I hope someone can help me to understand better what is the right procedure to follow and what I should check before importing my Italian car.
I am really going crazy by reading on the internet and talking to different colleagues, so I hope you can clarify me how the procedure works.
I want to import my Italian car, it is mine since 1 year and a half, and I meet all the requirements to import it directly. My doubts started when I talked to some colleagues about my idea, since they think is really difficult my car will pass the test.
My car is a Mercedes SLK 2.0 Compressor of 1998, equipped with GPL (Gas).
I used it daily when I was in Italy, and I never had a problem. I know there are a few minor imperfections that I will surely fix before the test (1 back light contact is not working 100%, for example), but I would like to ask you if there is somewhere a complete list which includes ALL the controls they will do at the MFK.
Also, I read that if the car is equipped with GPL it should have a reduction for the yearly circulation tax.....is this true?
Finally, if the MFK check is done in the winter period (I should take my car here at beginning of November), should the car already be using winter wheels?
What do you mean by "Is not much loved?". Is it something allowed, or it will result in a fail at MFK?
Selling it in Italy and buy again is not something I want to do unless really forced....I am really passionate with cars, and this one was the result of a few years of savings and money spent to make it good.
First thing is you must declare the import to the tax guys either at the border or inland customs. Do this asap . Driving around in it without doing this will cause you problems with the police. It's seen as tax avoidance, even if you owe nothing.
I assume if you can buy GPL at the pump here this wont be an issue. GPL cars must exist in Switzerland. Do you have documents for the conversion? There is bound to be a paperwork "shuffler" asking for official documents related to this. Otherwise I guess the MFK guys will have to certify it = expensive.
I would go to the MFK place and ask them for advice, they're usually friendly people until they get in front of a clip board.
Minor things that you need to fix worry about before the MFK are not needed to import, although a light out is asking to be pulled by Swiss police.
Tyres they don't care as long as they are the correct sized ones on correct wheels. They noted on mine that I had winters still on at the end of spring and the size was not the approved one (even though the certificate of conformity stated that size was correct for winter tyres?)
MFK is variable in harassment according to the canton. Zurich/Schwyz seem more easily willing to let the odd thing go, Zug is the complete opposite nothing gets missed.
Before doing anything talk to the STVA. Make sure to tell them that LPG is an additional fuel and the car still has the original fuel system as well (which I suppose it does). See how they will react, and if they give you the green light, get it in writing.
You could also remove the LPG system, it's not that big of a deal, and in Italy you could even sell it used and try to get the labour costs back. It's also highly unlikely you would find LPG pumps here.
If you're really eager to keep the LPG system, try and find a garage that does installations. If they have your brand you should be able to get the necessary papers to submit to MFK along with your CoC.
doesn't matter that italy approved it, switzerland has to approve it or it won't pass the MFK. If the kit wasn't available and certified here then you don't stand a chance.
it seems you might have owned the car for less than six months when you took up permanent residence in Switzerland. Is this true?
That may mean another issue for you - you may owe some money to customs. Did you declare the car on your importation documents or are you keeping it as a surprise?
I think it would be better for your sanity if you sold the car in italy, and bought a swiss SLK, a 98 isn't going to be very expensive and you'll save yourself a lot of grief
Slightly off topic, but I went to an AMAG open weekend and one of the cars they had on the forecourt was an LPG A3, which I was surprised at as like many others I've not seen any LPG stations, I wonder if maybe the Swiss are coming round to the idea of LPG?
No, I was already owning it before.....the exact day of me buying it should have been just 6 month and 15 days before the 18/11/2013, so I am safe from that side
And, as for the importation documents......when I moved I did not take anything with me (neither my car not my motorbike).....I assumed the 12 months start from when I declare the stuff....isn't it?
At this point, another question comes to my mind......what about my motorbike? I have it here with me since a few months, but I never declared it at the border......Or better, I actually tried to do it when I entered with it the first time (it was end of June 2014), but the border officers told me I was not needing to declare it because I have an L-permit......
Going back to the initial question.....this LPG thing really seems to be a huge pain in the ass......tomorrow I will go to the transport office and I will talk to them.
So I will go asking immediately for my motorbike. I should not have so many problems, it is a perfectly normal motorbike and it is quite recent (2007), so I don't think I should have problems with MFK.
And for the LPG car, I will keep you informed. I'm starting to seriously considering of selling my Italian car.....
Is there any kind of problem in buying a car if I hold an L-permit?