Hello,
I'm planning to buy a used car in Geneva which is currently matriculated in Switzerland. The owner tells me that he can either transfer the license plates matriculation to another Swiss address or he can cancel the Swiss matriculation so I can apply for French matriculation. I work in Geneva, but live in France. Can I choose between Swiss plates or French plates? Any suggestions on which plates to have: Swiss plates or French plates? Any pros or cons to having one or the other? Thanks for your suggestions.
Greengrass
I think you will be required to have plates for where you live not where you work
In which case you'll be importing/exporting a car. If resident in France save yourself the cost and hassle and buy in France.
You'll have to have the plates of the country where the car is registered -- if you register the car at your home address, this means French plates. The disadvantage to buying a car in Switzerland but registering it in France is that you will pay VAT on the purchase price of the car in France. You will also have to do a new contrò‚le technique, as the Swiss one isn't valid in France.
Here is the info you need: http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=30#1
If it isn't too late to change your mind, I would buy a car in France. They're generally cheaper, and it will save you the hassle of re-registering it, paying tax, and having to have it tested.
On the plus side, insurance is generally a little cheaper in France, and you don't pay any annual tax on a vehicle in France. In Switzerland, this annual tax can be pretty expensive -- I pay around CHF700 per year.
Many thanks to everyone for the helpful suggestions.
Greengrass
Just to add to that - if you have a Swiss residence permit (B, C, L or whatever) then you have no choice but to register the car in Switzerland - driving it on French plates would get you into all sorts of trouble. Similarly, if you don't have such a permit, i.e. you're a Frontalier, then you cannot have the car registered here.