Although Switzerland has excellent public transport, for some people nothing beats the convenience and ease of travelling by car. If you are looking to buy a car in Switzerland, this page covers everything you need to know about buying both new and used cars, so you can hit the road sooner rather than later.
The car market in Switzerland is highly developed, and purchasing a vehicle is relatively simple - certainly more simple than importing a car from abroad. However, there are some regulations and requirements that you should be aware of before you start the process.
To buy a car in Switzerland and carry out the related formalities like getting it insured, taxed and registered - no matter whether it is new or used - you will need:
Foreign residents in Switzerland are allowed to buy a car so long as they have a valid Swiss residence permit. This applies to both EU/EFTA citizens and so-called third-country nationals.
You’ll need to also ensure that you have a driving licence that’s valid in Switzerland so you can drive here. Many people are able to simply exchange their driving licence for a Swiss one, but you may be required to take a Swiss driving test in order to exchange your licence.
Cars are a popular mode of transport in Switzerland: as of 2021, 69 percent of all daily journeys were completed in cars, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. There are approximately 540 cars per 1.000 residents in the alpine nation - just over one car per two people, and around 78 percent of Swiss households own a car. In 2023, more than 350.000 vehicles were newly registered in Switzerland, three-quarters of them passenger cars.
Broadly speaking, there are four different types of cars that you can choose from in Switzerland:
Which type of car you buy depends on your personal circumstances: for instance, how long you plan on staying in Switzerland, how much money you want to spend, and how much use you’re expecting to get out of it.
Buying a new car in Switzerland is, as you might expect, the more expensive option - particularly in Switzerland, where prices for new vehicles are typically high. However, buying a new car does offer a few advantages, namely:
Your first port of call when looking for a new car in Switzerland should be a car dealership. These are official outlets for selling brand-new cars (although some also sell used cars). Most large Swiss cities will have at least a few car dealerships, and usually, they specialise in selling just one brand of car. You can find a directory of car dealerships in Switzerland on garage-pages.ch.
You can visit the dealership in person or browse their website before booking a visit to inspect the vehicles on show, and perhaps even take a test drive. Websites like comparis.ch and autoscout24.ch can also show you cars from multiple different dealerships, with the option to filter according to the specifications you want, like manufacturer, engine size, number of doors, and so on.
The major benefit of buying through a dealership is that they are reputable businesses linked to specific manufacturers, and usually offer good follow-up support. Many dealerships will also be able to take care of the initial paperwork for you, such as registering the vehicle with the local authorities or sorting car insurance, and offer other services like ongoing maintenance and servicing.
By law, all new cars bought in Switzerland come with a 24-month warranty. Some manufacturers offer extended warranties of up to five years, which will cover you should you encounter any issues with your new car.
Many dealerships in Switzerland offer the option of paying for your car in monthly instalments (what is known as buying a car on finance or on credit), usually over a period of 24 to 60 months. You will generally pay interest on top of the monthly repayments, which can make this a more expensive option overall, but perhaps more affordable than paying a significant lump sum in the long term.
To qualify for buying a car on finance, you’ll need to demonstrate a good credit history with your bank.
There is a good market for used cars in Switzerland, with options to suit all different kinds of needs and budgets. Used cars have the advantage of being immediately available and a lot more affordable since even a car that is only two years old will be a fraction of the cost of a brand-new model.
Buying a used car is a relatively straightforward process, but there are some things you should bear in mind to ensure you make a good decision.
Many car dealerships in Switzerland sell both new and used cars. Some specialise in second-hand vehicles or vintage or classic cars.
Buying a used car from a dealership is probably the safest option, as dealerships usually thoroughly test and service used cars before putting them up for sale. They can also complete a lot of the necessary paperwork for you, saving you an administrative headache. You may even be able to buy a used car from a dealership on finance, making this an affordable option.
The downside of going through a dealership is that you’ll generally pay a higher price.
You can also buy a second-hand car from a private seller in Switzerland. This is usually the best way of finding a good deal. Most used cars are nowadays listed online on websites like comparis.ch, autolina.ch or autoscout24.ch, but you can also look for adverts on social media, local notice boards, newspapers and even shop windows.
The standard warranty for a used car in Switzerland is two years, but it can be extended or reduced. It’s important to check your sales contract for the specific details of the warranty being offered by the seller, as they usually have different scopes.
In most cases, the process of buying a used car goes off without a hitch, but it is important to exercise some caution to ensure you choose the right vehicle. Here are some things you should consider when buying a used car:
In general, the lower the mileage, the better, as it suggests that the car has less wear and tear. 100.000 kilometres is typically seen as an important cut-off, and cars that have done more than this will sell for a lot less.
As a rule of thumb, diesel cars can reach higher mileages than petrol cars. Keep in mind that the average person in Switzerland drives somewhere between 12.000 and 15.000 kilometres per year. If the car you’re looking at has a much higher mileage in proportion to its age, ask the seller why.
You’ll also want to consider how old the car is, and how many previous owners it has had. Choosing the right used car is generally a case of finding a good balance between the age of the car and the number of kilometres it has taken. Generally speaking, the fewer previous owners it has had, the better.
Every car in Switzerland has to go in for a vehicle inspection every one to five years. When buying a used car, it’s a good idea to check when the next vehicle inspection is due. The seller should also be able to show you all of the car’s previous test reports.
If the next inspection is coming up in the near future, this should influence the price, as if any defects are found you as the new seller would have to pay for them. Equally, if the car has just passed its inspection, it will command a higher price.
It’s not a legal requirement, but it’s a good idea to draw up a purchase agreement with the seller when buying a used car. You can find templates for these contracts online. The contract will contain important details about the transaction and the car and an overview of the warranty. This will make future disputes easier to resolve.
Finally, the seller should be able to show you all of the car’s paperwork, including:
You should also receive all sets of keys for the car.
The process of buying a car in Switzerland might seem complicated, but it’s not too difficult if you break it down. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to buy a car in Switzerland:
First things first, you need to find your ideal car, either by looking on an online portal, or by visiting a dealership in person. It can help to narrow down your search with a few criteria, such as make and model or just price and mileage.
Once you’ve found a car that meets your criteria, contact the seller to arrange a viewing. This is your opportunity to inspect the car and ask some questions about it. It is also usually possible to test drive the vehicle during this viewing.
If you decide to buy the car, you’ll sign a binding contract with the seller and pay a deposit. Private sellers will usually ask for a downpayment and then the full amount via bank transfer or in cash when you come to collect, while dealerships might offer some kind of payment plan or financing (and offer discounts if you can pay in full upfront). The deposit holds the car for you while you sort out some additional admin.
Before you can register your car and start driving it, you’ll need to prove that you have car insurance. Compare some quotes, choose the offer you like best, and conclude a contract with the insurance company. They will then automatically send proof of insurance to the road traffic office in the canton where you live.
Now you can visit the road traffic office to get your new car registered. You’ll need to bring the following to the appointment:
The road traffic office will then register your vehicle and provide you with a new vehicle registration document. If this is the first time you are registering a vehicle in Switzerland, or you want to register the vehicle in addition to one you already own, you will receive a new set of number plates. If you are changing vehicles, you will simply transfer the plates from your old vehicle to your new one, unless you are moving to a new Swiss canton.
After you’ve registered your vehicle you’ll receive a bill for your vehicle tax as well. Some dealerships might offer to register the car for you. In this case, you will need to provide some of the above documents and let them take care of the process on your behalf.
With the admin out of the way, you’re ready to drive! All you need to do is pay the balance, make an appointment to collect your vehicle and drive on out.
An increasing number of companies now offer the option of buying a car online. In some cases, after choosing your vehicle you’ll need to visit the dealership to fill out some paperwork and pick up the car, but many also offer the option of delivering your new vehicle straight to your door. You simply choose the car you want, complete the paperwork online, and get the vehicle delivered, with the registration already completed.
There are, however, some drawbacks. For instance, you won’t be able to view the car in person or test drive it before committing to a purchase. For this reason, you should ensure that the company you’re using offers a cooling-off period, so you can return the car in case you’re not satisfied.
According to a report by comparis.ch, the average cost of a used car in 2023 was 28.555 Swiss francs, with petrol cars commanding higher prices than diesel cars. The average price for a new car was 59.500 Swiss francs.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to haggle over vehicle prices in Switzerland. Some dealerships will offer discounts, for example, if you pay for the car upfront in full or in cash.
On top of the price of the car, you’ll need to factor in other costs associated with owning a vehicle, such as paying car taxes, purchasing a motorway vignette, and the cost of other things like fuel, parking fines and maintenance costs.
If you are leaving Switzerland and you own a car, you may choose to sell it and recoup some of your costs, rather than exporting the vehicle, for example. You can sell your car through a dealership, privately on an online sales platform or via a local advertisement.
To sell your car, you’ll need your:
Don’t forget to deregister your vehicle after you’ve sold it.
If your budget doesn’t quite run to purchasing your own car outright, you might consider car leasing. This is an arrangement where you get to drive a car (often a new one) for a set period of time, in exchange for a set monthly fee, without actually owning it.
It can be a convenient option if you aren’t planning on staying in Switzerland for a long period of time, and don’t want to go through the hassle of buying a car and then selling it again when you leave.