interesting experience entering CH from D

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I recently entered Switzerland driving a UK registered car and with a UK passport. I showed my passport and was then asked to show my driving license and registration certificate. They took the documents away and came back a few minutes later and asked for my insurance certificate. When I handed it over I was told that they had checked the car on ASKMID and it showed up as uninsured. I expressed my surprise, saying that I was quite confident that it was insured as I would only receive the certificate after payment on the premium. I was then told they had no way of knowing if I had made the certificate at home on my computer but as everything else seemed OK they would give my the benefit of the doubt as they're aware that there can be errors.

(I checked ASKMID when I arrived at my destination that evening and the car showed up as insured - I suspect they entered the letter O as the digit zero and ASKMID doesn't say that the registration doesn't exist, just that they have no record of insurance for it.)

Then they asked if they could just have a quick look in the boot which I duly opened. They had a look around and then suggested we move the car into the garage so that they could have a more through look in a cooler place. (It was 34 outside.). And then they proceeded to go through the car and its contents with a fine tooth comb. *Everything* was unpacked and inspected. Mirrors were used to look under the car. The doors were shaken back and forth when open to see if there was anything loose. The boot was emptied and all of the storage compartments were checked. Three people went over the car for 30 minutes. Needless to say nothing was found because there was nothing to find.

I ended up paying 20 SFr duty because I had an extra litre of alcohol and 2 bolts of fabric a friend in Switzerland had posted to me in the UK and I just threw the padded envelope complete with packing list and her address in CH into the boot.

I know customs doesn't exist to make money per se but they really struck out. But why did they give me the detailed inspection? I couldn't even flush the loo I was allowed to use - someone went in and lifted the lid to see that I hadn't tried to dispose of anything (talk about being the SLJ - stty little jobs officer!) I could only think their suspicion of of lack of insurance plus a boot of random household goods and groceries for a 2.5 week holiday tripped a couple of red flags. But were they looking for cash? There was no drugs dog used.

I was polite and friendly the whole while as I knew I had nothing to hide and that any obstruction on my part was likely to slow up my departure. I was thanked for my cooperation at the end and was told the fine on the excess alcohol was waived due to my cooperation.

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I got the impression one of the officers might have been a trainee and so the paperwork check of a UK car was done as a training exercise. And then it unravelled from there.

All part of life's rich tapestry I guess. I should have asked at the end what they thought they might find but was just glad to be on my way. I have to stress they were polite and amicable all the while.

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I think this is my 11th crossing in the Basel area over 17 years and the first one where I was asked to show documentation for the car. They're usually surprised when I speak their language which normally seems to put them at ease but not this time!

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Umm, good question. I would think that if you can show in some way that you're just transiting through you should be fine. If flagged to the side and asked if you're bringing anything in or have anything to declare I would be clear and truthful - state what you and that you're passing through. I think that ought to work. I had a fair bit in the way of random groceries and a few things for the flat and they had no issues with those.

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EskimoArapaho said:

Thanks. The relevant bit: "This regulation (meaning informal verbal declaration) does not apply for alcoholic beverages, foodstuffs and tobacco goods which are liable to duty."

May need to change our route as suggested above.

This thread may have saved us a lot of money/grief. Thanks OP!

Your call as to what route suits your best but do read further at the 2 links under "Additional details are available at the following links:"

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Those efficient Germans - it only took them 10 minutes to search my car on the return. I guess a lone male in an M5 fits some sort of profile. They were looking for excess goods and cash above €10K.

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EskimoArapaho said:

Abiding memory of Swiss-registered cars: strict observation of speed limits at home in Switzerland, and near-complete disregard of them in Italy!

They're just trying to fit in with the locals.

And your comment reminds me of a story a Swiss friend told me years and years ago. Two friends were stopped for speeding in the canton of Ticino. One had local number plates and the other had Zurich plates. The chaps with the local plates received a telling off and the chap with the Zurich plates was fined. When the chap with the Zurich plates complained the policemen said that when the national speed came to a vote the German speaking cantons voted for it so therefore the police felt obliged to hold the drivers from those cantons to account.