I am moving to Geneva in May on a non-Eu B permit. My partner is not moving with me yet - she is resident in the UK with a long stay visa in France (just over the border). If I buy a Swiss car will she be insured to drive it when she visits?
Hello
I can't answer you question....
But be aware there export rules about non residents driving a Swiss car across an EU border. So make sure you understand the rules. This one is from 2014 and I don't know what the current rules are:
Within Switzerland will not be a problem. In the EU you might have issues if you're not in the car as well.
Great, thank you both
Assuming your car insurance covers other drivers, mostly they do here.
Before I immigrated to Switzerland from Ireland, I spent a number of weeks here in the summer. I was able to drive a borrowed car no problem, the owner's insurance covered other licensed drivers
My insurance company told me that it is the vehicle that is insured, not the driver. Friends and family could ‘occasionally’ drive it, but if it was semi-regular I should call them.
I drive my wife’s insured Citigo and she drives my Yeti.
Not a direct answer to your question but my understanding is that once you hold a Swiss licence you are not allowed to drive a foreign registered car (e.g. your girlfriend's French or British one, if she has one) in Switzerland.
Your understanding is wrong. Very wrong. Driving a foreign car has nothing to do with your driving license. Driving a foreign car is not a traffic law issue but a customs issue.
It is also not about driving per se but using the car. If a tourist comes to Switzerland they get a exemption to import the car temporarily for their own use w/o any formality. From custom point of view you import when you bring stuff across the border, specially valuable stuff, even if only for a certain period of time.
Luckily, Swiss customs is quite pragmatic if you drive a sick visitor in there own car they are still the main benefactor of that ride and thus are using it. You could also go on a wine tasting tour were the drink and you drive the car.
Now, if you are a Swiss resident you cannot profit from this tourist exemption. Means you can simply drive over the border with a foreign registered car. Unless you have an exemption from customs. Same applies vice versa if you are a resident in an EU country. In that case you cannot simply drive with a UK or Swiss car into the EU customs area.
But again, in all that cases the driving license is not important. At least as long as it is valid for the vehicle category in the respective country.
#9 Thank you for your detailed description of the reasons why a Swiss resident shouldn't drive a foreign registered car in Switzerland. No thanks though for "Your understanding is wrong. Very wrong." There's no need to be so aggressive or rude.
It is no problem for a non-resident to drive your car BUT I'd advise preparing an attestation letter just in case there is an accident or your guests are stopped by police. Something along the lines of "I (insert name here), born xx.xx.xxxx, hereby give permission to (insert name, date of birth, nationality here) the temporary use of my car (car + number plate). In case of questions I can be reached on (07x xxx xxxx).
This is good advice whenever loaning your car, regardless of whether the driver is a Swiss resident or not. A good Swiss friend of mine was stopped by the police while driving his father-in-law's car and the police gave him a very hard time, they seemed to suspect he had recently stolen the car. Ever since hearing this story I always prepare an attestation to avoid any hassles.