Are Tuscans legal in Switzerland? Christof?
Discussion
I know that some of the owners here are lucky enough not to live in the UK. So can any of you tell me - would it be possible to run and register a TVR Tuscan for use in Switzerland as they may have tighter noise/safety/pollution considerations than other countries in Europe?
Thanks in advance. TUS
Thanks in advance. TUS
Hi there,
In fact, you have to comply with noise regulations (92 decibels) which means NO TVRs at all unless you replace your nice UK exhaust pipes with some *#&%. Even with so called “Swiss pipes” there some other “mods” to be implemented in order to pass (let’s call it) the Swiss MOT. Of course, between two controls you can still revert to the original specifications, but at your own risk (and cost). To cut the long story short, what we have to do over here is not totally legal. If you want some more detailed information, I would prefer to e-mail it to you directly.
BTW, it is funny to hear you saying “some of the owners here are lucky enough not to live in the UK” when just the other day I was discussing with some friends the possibility of setting-up a UK based company in order to register our cars over there and avoid this bloody Swiss technical controls. Our conclusion was: “most of the owners are lucky enough to live in the UK"....
Cheers, Ozren
In fact, you have to comply with noise regulations (92 decibels) which means NO TVRs at all unless you replace your nice UK exhaust pipes with some *#&%. Even with so called “Swiss pipes” there some other “mods” to be implemented in order to pass (let’s call it) the Swiss MOT. Of course, between two controls you can still revert to the original specifications, but at your own risk (and cost). To cut the long story short, what we have to do over here is not totally legal. If you want some more detailed information, I would prefer to e-mail it to you directly.
BTW, it is funny to hear you saying “some of the owners here are lucky enough not to live in the UK” when just the other day I was discussing with some friends the possibility of setting-up a UK based company in order to register our cars over there and avoid this bloody Swiss technical controls. Our conclusion was: “most of the owners are lucky enough to live in the UK"....
Cheers, Ozren
Thanks Ozren - as feared really.
Would there be a market for registering cars back to the UK? What about insurance? Would the vehicle have to be insured from the UK and then arrangements made with the insurance company for spending (alot) of time outside of the UK? What about road taxes?
If there was a demand, I would look at setting up a business here!
Also, are emissions a big issue given the generous size of TVR engines?
I think you are lucky not to live in the UK - just think of the taxes we pay, crime rate etc etc. :weep:
Many thanks
Bryan
Would there be a market for registering cars back to the UK? What about insurance? Would the vehicle have to be insured from the UK and then arrangements made with the insurance company for spending (alot) of time outside of the UK? What about road taxes?
If there was a demand, I would look at setting up a business here!
Also, are emissions a big issue given the generous size of TVR engines?
I think you are lucky not to live in the UK - just think of the taxes we pay, crime rate etc etc. :weep:
Many thanks
Bryan
Hi Bryan,
Here are some thoughts on the subject.
(1) Would there be a market for registering cars back to the UK?
Well, it’s a hard call. I’m afraid that we are only a bunch of (crazy) TVR enthusiasts - far from the critical mass required to set-up a profitable business. Other UK car manufacturers (like Morgan, Aston…) do not seem to have these “noise” problems. In addition, a vehicle with foreign plates should exit Switzerland after 3 months – but you could still come back the day after. Bigger issue would be with the daily use of the car.
(2) What about insurance? Would the vehicle have to be insured from the UK and then arrangements made with the insurance company for spending (a lot) of time outside of the UK?
All this should be done in UK as the vehicle would have UK plates. Would British insurers appreciate the description of the business?
(3) What about road taxes?
One time payment of 30 CHF/year (14 GBP) buys you a sticker and Swiss highways are yours (no difference whether UK or CH plates).
(4) Emissions are fine even with TVR modified V8s.
Conclusion:
The only reason to “avoid” the CH registration would be the issue with noise. But potentially how many cars need to do it? In addition, as it is a sensible question (legally speaking), it would be tricky to advertise this business.
In other words, in order to tune my Griffith and still drive it, all I have to do is to move to UK
!
Cheers, Ozren
Here are some thoughts on the subject.
(1) Would there be a market for registering cars back to the UK?
Well, it’s a hard call. I’m afraid that we are only a bunch of (crazy) TVR enthusiasts - far from the critical mass required to set-up a profitable business. Other UK car manufacturers (like Morgan, Aston…) do not seem to have these “noise” problems. In addition, a vehicle with foreign plates should exit Switzerland after 3 months – but you could still come back the day after. Bigger issue would be with the daily use of the car.
(2) What about insurance? Would the vehicle have to be insured from the UK and then arrangements made with the insurance company for spending (a lot) of time outside of the UK?
All this should be done in UK as the vehicle would have UK plates. Would British insurers appreciate the description of the business?
(3) What about road taxes?
One time payment of 30 CHF/year (14 GBP) buys you a sticker and Swiss highways are yours (no difference whether UK or CH plates).
(4) Emissions are fine even with TVR modified V8s.
Conclusion:
The only reason to “avoid” the CH registration would be the issue with noise. But potentially how many cars need to do it? In addition, as it is a sensible question (legally speaking), it would be tricky to advertise this business.
In other words, in order to tune my Griffith and still drive it, all I have to do is to move to UK
! Cheers, Ozren
I've an idea to register car in Swissland.
Register in Italy that have the most complete log book in Europe.
Register afetr in Swiss land across canton ticino, border to italy that should register the car with italian plates to Suisse plates just checking the documents!
Should be easy!
Register in Italy that have the most complete log book in Europe.
Register afetr in Swiss land across canton ticino, border to italy that should register the car with italian plates to Suisse plates just checking the documents!
Should be easy!
TUS 373 said:Definitly yes! Look here: www.tge.ch
I know that some of the owners here are lucky enough not to live in the UK. So can any of you tell me - would it be possible to run and register a TVR Tuscan for use in Switzerland as they may have tighter noise/safety/pollution considerations than other countries in Europe?
Thanks in advance. TUS
I think it's not that easy to register a tuscan (or tamora or t350) in switzerland. i talked to the owner of tge cars (main dealer in ch) and he told me that all cars with speed 6 engines are not legal in switzerland because there is no "diagnostic system" for emision on the engine witch is required for euro2 or euro3 norm. the noise is a very small problem. tvr is not willing at the moment to build this daignostic system for this little amount of cars they would sell in switzerland.
but if you move to zurich, you can bring your tuscan with you as "movinggoods". and then it has not to be within the swiss norms.
cheers.......peter
but if you move to zurich, you can bring your tuscan with you as "movinggoods". and then it has not to be within the swiss norms.
cheers.......peter
TUS 373: if you end up working in ZH – but not for too long (a year or so) – you could keep your UK plate under the name of one of your family members and still drive it in over here. Theoretically, a “turist” car is supposed to leave the country after 3 months, but I would expect the ZH police to have more important issues on their hands than chasing you. In addition, if you bring the newspaper and fresh croissants every Sunday morning to your future neighbors, I wouldn’t worry…
Not a great idea but still an idea.
Have a nice weekend.
Cheers, Ozren
Not a great idea but still an idea.
Have a nice weekend.
Cheers, Ozren
I ended up working in Switzerland for a while and took my Tuscan down for about 6 months. Took it over the border every so often to avoid the 3 month issue, and spoke nicely to the insurance company.
I'm told its possible to insure an English registered car with Swiss insurance though, so that shouldn't be an issue.
The only thing is if you need service while you're down there - the only garage that I know is just outside Zurich in Embrach and although they looked after mine without any problems, I did hear about someone who lost 80+ bhp every time he had his serviced there. I can't back that up with evidence though, and this garage obviously know what they are doing because they sell Swiss-legal TVRs which have been converted to left hand drive, noise reduced, and had all kinds of extra under-shields added to comply. At the time I spoke to them (18months ago) they were still trying to get the Tuscan through the regulations. Not sure if they managed to or not.
What a car though eh? I'm in love with mine.
I'm told its possible to insure an English registered car with Swiss insurance though, so that shouldn't be an issue.
The only thing is if you need service while you're down there - the only garage that I know is just outside Zurich in Embrach and although they looked after mine without any problems, I did hear about someone who lost 80+ bhp every time he had his serviced there. I can't back that up with evidence though, and this garage obviously know what they are doing because they sell Swiss-legal TVRs which have been converted to left hand drive, noise reduced, and had all kinds of extra under-shields added to comply. At the time I spoke to them (18months ago) they were still trying to get the Tuscan through the regulations. Not sure if they managed to or not.
What a car though eh? I'm in love with mine.
I am living in Belgium, but maintain a UK registered car here on a permanent basis. Whilst it is not the 'proper' way to do things, as long as the insurance company are happy with it, there should be no problem.
There is a company (Stuart James I think) who can arrange insurance for any UK registered car irrespective of if it is permanently overseas or not. Obviously you would have to come back to have it MOT'd and renew your UK tax, but it is possible. I am insured through Eagle Star with their Gold Policy, which gives an annual green card, with no need to return to the UK every 3 months. All other companies I have spoken to will only issue green cards for 90 days,thus necessitating regular trips back to blighty!!
I would say go for it, as long as you are fully insured what can happen?? The local plod pull you and tell you that you are not english??
There is a company (Stuart James I think) who can arrange insurance for any UK registered car irrespective of if it is permanently overseas or not. Obviously you would have to come back to have it MOT'd and renew your UK tax, but it is possible. I am insured through Eagle Star with their Gold Policy, which gives an annual green card, with no need to return to the UK every 3 months. All other companies I have spoken to will only issue green cards for 90 days,thus necessitating regular trips back to blighty!!
I would say go for it, as long as you are fully insured what can happen?? The local plod pull you and tell you that you are not english??
we are trying to register a Radical in Swissland and we have calls about TVR also.
if we get Radical Swiss registration i think it's possible also for TVR, that's happen also in Italy.
cheers
www.ukgarage.it
if we get Radical Swiss registration i think it's possible also for TVR, that's happen also in Italy.
cheers
www.ukgarage.it
An old thread Gents, but am very interested to hear if anyone has recently (in the last year) been able to move from the UK to Switzerland with a Tuscan/any TVR?
I may be in a similar position next year and really desirous to retain the car - especially given the amt of cash I have had to spend on it recently!! I would be looking to hold onto the car for > 1 yr after arrival in Switzerland (Geneva).
I may be in a similar position next year and really desirous to retain the car - especially given the amt of cash I have had to spend on it recently!! I would be looking to hold onto the car for > 1 yr after arrival in Switzerland (Geneva).
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