Importing Vehicle Procedure before 12mths is up

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Ok, I have been frustrated with finding the procedure to importing my car to Switzerland.

My 12 months is up in Feb '10 but thought I'd see if I can get it sorted asap. I still have UK insurance at present.

I would like to know if it is the "done thing" to take it to a garage and get a quote for making the car upto Swiss specs? If it is too expensive I would take it back to the UK. If not then what??

I have just become confused with all the different threads, sites etc and need to find the definitive way to do this.

I appreciate any help you can give. Thanks

2
what car is it? all in our uk mg zs 180 cost around 5k chf to get swiss registered, we bought the lhd headlights, then got the local garage to fit them and do all the pre-test check etc and they took it to the test centre and stayed until it passed. then there is all the paperwork costs etc etc, unless the car is somthing special, or means a lot to you then I wouldn't bother.

it was all finalised a couple of months ago, so is still pretty fresh in the memory if you have any other questions.

3
It's a 1996 Jeep Wrangler. Its a "good'n" so I want to keep it if poss

4
In theory it's pretty basic:

1. Go to the closest Zollamt to pay the import duties (we went to the one in Littau near Luzern). Bring the car and the bill of sale that shows when the car was purchased. I think they charged us 29 CHF as we had owned the car for longer than 6 months prior to moving here. They will give you a form to take with you the Strassenverkehrsamt.

2. If possible, get an ECC-Certificate of Conformity for the car. This will make it easier to convince them that the car was built to EU specifications. We tried to get one from a local dealer (Skoda) but ended up going to the dealer that we bought it from in Spain to make it happen.

3. Take it to a garage and have them clean under the car and engine and get an ABGAS certificate.

4. Talk to an insurance person and get Swiss insurance set up for the car.

5. Take all the documents to the Strassenverkehrsamt and schedule an appointment.

6. Go to appointment, pass and get your new plates. If you don't pass, they'll tell you what needs to be fixed. Go to your garage, get them fixed and repeat step 5.

good luck!

5
was it made in the usa? I think there are even more rules for non eu made cars!!

have a look on ebay to see if you can find new LHD headlights for it, as here they will cost an arm and a leg. It would probably also be worth talking to a jeep dealer here to find out if the swiss version had a different ECU. If the car was never offically sold here then your going to have a world of pain!!

6
What is a Zollamt? Customs office?

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Comparis has information about importing cars .

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Yes. Here's some more info:

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en

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yes Zollamt is the Customs office

10
Next job is to find one near me

11
Did you import the car as part of your personal processions. It is pretty straight forward if you did.

Assuming the car is a UK spec what catches people out is the foglight/ reversing light. Make sure you have a light on both sides, if you have it only on one side then you may need to add an extra light. I cant remember if it is the reversing or foglight, Headlights. Make sure the car gets serviced and the enginebay steam cleaned. You will also need to have done beforehand the exhaust test.

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I did not import it as part of my stuff when I moved here.

13
Kevin, didn't you drive here in it instead of flying! I assume your other stuff came by truck.

Was the Jeep in Switzerland before you got your B permit?

Can you remember the date that you drove over?

Do you still have the ferry receipt?

If the crossing date is the same or a few days before your B permit date you should ask the Zollamt people why it doesn't count as personal possessions.

14
I drove it over when I moved here in march but didn't put it on the 1830 (or whatever) form as that went with the movers.

I have to stick it on Swiss plates before the 12 months is up. I needed to know the correct procedure etc

15
Anyone got an address for the customs in Lucerne?

16
Got it. Nevermind

17
I'm off to see the nice people at the Zollamt in Lucerne to get my 13.28 form to start the swiss registration of my Jeep

Stay tuned for the next chapter

18

Good luck!! importing ours caused a hell of a lot of stress!

19
Also booked the emissions test and a pre-vehicle inspection to see whats what with the Jeep

20

have you got it 'swiss' clean, that means spotless underneath and in the engine bay, the garage got our engine bay looking like new