |
| Type approval (TG) | the approved vehicle type | vehicle registration document, field 24 |
| VIN / chassis number | the vehicle worldwide (17 characters) | on the vehicle and in every document |
How does your vehicle get its Stammnummer?
You never have to apply for the Stammnummer yourself: customs assigns it at customs clearance. If you import through Finsler Customs, you receive the Stammnummer at the border crossing with Basic, and as soon as the vehicle is in Switzerland with Komfort and Premium. Effort and cost depend on another question: are the technical data of your vehicle documented? That gives three scenarios:
| Scenario | Process | Cost and time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. COC available (the normal case for EU vehicles) | The technical data are in the COC. The check is whether your vehicle matches them and meets the Swiss rules. | no extra cost |
| 2. COC missing, duplicate available (the most common special case) | The manufacturer issues a duplicate for a fee. After that everything runs as in the normal case. | EUR 50–250, 1–4 weeks |
| 3. No COC obtainable (US imports, conversions, small series) | Every technical proof has to be supplied individually: manufacturer data, foreign papers and reports from recognised test centres such as DTC or FAKT; the road traffic office then approves the vehicle individually. | CHF 800–2,500, 4–8 weeks |
In all three cases your vehicle ends up with a Stammnummer. The difference lies in how much technical clarification is needed first.
Do importers have a Stammnummer?
An importing company has no Stammnummer: the number always belongs to a single vehicle, not to a firm and not to a model. What importers do:
- General importers (for example AMAG for VW and Audi, or Emil Frey for many makes) have a data sheet or a type approval issued once by the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) for new models. It is not compulsory, but it spares the whole series clarifications at the inspection.
- Import service providers such as Finsler Customs work with the COC of the individual vehicle. If the type data are already on file with FEDRO, the inspection goes a little faster.
- Private imports are exempt from Swiss type approval by law. With a COC there are, as a rule, no extra homologation costs.
Where do I find the Stammnummer?
On a Swiss vehicle in field 18 of the vehicle registration document: nine digits in three groups of three. The last digit is a check digit that catches typing errors. The type approval number is separate, in field 24.
On a German vehicle there is none yet. A vehicle not yet registered in Switzerland has no Stammnummer, so it cannot appear in the COC or in the German registration certificate. The COC does, however, contain all the technical data the road traffic office needs.
The Stammnummer on import: the sequence
- Customs declaration: the vehicle is declared to customs with its documents (COC, purchase contract, foreign vehicle papers).
- Inspection report Form 13.20 A: with the customs stamp, this form proves that the vehicle was properly imported and assessed. The Stammnummer appears here too. Without it no road traffic office will register the vehicle.
- Inspection: the road traffic office checks the vehicle and enters it in the register under this number. Since 1 January 2026, passenger cars registered abroad for at most one year and driven at most 2,000 km have been registered without the test.
- Vehicle registration document: the Stammnummer appears in field 18 and stays with the vehicle from then on.
When can costs arise?
The Stammnummer itself costs nothing. Extra costs only arise when the technical proof for your vehicle is missing:
| Situation | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| COC available (the normal case for EU vehicles) | CHF 0 | no extra time |
| Ordering a duplicate COC from the manufacturer | EUR 50–250 | 1–4 weeks |
| Proof through a recognised test centre and individual approval | CHF 800–2,500 | 4–8 weeks |
How high the last line comes out depends on which proof is missing. Exhaust and noise values, occupant protection or the braking system can only be proved through a recognised test centre; engine data often already follow from the owner's manual.
How Finsler Customs helps
Before every import we check whether the papers of the car you want are sufficient for Swiss registration. For standard EU models the COC is included, and the Stammnummer comes with customs clearance at no extra cost to you. If a proof is missing, we obtain it. Ask us before you decide to buy: the check is free and usually done within 24 hours. You can work out the cost of your import in the car import calculator.
Figures and deadlines at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Format of the Stammnummer | nine digits, for example 123.456.789 |
| Where it appears | field 18 of the vehicle registration document and the 13.20 A report |
| Allocation on import | by Swiss customs (FOCBS), at customs clearance |
| Fee for the Stammnummer itself | CHF 0 |
| Fee for the 13.20 A inspection report | CHF 20, or CHF 5 if the declarant affixes the Stammnummer themselves |
| Individual proof and individual approval without a COC | CHF 800–2,500 |
| Competent authority | Swiss customs (FOCBS) for the Stammnummer; road traffic office of your canton for the registration |
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 what counts.
- FOCBS – 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)
- Ordinance on the Licensing of Persons and Vehicles for Road Traffic (VZV, SR 741.51) (German text)
- asa – Association of the cantonal road traffic offices
Frequently asked questions
What is the Stammnummer on a car?
A nine-digit number in the format 123.456.789 that identifies your individual vehicle in the Swiss vehicle register. For an import, Swiss customs (FOCBS) assigns it at customs clearance; it appears on the inspection report Form 13.20 A. It then stays with the car for life, through changes of keeper, canton or plates. It does not identify the model: that is the job of the type approval number.
Where do I find my car's Stammnummer?
In field 18 of the vehicle registration document, as a nine-digit number with two dots (for example 123.456.789). The type approval number sits separately in field 24. The COC document of an EU vehicle carries no Stammnummer; Swiss customs (FOCBS) issues it on import.
Do I get the Stammnummer automatically when I import?
Yes, without applying for it. Swiss customs (FOCBS) issues it, and it appears on Form 13.20 A. If you import through us, you receive it at the border crossing with Basic, and as soon as the vehicle is in Switzerland with Komfort and Premium. The number itself costs nothing; the fee is for the inspection report: CHF 20 when the customs office issues and certifies it (item 9.12 of the FOCBS fee ordinance, GebV-BAZG), CHF 5 if the declarant affixes the Stammnummer themselves (item 9.22).
How do the Stammnummer, the COC and type approval differ?
The COC (Certificate of Conformity) is the manufacturer's document that proves your vehicle's technical data. Swiss type approval is FEDRO's clearance for a vehicle type; vehicles with a COC do not need it at all, they are exempt and are checked individually by the cantonal registration office. The Stammnummer, in turn, identifies your specific car in the register. In short: the COC and type approval concern the type, the Stammnummer concerns your car.
What if there is no COC?
The vehicle still gets a Stammnummer. What takes more work is proving the technical data: through manufacturer data, the foreign papers or reports from a recognised testing body, followed by an individual approval at the road traffic office: usually CHF 800–2,500, depending on the vehicle and the canton. For common EU models the manufacturer usually issues a duplicate COC.
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