If you have bought a car in Switzerland and want to send it overseas, or are moving out of the country and want to take your vehicle with you, you will need to officially export the vehicle. Like importing a vehicle, exporting a vehicle requires you to declare it at the Swiss border.
In Switzerland, the process for exporting a vehicle varies by where you plan to export the vehicle to, and whether the car or motorbike will leave the country temporarily or permanently. In each case, it is important to keep Swiss customs law in mind.
If you plan to use your car to travel outside of Switzerland for a temporary period (on a holiday or business trip, for example), you can do so “informally” without having to declare the car for export. Vehicles registered in Switzerland are able to travel to other countries temporarily, provided that they are permitted to do so based on the rules of the destination country.
However, if you drive your car to another country and it is involved in an accident, and repairs to the vehicle total more than 300 francs, you must declare the work either physically at customs when reentering Switzerland, or via the QuickZoll app. This work will then be subject to Swiss value-added tax.
If you send your car to another country for modifications, refinements and upgrades, this work also needs to be declared, and in some cases, a permit is required. Whether this work is subject to value-added tax in Switzerland is determined on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please consult the official website of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG).
If your time in Switzerland has come to an end and you wish to take your car with you, or have purchased a Swiss car that you wish to export to another country, you will need to declare the export to the customs authorities.
Customs officials in Switzerland require several key documents in order to permit the export of a vehicle. These are:
To export a vehicle from Switzerland, exporters must provide a copy of the vehicle’s registration from the canton concerned. This is the case even if the Swiss vehicle registration is already cancelled.
It is also vital that exporters present proof of identity such as a passport or residence permit to the customs authorities. This is to confirm ownership of the vehicle being exported.
Every vehicle that is exported from Switzerland also requires an export customs declaration. This will detail who is shipping the vehicle, who will receive it at its destination, who is declaring the vehicle at customs and who purchased the vehicle.
This form can either be completed at the customs office at the border, or online using the e-dec website.
Though this is not needed at the Swiss border, it is also important to prepare documents for when your car is imported to its new home. This may involve further forms and could also include paying certain import duties and value-added taxes.
Please consult the customs authorities in your destination country for more information.
If you are exporting your vehicle to a nation within the European Union, or to one that has a free or preferential trade agreement with Switzerland (see below), you will also need to provide proof of origin.
For vehicles imported to Switzerland less than 10 years ago, you will need to either provide proof of import - provided by the person or company that sold you the car - or a copy of the customs assessment from when the vehicle was imported.
For cars imported more than 10 years ago, you will need to provide a confirmation that it was placed on the Swiss market more than a decade ago, an exact description of the vehicle (make, type and chassis number) and confirmation of origin from the manufacturer as stated in the vehicle’s documents.
All of the following documents have to be submitted to customs officials at the Swiss border when you choose to export the vehicle. To find out which border posts are able to process applications for vehicle export, please visit the BAZG’s interactive map.
If all is in order, you will be able to officially export your vehicle from Switzerland and officially import it elsewhere.
When moving away from Switzerland, taking your valuables and vehicles with you can be a long process. Here are some of the most common questions associated with vehicle exports.
Currently, no direct fees are imposed when exporting a vehicle in Switzerland. The forms and services offered both in person and online by the Swiss authorities are typically free to use.
However, there may be import duties and fees that need to be considered once you leave Switzerland. These will be based on your destination country and how long you have owned the vehicle.
If your destination country is in the EU or it has agreed a free-trade agreement with Switzerland, you may be able to apply for a “preferential import” of your vehicle. If approved, this will allow you to import your vehicle with either reduced-duty or completely duty-free.
For more information on which countries this applies to, check out the BAZG website.
Vehicles being exported from Switzerland can either be transported aboard another transport vehicle, or simply driven across the border. However, the latter requires that the vehicle be fitted with export control plates - as, by this point, your vehicle would likely be deregistered.
For more information on how to apply for export control plates, please contact the Road Traffic Office in your current or former canton of residence. A full list of all 26 can be found on the Association of Traffic Offices website.