Foreign Car

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hi

im living in Basel Stadt. The girlfriends mother has come up to vist(from Italy for around 3 months and has brought the car with her (for visitng germany and Alcase etc ). I just have 2 quick questions

1. How long is it before she has to change the number plates to swiss ones) I know if you emigate here you have 1 year to do so

2. Can she park in the white zone as normal swiss cars with a fine etc

tnx for your help

2
in the last line I ment without a fine

3
I wouldn't imagine she should ever have to change to Swiss plates as she isn't a resident, if she is on a visit. And as a visitor or tourist I would also imagine she cannot use spaces that are for residents. But really the best thing to do would be ask in the Gemeinde. Better safe than sorry.

4
As a tourist she might not be able to buy the same parking passes, but still should be allowed to use the short term parking.

However if Basel is anything like Zurich, just because a parking space is painted white doesn't mean that there's not a parking meter nearby that needs paying, by both residents and travelers.

5
Nathu is right, be aware that white spaces sometimes have meters (usually along shopping areas). Otherwise, white areas are fine for overnight parking.

6
As long as your mother-in-law is a genuine tourist (i.e. she is resident domicile outside Switzerland and is visiting for less than three months (EU citizens)) and the vehicle is for her use then there is no requirement to get Swiss plates since the vehicle is not being imported. She can park in any parking place available to the general public (ie not parking spaces reserved for residents because she is a visitor not a resident). Stating the obvious but make sure she has an autoroute vignette.

7
Ask your local council. They can issue a temporary parking permit for visitors, which means that she can be entitled to park in residents zone for the duration of her visit.

As she is a tourist, she does not need to register the car with the Swiss authorities. She needs of course to have valid insurance and valid Autobahn Vignette

8
Could you please be more detail - what are "parking spaces reserved for residents" here?

Tanks a lot!

I'm gonna move to Basel and I have EU car (actually it belongs to my GF) I'm trying to figure out how difficult my life is going to be before I can change number plate (If it's possible at all, bc car isn't mine). Or mb I can get some parking ticket tha allows to park car as residents?

9
Only the registered owner of a car can change the vehicles registration!

Otherwise, anyone could change anyone elses car... if they have the documentation.

So the owner must go with you to the Strassenverkehrsamt.

If you have blue parking zones in your area, then you need a temporary visitors parking permit for the blue parking zones - or get a permanent residents permit if you so wish. Normally payable on an annual basis. They are linked to the vehicle registration plate, so if you are going to change plates keep that in mind when organising the permits.

Exactly what parking zones exists you will only find out when you physically visit where you wish to live. Some parts of some towns have unrestricted parking, no permit required.

10
When you enter Switzerland for the first time with a valid residence permit & a car then you can use the car for 12 months before you must get Swiss plates. It must have valid insurance for Switzerland like a green card.

I assume the residence permit & car must belong to the same person?