Shipping a Car to Switzerland

Shipping Your Car to Switzerland? Car Shipping from the USA to Switzerland starts at a cost of $1,195 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 4-6 weeks, depending on the make and model of the car, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about shipping your car to Switzerland in our 2024 guide.

Shipping a Car to Switzerland: Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Shipping a Car to Switzerland: Costs & Time Frame

Shipping a Car to Switzerland: Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Switzerland

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Switzerland

Other Switzerland/US Shipping Options

Here’s a rough breakdown of the whole process you’ll need to go through to ship your car overseas to Switzerland.

More information on the process of shipping a personal vehicle to Switzerland can be found here.

As you engage in the process of shipping your car abroad to Switzerland, some of the most important questions to consider include:

• Whether you plan to permanently keep the car in Switzerland or if it’s just a temporary move,
• Whether you have been the owner of the car for at least 6 months.
• Whether you’re importing a new or used car.

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for shipping to Switzerland. Your actual tax rate is also based on these details.
When shipping cars, you should never assume your international shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s. The eligibility requirements for importing used cars may differ from those for importing new cars into Switzerland.

To obtain an estimate of the cost of shipping a car to Switzerland, fill out our free quick quote form.

Vehicle Import Approval

Upon arrival of your car shipment in Switzerland, the vehicle must be declared in Customs.

You’ll need the following documentation:

• Vehicle Registration Certificate or License Certificate;
• Invoice or Purchase Contract, if there has been a sale;
• Certificate of Compliance with Swiss standards
• Proof of the vehicle’s origin
• Technical data from your car (such as the car manual)
• Proof of Identity (such as Passport or Identity Card)

Things to Consider

• All vehicles shipped to Switzerland must comply with all the legal and technical requirements stipulated by the Swiss government.
• You must register your car in Switzerland within one year of its import.
• Auto liability insurance is mandatory for vehicles within Switzerland. Valid insurance must be obtained before receiving car authorization from
• the driver and vehicle licensing office. Auto liability insurance will cover damage caused to third-party vehicles, people, or property by your car.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Switzerland, fill out our free quick quote form.

Taxes & Duties for Shipping a Car to Switzerland
Prior to shipping a car to Switzerland from the USA, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with Swiss requirements.

If you are shipping a car to Switzerland from the USA, your car will be subject to local customs duties as well as a value-added tax or VAT of 7.7% levied by the Swiss government.

However, in certain circumstances, you might be able to gain exemption from paying customs duties and taxes when importing a car to Switzerland:

• Suppose you are bringing your car or motorcycle into Switzerland
  on a temporary basis. In that case, you will need to apply to the local Swiss Customs Authorities for duty-free customs plates, after which you will be able to import your car duty-free.
• US citizens who are moving to Switzerland from the USA and shipping a car when they relocate may import the car as part of their personal effects so long as they have been the owners for over 6 months.
• If you do import a car to Switzerland duty-free, you will be liable to pay duty if you sell the car within one year of moving to Switzerland.

The amount of taxes and import duties payable when shipping a car to Switzerland from the US will vary and depend on your car shipment detail

Car Shipping from USA to Switzerland can be performed using a shared container, a sole container, or a roll-on/roll-off service. You must find the best solution to meet your individual car transport needs.

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo shipping) – Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. This international car shipping option tends to be cheaper as, other than the shipping charge, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.

Transit times tend to be quicker than with the shared container service as the vessels sail weekly.

Shared container service – This method for car shipping to Switzerland requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one shipping container. While there are more fees involved in shipping a car from the USA to Switzerland with shared container service than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various clients who are using the container. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance, and a charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.

One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your vehicle departs, as the container must have a full load of car shipments before shipping to Switzerland.

Full container load –You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.

Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered when shipping cars with dedicated container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails that other shipping companies use, which can damage your vehicle.

After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our clients to pack and transport other items inside the vehicle. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

Once your vehicle reaches its destination in Switzerland, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition, and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the shipping process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.

Compared to our roll-on/roll-off shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure when shipping to Switzerland, but much faster due to frequent departures each week.

Sourcing vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.

Other services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Destination Terminals – Switzerland

Here are the entry terminals in Switzerland that we can ship a car to.

• Zurich
• Geneva
• Basel
• Bern
• Lausanne
• Lucerne
• Bremerhaven, Germany
  (Many clients bring in here with final destination within Switzerland)
• Rotterdam, Germany
  (Many clients bring in here with final destination within Switzerland)

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of car shipping to Switzerland, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and which services the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations from which we can ship cars from the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah, and more.

Before shipping to Switzerland, the undercarriage of your car must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement before car shipping to Switzerland. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient prior to car transport.

Upon the successful transport of your vehicle to Switzerland, you must obtain a vehicle registration certificate, Swiss number plates, and third-party liability insurance.

You must register your imported car with the appropriate Road Traffic Office for your canton.

Whether registering a new or used car in Switzerland, you must present the following documentation to fulfil custom regulations:

• Proof of Identity (such as Passport or Identity Card)
• Vehicle Registration Certificate (for used cars only)
• Proof of activity in Switzerland (such as a work contract, confirmation of place of residence)
• Business owners must present a copy of entry into the commercial register or confirmation of self-employed activity from the social insurance institute
• Proof of third-party liability insurance
• Inspection report form 13.20A (for brand new vehicles only)
• VAT Certificate from the customs office
• EU Certificate of Conformity

If your imported car is over 10 years old, it must undergo a technical test prior to registration in Switzerland. The completed inspection report will remain valid for one year.

US citizens are able to use their national driver’s license for the first 12 months of their stay in Switzerland. After this time, they must apply for a Swiss driving license. You will require an eye test from a certified Swiss optician in order to exchange your driver’s license. Foreign license plates may also be used for a maximum of one year upon import into Switzerland.

Importing a Car from the US to Switzerland
Importing a Car from Switzerland to the US
Car Shipping from USA to Switzerland
Car Shipping from Switzerland to USA
Cargo Shipping from the US to Switzerland
Cargo Shipping from Switzerland to the US
Moving Household Goods from the US to Switzerland
Moving Household Goods from Switzerland to the US

This information was updated in January 2024. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

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