Temporary driving a UK car

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1

I am relocating to Geneva. I will be a Swiss resident from next week. Can I drive my uk car to transport my dog to Switzerland once I am a resident and keep it there for a week before driving it back to the uk? I don’t want to import the UK car. Thank you

2

Foreign vehicles must be declared to Swiss Customs when you first cross the border in connection with your move. This principle also applies to vehicles that you wish to import as household effects.
In addition, you must apply for Swiss number plates at the cantonal vehicle licensing office no later than one year after your relocation.

If you owned the car for more than six months before moving to Switzerland
You can import your vehicle with application form 18.44.
It is the same form as for your household effects. In this case, the car is part of your household effects.

No fees are due if your vehicle is on the list of your personal and household effects.

You have 12 months to register it.

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3

Is this also the case if you want to keep the car only for max a month? I don’t want to import it
Thank you

4

If you are a Swiss resident you will need to temporarily import the car into Switzerland.

Using an uncleared vehicle temporarily in Switzerland.

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5

It might be worth asking at the border for authorisation if its just a one week stay, they may have discretion to grant it. Just make sure you arrive at a main (manned) crossing during their opening hours

If you use an uncleared vehicle in Switzerland without authorisation or do not comply with formalities, you must pay the import duties for the vehicle (customs duty, automobile tax, value added tax) retroactively. In addition, you must be prepared for criminal customs proceedings to be initiated.

6

Assuming you owned the car >6 months, yYou can start the import process - costs 25 CHF at the border. Then, you have 1 year to “formally” import it.

If in that year, you decide not to import it, a simple letter telling them so is all you need.

I drove my UK car (pre-brexit, so check if the rules changed as the UK is now non-EU) for 10 months here, while waiting for my Swiss-purcahsed car to be delivered.