Hi All,
I know this could be a question already answered somewhere else, but I could not find it in this forum.
I've been relocated to Switzerland (Zurich) recently, and I brought my registered UK car.
My plan is to stay for a long period and I would to keep my car in Switzerland.
I have an UK insurance covering only 90 days in Europe (Including Switzerland) but after that deadline I have to look for a CH insurance company.
Would you know a CH insurance company which could provide insurance to my UK car?
Thanks!
JRosero
Why not just finish the import process quickly so that you don't run into this problem? If you want to keep your car long term, that is.
As noted, just register it here and it’s a Swiss car not a UK car, and the insurance should be fine, although I’m not sure if there’s a premium for RHD vehicles.
Remember you need to import it properly as well. https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/en/ho…itzerland.html
If you want specific advice I’d find your local Mobiliar rep and drop them a note, I’ve always found them very helpful and not just a call centre like many other big insurers.
Are you sure your UK insurance remains valid if you are resident here?
Importing is dead easy.
It can - I did the same for the first few months, and I specifically confirmed with the insurance company by email so I had it in writing.
But I would not assume every policy is the same and doesn't have some small print excluding it.
UK insurance should cover you third party but yes there might be a problem with your change of residence.
Importing is 'dead easy' registering in Switzerland, which you'd have to do within 12 months, isn't necessarily.
What do you mean "and I have brought my registered UK car" ? Did you stop at the border for any formalities or just drove through as a tourist?
This is because Swiss residents (with a residence permit) are not allowed to drive any foreign-licence-plate car in Switzerland (considered illegal import).
So eventually you will need to get Swiss plates , which automatically solves the insurance problem.
At a minimum, you need to declare the import asap (or your intention to import the car), this starts the process and makes it legal to drive here with UK plates as resident until you finalise the import (You will have to choice of taking the car back to the UK if you change your mind in the meanwhile.) If it is done under "moving personal goods into Switzerland" process there would be no duty or VAT to pay for the import.
If you don't have a really good reason to drive a RHD car [adapted for disabled use for example] than I would drive back to the UK and sell it.
You'll find it very inconvenient to keep it in the long run; everything is setup for a LHD. Besides which you'll for sure draw the attention of the police with Swiss registered RHD; and will need all carry all your documents for your car and person all the bloody time.
You'll struggle to get in and out of car parks, find yourself in blind spots on junctions and find overtaking more painful.
Not to mention the fact that importing it isn't free and reselling it here will be next to impossible in years to come.
RHD or LHD you have to carry documents with you all the time anyway unless they are away with the canton for an official purpose. But the rest is true.
Many years ago now but when I first came here with a RHD for 3 months, Swiss insurers wouldn't touch it and my English insurers charged a hefty premium for 3 months worth of green cards
Not automatically, you still have to actually get insurance, it doesn't come with the plates.
As long as you've owned it for at least six months before the import.
Indeed, you actually need the insurance in place before they will give you the plates.
A quote
"Importing your car to Switzerland: basic facts
You may bring a car into Switzerland free of tax and duty if you have owned and used it for at least 6 months as it is considered to be part of your personal effects.
The imported car must be registered in Switzerland within one year of your taking residency in Switzerland.
If you import a car duty free for your personal use you will be liable for paying duty if you sell it within one year of your arrival.
This is what you need to do when you import your car to Switzerland
The car must be mentioned in the inventory of your personal effects and its passage through customs certified at the point of entry into the country.
If you have owned your car for less than 6 months at the time of your residency registration, you will be liable for Swiss tax/duty.
You will need to provide official documentation confirming the value of the car, its country of origin and a certificate of compliance with Swiss standards.
Foreign license plates may be used for maximum one year."