FAQ Vehicle customs clearance
This page answers frequently asked questions about vehicle customs clearance procedures in Switzerland for relocations and visits. It outlines conditions under which vehicles can be imported duty-free, customs compliance requirements, and how temporarily introduced vehicles may be used.
I am moving to Switzerland
Under certain circumstances, you may be entitled to import your vehicle tax and duty-free as household effects. The requirements are the same as those for other household effects. Information on this can be found on our website.
You are not entitled to import your vehicle tax and duty-free as household effects. You have to pay the import duties for the vehicle.Sie haben kein Anrecht, Ihr Fahrzeug abgabenfrei als Übersiedlungsgut einzuführen. Sie müssen die Einfuhrabgaben für das Fahrzeug bezahlen.
Permanently importing into Switzerland
You can postpone the payment of the import duties if you apply for a customs permit form 15.30 at the customs office. With this, you may use the vehicle duty unpaid for a maximum of two years after your relocation. However, you must apply for Swiss number plates at the cantonal vehicle licensing office after one year at the latest.
That statement is incorrect. Foreign vehicles must be declared to Swiss Customs when you first cross the border in connection with your move. This principle also applies to vehicles that you wish to import as household effects. In addition, you must apply for Swiss number plates at the cantonal vehicle licensing office no later than one year after your relocation.
You have to ask Swiss Customs for a temporary certificate form 15.25 at the border. You can get this at all manned border crossings during opening hours in tourist traffic. With the temporary certificate form 15.25, you have two working days to declare the vehicle at a customs office responsible for merchandise.
I have purchased a vehicle abroad
You have to declare the vehicle to Swiss Customs for customs clearance at the border. This is possible only during the opening hours of a customs office responsible for merchandise. It is not very easy to find your way around the customs clearance regulations for a vehicle. We recommend that you have the customs declaration carried out by a customs agency or a freight forwarding/logistics company. If you would like to take care of the formalities yourself, you will find further information on our website.
Ja. Sie müssen an der Grenze beim Schweizer Zoll einen Vormerkschein 15.25 beantragen. Diesen erhalten Sie bei allen besetzten Grenzübergängen während der Öffnungszeiten im Reiseverkehr. Mit dem Vormerkschein 15.25 haben Sie zwei Arbeitstage Zeit, das Fahrzeug bei einer für Handelswaren zuständigen Inlandzollstelle zur Verzollung anzumelden.
My place of residence is in Switzerland and I would like to use a foreign vehicle
As a rule, you may not use an uncleared vehicle in Switzerland. However, there are special arrangements in this case. Before entering Switzerland for the first time, you must apply for a customs permit form 15.30 for the vehicle. The vehicle on which duty has not been paid may be used in Switzerland only for journeys on behalf of your employer and for your journey to and from work. Other private journeys, e.g. for holidays or leisure, are not permitted.
As a rule, you may not use an uncleared vehicle in Switzerland. However, there are special arrangements in this case. You have to ask Swiss Customs for a temporary certificate form 15.25 when entering Switzerland. You can get this at all manned border crossings during opening hours in tourist traffic. With the temporary certificate form 15.25, you have eight days (from the beginning of the rental contract) to re-export the vehicle or return it to the rental company based in Switzerland. If you arrive in Switzerland more than five days after the start of the rental contract, the customs office will issue you with a temporary certificate form 15.25 for three days. You must be able to present the rental agreement concluded with the rental company at all times.
As a rule, you may not use an uncleared vehicle in Switzerland. The vehicle owner and holder are not decisive. There are special arrangements for only twelve cross-border journeys per year. For this, you have to apply for a so-called customs declaration for temporary admission (ZAVV) at a customs office responsible for commercial goods traffic. You have to pay a deposit for the import duties. With a ZAVV for twelve cross-border journeys, you may enter Switzerland with the vehicle for a maximum of three days twelve times a year. You must have each border crossing confirmed at the customs office.
My place of residence is abroad and I would like to use a foreign vehicle
You may use the vehicle for private trips without customs formalities (informal). Commercial trips are not permitted, e.g. the transport of other persons for compensation. Do not forget to pay the necessary road taxes (motorway tax sticker, heavy vehicle charge).
Using an uncleared vehicle temporarily in Switzerland
You may not use the vehicle without formalities in Switzerland. At the border, you must ask Swiss Customs for a customs permit form 15.30 for the vehicle. You must clarify with the cantonal vehicle licensing office whether you also need Swiss number plates for the vehicle.
Form 15.30
You can get the customs permit form 15.30 at manned customs offices during opening hours. The customs office issues the customs permit form 15.30 onsite in a separate system. You do not have to fill out an application form beforehand.
You have to clarify with the cantonal vehicle licensing office whether you need Swiss number plates for a vehicle. The customs permit form 15.30 serves as proof to the cantonal vehicle licensing office that you may use the vehicle duty unpaid in Switzerland.
I temporarily transport loaded vehicles abroad
Vehicles registered in Switzerland can be taken abroad without customs formalities (informally) and then reimported. Parts that are added or replaced abroad must be declared to Swiss Customs at the border when the vehicle is reimported. Questions about customs formalities abroad must be addressed to the local authorities.
Domestic vehicles that you want to bring abroad temporarily and then reimport must be declared to Swiss Customs for temporary exportation at the border. Depending on the intended use abroad, you will need a so-called customs declaration for temporary admission (ZAVV) or an ATA carnet. Information on this can be found on our website. Questions about customs formalities abroad must be addressed to the local authorities.
Domestic racing cars
Domestic racing cars that you want to bring abroad temporarily and then reimport must be declared to Swiss Customs for temporary exportation at the border. You have several options for this. The ATA carnet is the simplest solution for you, as it can also be used for customs formalities abroad.
I had an accident abroad with my vehicle registered in Switzerland. What do I have to take into consideration if I want to have it repaired or scrapped abroad?
You must report the claim to the nearest foreign customs office, which can provide information on the applicable customs regulations and the necessary formalities.
When returning to Switzerland with the vehicle, you must spontaneously declare all repairs, conversions, processing, etc. carried out abroad to Swiss Customs at the border.
I had an accident in Switzerland with my vehicle registered abroad. What do I have to take into consideration if I want to have it repaired or scrapped in Switzerland?
You must declare the vehicle or the parts remaining in Switzerland for customs clearance at a customs office.
The customs formalities required depend on the specific situation. It is best to clarify the procedure with the nearest customs office.
Proof of origin
The questions and answers on origin provide further information on the subject of proofs of origin in general and in connection with the importation and exportation of vehicles.
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