Importing a old car into Switzerland
Discussion
I am looking at a move to Switzerland and have heard various stories about importing older cars and modified cars.
Would I be able to import my LHD Porsche 928 to use as a run around, it has the cats removed and is a bit of a hybrid. It was originaly a Japanese car then imported into the UAE in 2001, been in my ownership for the last 3 years.
Would I be able to import my LHD Porsche 928 to use as a run around, it has the cats removed and is a bit of a hybrid. It was originaly a Japanese car then imported into the UAE in 2001, been in my ownership for the last 3 years.
dictys said:
I am looking at a move to Switzerland and have heard various stories about importing older cars and modified cars.
Would I be able to import my LHD Porsche 928 to use as a run around, it has the cats removed and is a bit of a hybrid. It was originaly a Japanese car then imported into the UAE in 2001, been in my ownership for the last 3 years.
Based on my attempts to import cars, could be difficult and/or expensive. I suggest you clarify this with the vehicle licensing department for the canton in which you will leave before you try importing it. Would I be able to import my LHD Porsche 928 to use as a run around, it has the cats removed and is a bit of a hybrid. It was originaly a Japanese car then imported into the UAE in 2001, been in my ownership for the last 3 years.
It will be difficult but not impossible. However, if the vehicle doesn't have any cats, that will be a no-no.
Let me check my documentation and I'll be back later
So here goes...
If you are moving to Switzerland, the 928 can be imported as part of your personal belongings and will not be subject to import duties.
You will need the following:
Form 13.20A (delivered by the Swiss Customs)
Customs attestation (forms 18.44, 18.45 or 18.46)
An attestation of Third Party insurance from a Swiss company
An emissions control certificate. This document can be obtained through Porsche Switzerland
Technical details of the vehicle (Porsche can probably supply that info)
Proof of the last road registration (registration card) of the vehicle
Forms necessary for registration by the local registration authorities
For a foreigner, the residence permit
The car needs to be checked over prior to the registration inspection in order to avoid seeing the vehicle refused for some minor problem which could have been solved prior
And plenty of patience.....
P.S. Oh, nice car by the way
Let me check my documentation and I'll be back later
So here goes...
If you are moving to Switzerland, the 928 can be imported as part of your personal belongings and will not be subject to import duties.
You will need the following:
Form 13.20A (delivered by the Swiss Customs)
Customs attestation (forms 18.44, 18.45 or 18.46)
An attestation of Third Party insurance from a Swiss company
An emissions control certificate. This document can be obtained through Porsche Switzerland
Technical details of the vehicle (Porsche can probably supply that info)
Proof of the last road registration (registration card) of the vehicle
Forms necessary for registration by the local registration authorities
For a foreigner, the residence permit
The car needs to be checked over prior to the registration inspection in order to avoid seeing the vehicle refused for some minor problem which could have been solved prior
And plenty of patience.....
P.S. Oh, nice car by the way
Edited by UltimaCH on Wednesday 29th August 15:28
I do like a nice 928.
What follows may not be definitive but I hope it helps.
As mentioned above, it should be possible to import it 'tax free' if you are import it along with your personal possessions but registering the car with your destination canton will be a separate hurdle...
The good news is that you shouldn't even be caught by the new CO2 tax as that appears to be for new vehicles only.
You might try contacting Porsche with the chassis number and ask if it will be possible to obtain an EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC)for it... Not sure when they introduced these forms but your main issue could be if yours was originally sold to Japan, it may not be possible to obtain one.
Next you may have to budget for having cats fitted i.e. back to OEM spec.
If you have a CoC, the import process should run that bit easier and you should just get a local garage to give it the once over before presenting it to the cantonal registration office. Without a CoC, you may need to hand the car over to an import specialist who will have to check everything and prepare a report specific to your car before it is presented.
The guys at the cantonal registration offices are notoriously picky and when I imported a new Discovery last year which of course came with a nice CoC, they still got out their tape measures to cross-check the wheelbase just to ensure that I wasn't trying to sneak a Bowler Wildcat in disguise past them!
Good luck!
What follows may not be definitive but I hope it helps.
As mentioned above, it should be possible to import it 'tax free' if you are import it along with your personal possessions but registering the car with your destination canton will be a separate hurdle...
The good news is that you shouldn't even be caught by the new CO2 tax as that appears to be for new vehicles only.
You might try contacting Porsche with the chassis number and ask if it will be possible to obtain an EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC)for it... Not sure when they introduced these forms but your main issue could be if yours was originally sold to Japan, it may not be possible to obtain one.
Next you may have to budget for having cats fitted i.e. back to OEM spec.
If you have a CoC, the import process should run that bit easier and you should just get a local garage to give it the once over before presenting it to the cantonal registration office. Without a CoC, you may need to hand the car over to an import specialist who will have to check everything and prepare a report specific to your car before it is presented.
The guys at the cantonal registration offices are notoriously picky and when I imported a new Discovery last year which of course came with a nice CoC, they still got out their tape measures to cross-check the wheelbase just to ensure that I wasn't trying to sneak a Bowler Wildcat in disguise past them!
Good luck!
Just to add my tuppence worth.
To get a car registered in Switzerland you will need the original registration documentation for when it was first used (in this case in Japan). If you don't have that documentation it could be a problem.
Plus, the car will need to have the exact specification of a 928 of that year as it would have had in Switzerland at that time, so any differences between Japanese spec and Swiss spec may need to be changed.
My tennis coach imported a TVR Chimera from the UK (brave man!) Although he bought it from a TVR specialist and the car was supposedly in top condition, by the time he had made all the modifications demanded by the vehicle registration department he had spent almost as much again as the purchase price in the UK!
The main problem with the importation (in my view) is the uncertainty. You could sail through with no costs or get royally screwed. I don't know how old or valuable the 928 is but you could find that the costs of registration are too high compared to the value of the car.
To get a car registered in Switzerland you will need the original registration documentation for when it was first used (in this case in Japan). If you don't have that documentation it could be a problem.
Plus, the car will need to have the exact specification of a 928 of that year as it would have had in Switzerland at that time, so any differences between Japanese spec and Swiss spec may need to be changed.
My tennis coach imported a TVR Chimera from the UK (brave man!) Although he bought it from a TVR specialist and the car was supposedly in top condition, by the time he had made all the modifications demanded by the vehicle registration department he had spent almost as much again as the purchase price in the UK!
The main problem with the importation (in my view) is the uncertainty. You could sail through with no costs or get royally screwed. I don't know how old or valuable the 928 is but you could find that the costs of registration are too high compared to the value of the car.
I have imported my 964RS from the UK (car bought in Germany originally) last year (10/2011) as a personal import.
If I remember rightly CoC did not exist before mid 90s.
Besides what has already been said, I would add that all this is canton based so there are apparently significant differences in the level of pickiness experienced.
I am in Vaud where everybody is convinced they are the pickiest (interesting to see what the experience in ZH etc is?)
I have been told that if you were to upgrade your brakes to say racing 6 pot calipers from a top brand and such like changes, then it would be refused (even if it improves safety) as not being OEM.
I have experienced this first hand as I had cats put back in in the UK before coming here (used to have a lovely G cup - 105db+ easy) and had TüV approved exhaust from Dansk only 1 month before arrival. the SAN guys refused the car and insisted on Porsche OEM exhaust.
They actually take down serial numbers of vital/large parts .... redefines what I thought anoraks did!
Get a local mechanic who will be able to navigate through those things for you. If costly things need doing you might want to consider getting it done in neighbouring France/Germany as it more than likely will be cheaper than CH.
Finally, read up on the canton's website for the import service as you really need to be versed in the various forms to fill, timing of things, etc and you cannot just rely on a few posts here.
Good luck
speedfr0g
If I remember rightly CoC did not exist before mid 90s.
Besides what has already been said, I would add that all this is canton based so there are apparently significant differences in the level of pickiness experienced.
I am in Vaud where everybody is convinced they are the pickiest (interesting to see what the experience in ZH etc is?)
I have been told that if you were to upgrade your brakes to say racing 6 pot calipers from a top brand and such like changes, then it would be refused (even if it improves safety) as not being OEM.
I have experienced this first hand as I had cats put back in in the UK before coming here (used to have a lovely G cup - 105db+ easy) and had TüV approved exhaust from Dansk only 1 month before arrival. the SAN guys refused the car and insisted on Porsche OEM exhaust.
They actually take down serial numbers of vital/large parts .... redefines what I thought anoraks did!
Get a local mechanic who will be able to navigate through those things for you. If costly things need doing you might want to consider getting it done in neighbouring France/Germany as it more than likely will be cheaper than CH.
Finally, read up on the canton's website for the import service as you really need to be versed in the various forms to fill, timing of things, etc and you cannot just rely on a few posts here.
Good luck
speedfr0g
Thanks guys, yeah I think I'll just send the car back to the UK for the moment. The 928 is quite highly modified as it is running custom ECU and various engine mods have been made, plus all the lights are for RHD. There are not many parts which are OEM as I have had to have a lot of parts made.
Anyway, gives me a chance to find something old and quirky when I move.
What is the normal condition of 2nd hand cars in Switzerland? For example here, annual inspection is pretty much a cursory glance and most owners buy and then forget to service the car, so buying 2nd is not recommended as 90% of 2nd hand cars are heaps.
Anyway, gives me a chance to find something old and quirky when I move.
What is the normal condition of 2nd hand cars in Switzerland? For example here, annual inspection is pretty much a cursory glance and most owners buy and then forget to service the car, so buying 2nd is not recommended as 90% of 2nd hand cars are heaps.
dictys said:
Thanks guys, yeah I think I'll just send the car back to the UK for the moment. The 928 is quite highly modified as it is running custom ECU and various engine mods have been made, plus all the lights are for RHD. There are not many parts which are OEM as I have had to have a lot of parts made.
Anyway, gives me a chance to find something old and quirky when I move.
What is the normal condition of 2nd hand cars in Switzerland? For example here, annual inspection is pretty much a cursory glance and most owners buy and then forget to service the car, so buying 2nd is not recommended as 90% of 2nd hand cars are heaps.
I think general condition is pretty good. The Swiss equivalent of the MOT is I believe much more stringent than in the UK. Flip side is that second hand prices seem much higher. There doesnt seem to be sheds like in the UK.Anyway, gives me a chance to find something old and quirky when I move.
What is the normal condition of 2nd hand cars in Switzerland? For example here, annual inspection is pretty much a cursory glance and most owners buy and then forget to service the car, so buying 2nd is not recommended as 90% of 2nd hand cars are heaps.
I recently imported a 1988 Mercedes SL into CH from the UK. Pre-dating the days of EU certificates of conformity, it was a little more complicated than importing a modern second hand car. I share the experience here, -along with links to all the guidance docs that I found useful: http://wp.me/p86Gg9-4. Hope it's helpful
Schnellmann said:
dictys said:
Thanks guys, yeah I think I'll just send the car back to the UK for the moment. The 928 is quite highly modified as it is running custom ECU and various engine mods have been made, plus all the lights are for RHD. There are not many parts which are OEM as I have had to have a lot of parts made.
Anyway, gives me a chance to find something old and quirky when I move.
What is the normal condition of 2nd hand cars in Switzerland? For example here, annual inspection is pretty much a cursory glance and most owners buy and then forget to service the car, so buying 2nd is not recommended as 90% of 2nd hand cars are heaps.
I think general condition is pretty good. The Swiss equivalent of the MOT is I believe much more stringent than in the UK. Flip side is that second hand prices seem much higher. There doesnt seem to be sheds like in the UK.Anyway, gives me a chance to find something old and quirky when I move.
What is the normal condition of 2nd hand cars in Switzerland? For example here, annual inspection is pretty much a cursory glance and most owners buy and then forget to service the car, so buying 2nd is not recommended as 90% of 2nd hand cars are heaps.
Certainly there have been times in the recent past when Germans used to come to Switzerland to buy cars as they tend to have been well cared for and a lot lower km than the equivalent German car.
At the moment I'm not sure there is much difference between Swiss prices and other countries like Germany where there are LHD cars. Certainly not when you account for the costs / risks of buying abroad to import.
Gassing Station | Switzerland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff