Can I import a car into Switzerland?
Yes — with customs clearance and then registration. On import you declare the vehicle to the BAZG (customs) with invoice/contract, vehicle papers and ID. Payable: 4% car tax, 8.1% import VAT (on value plus costs and duties) and a weight-based customs duty (EU/EFTA-origin cars usually duty-free). You get form 13.20A as proof of clearance (CHF 20 fee), needed to register at the cantonal road traffic office — followed by type approval and the MFK inspection. When moving residence to Switzerland, the car is duty- and tax-free if you owned and used it abroad ≥6 months (no resale in year 1). In short: yes, with taxes and registration — often free when moving.
📋 The rules
- Clearance at the BAZG with invoice & papers
- 4% car tax + 8.1% import VAT
- Weight-based duty (EU/EFTA origin usually duty-free)
- Form 13.20A for registration (CHF 20)
- Then type approval + MFK at the road traffic office
🔓 Exceptions
- Removal goods: duty/tax-free if owned & used ≥6 months
- No resale of the removal vehicle in year 1 (else duties due)
- Import within 2 years of the move (form 18.44)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Failing to clear a vehicle or clearing it wrongly risks back-claims of taxes and duty and fines for a customs offence. Selling a duty-free removal vehicle within a year means the duties become payable. Beware a myth: "within Europe I can just drive my car into Switzerland" is false — Switzerland isn't in the EU, every import must be cleared. Tip: declare the vehicle at the first import, keep the 13.20A clearance proof and plan the MFK inspection.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
What duties apply when importing a car?
On importing a car, a car tax of 4 percent, import VAT of 8.1 percent and a weight-based customs duty apply. Cars originating in the EU or EFTA are usually duty-free with valid proof of origin. The VAT is calculated on the value plus costs and the import duties.
What is form 13.20A?
Form 13.20A is the proof of customs clearance you receive after import. You need it to register the vehicle at the cantonal road traffic office. It costs CHF 20 and, since late 2024, is also available digitally via the Stadi platform for convenience.
Can I import my car duty-free when moving?
Yes, as removal goods the car is free of customs duty, car tax and VAT if you owned and personally used it abroad for at least six months and keep using it after the move. The import must happen within two years of the move, using form 18.44.
Can I sell the imported car immediately?
A vehicle imported duty-free as removal goods may not be sold in the first year, otherwise the duties become payable retroactively. This lock-up period is there to prevent the duty-free move allowance being used for tax-free trading in vehicles into Switzerland.
Do I need an inspection after import?
Yes. After clearance, type approval and the motor-vehicle inspection, the MFK, follow at the cantonal road traffic office before you get number plates. Only then may you use the vehicle on the road in Switzerland. Plan these steps in good time after the import.
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