Help on importing from Italy into Switzerland

[jacksonman]

Just joined PH to gain some help in identifying the process and costs involved in buying/importing from Italy into Switzerland.

Can someone provide me with a contact who has done it? Or can help me calculate the costs I should expect?

I'm looking to buy a 2009/2010 Cayman S

Any advice will be welcome, thanks everyone!

Steve

[Swiss_Toni]

There will be 5% car duty and 8% VAT to start with.

You then need to get the import/customs paperwork done.

You then need an MFK (MOT) in which everything needs to conform to the Swiss type certificate.

If you are buying from dealer in Italy, especially near the boarder, they could do it for you.

I was looking at buying a classic car in Germany and they said they would do and pay everything to get the car into Switzerland for 15%.

I hope that helps.

[anonymous-user]

A friend did it using autociel.ch but it was absurdly expensive. From what I could gather it wasn't that difficult so might be worth having a pop at it yourself.

The format is along these lines:
Buy car
Pay taxes on import
Get euro certificate of conformity
Get it checked by swiss garage
Pay for any modifications required (if not to standard)
Get garage to give you swiss technical inspection certificate (their equiv of mot)
Get insurance quote
Go to service des automobiles with car reg docs, certificate of taxes paid, tech inspection certificate and a fist full of cash
Pay for plates and local taxes including pollution etc
Fit plates
Done

[jacksonman]

Swiss_Toni said:

There will be 5% car duty and 8% VAT to start with.

You then need to get the import/customs paperwork done.

You then need an MFK (MOT) in which everything needs to conform to the Swiss type certificate.

If you are buying from dealer in Italy, especially near the boarder, they could do it for you.

I was looking at buying a classic car in Germany and they said they would do and pay everything to get the car into Switzerland for 15%.

I hope that helps.

Thanks for the feedback and the numbers Swiss Toni! I've also read blogs where they mention that Italian temporary number plates and insurance must be bought, but no one qoutes how much this costs as these costs are incurred inside Italy and not Switzerand, can you shed any light?

The OCN in Fribourg told me directly that there are no such things as "temporary Swiss plates" for individuals. For registered businesses this is a different matter. The car must leave Italy with registration and insurance (temporary insurance, 1day, 1 week), hence this must be purchased/organised in Italy once the car has been sold.

The garages I'm speaking to are nowhere near the Swiss brder and have no interest in heliping beyond selling the car to me and taking my cash, all of them have feigned ignorance when I push them for information on where/how to get registration plates & temporary insurance.

Thanks for your feedback Swiss Toni

[jacksonman]

Swiss_Toni said:

I was looking at buying a classic car in Germany and they said they would do and pay everything to get the car into Switzerland for 15%.

I hope that helps.

The Germans are much more organised and recognise a market potential when they see it! The Italians are, how shall I say, more lackadaisical.

[Araantonak]

I had paid a transport company around 4k CHF to handle everything from pick-up at dealer to delivery with all import papers at my home address in Fribourg

That was for importing a Bentley from Germany. A very hassle-free solution, but at a price. I thing that 4k included the import taxes though... would have to look it up

All that was left was the MFK/MOT and I was good to drive.

If buying privately in Italy be ready for a complicated procedure as cash transactions over 1k are illegal. Very difficult process to go through to buy a car there.

I also have an excel sheet somewhere to calculate import costs and taxes I made some time ago. PM me if you want it or need more advice. I've done the import thing 3x now (2x US 1x Germany)

[jacksonman]

Araantonak said:

If buying privately in Italy be ready for a complicated procedure as cash transactions over 1k are illegal. Very difficult process to go through to buy a car there.
I also have an excel sheet somewhere to calculate import costs and taxes I made some time ago. PM me if you want it or need more advice. I've done the import thing 3x now (2x US 1x Germany)

Salut voisin! Ou habitez vous? Thanks for the advice/feedback Araantonak. I put together an excel last night, but still need to fill in the gaps with the related Italian-side expenses to be incurred. Anything you can share that helps me capture the costs will be greatly appreciated. The process in Italy is complicated, I know from first hand experience, but not impossible. The hardest part is having the vehicle "destroyed" (for export - dont ask) then having the Italians give you a) temporary registration plates "Richiesta targa BB6" and b) Italian "temporary" insurance, which is very expensive. Getting the VAT back from the Italians is also a tricky part.

[satans worm]

Just bringing this up again, I'm looking to buy and import a porsche 964 from Italy into Switzerland .
It's from a garage near Rome, and I was wondering if anyone knows exactly what the procedure is on getting the vat back ?
Plus some questions on the insurance side of things, assuming I can arrange the temporary Italian insurance and plates, does it count while I drive it Switzerland to get it home after the border and take it to the MFK inspection?
Seems prices are a good 5k softer than in Switzerland, as long as I can get that VAT back!
Any other tips or hints welcome,

[JMGS4]

You must pay the IT VAT, and then when leaving IT you must get an export chit signed (green chit) then do the import into CH. The green chit has to be taken back to the vendor in IT who then must pay you the IT VAT back... with a dealer in Rome I doubt whether they know the procedure and will definitely plead ignorance and try to get out of paying back the VAT.
The best is to tell them to deliver it to CH without VAT, then THEY have to do the export paperwork for the VAT... Swiss procedure already told by others.

Just noticed it's a second hand vehicle... there should be no VAT on it!!!

[jacksonman]

JMGS4 said:

You must pay the IT VAT, and then when leaving IT you must get an export chit signed (green chit) then do the import into CH. The green chit has to be taken back to the vendor in IT who then must pay you the IT VAT back... with a dealer in Rome I doubt whether they know the procedure and will definitely plead ignorance and try to get out of paying back the VAT.
The best is to tell them to deliver it to CH without VAT, then THEY have to do the export paperwork for the VAT... Swiss procedure already told by others.

Just noticed it's a second hand vehicle... there should be no VAT on it!!!

Its not this simple. I have done it twice now ie. Italy to Switzerland and this is highly over-simplified.

I'll post my reply on the original Post.

Steve

[jacksonman]

satans worm said:

Just bringing this up again, I'm looking to buy and import a porsche 964 from Italy into Switzerland .
It's from a garage near Rome, and I was wondering if anyone knows exactly what the procedure is on getting the vat back ?
Plus some questions on the insurance side of things, assuming I can arrange the temporary Italian insurance and plates, does it count while I drive it Switzerland to get it home after the border and take it to the MFK inspection?
Seems prices are a good 5k softer than in Switzerland, as long as I can get that VAT back!
Any other tips or hints welcome,

Ok, here’s my advice & experience doing this twice from Italy to Switzerland.
Option 1. If you have money to burn and don’t want to get involved, choose the expensive "Autociel.ch" option. They wanted to charge me CHF5’000 for importing a Porsche from Verona to Fribourg.
Option 2. If you want less hassle with regard to doing all the administrative paperwork in Italy yourself, or if you don’t have a good grasp of Italian AND their motor vehicle registration system then go with an Italian Car Transport company/Spediter.
www.spedingo.com is a site where you can post your transportation requirement and you will receive offers from various companies who will bid on your requirement.
Do your homework and check the ratings and reviews of the companies making bids, the more you are informed, the less likely you will have any surprises.
I chose a car transporter that I found here. We agreed that he would pick up my car (2010 Porsche Cayman S) in Verona, and transport it to Fribourg. He managed all the export paperwork and admin on the Italian & Swiss side of the border. I had to manage;
- getting the Bill of Sale from the Dealer
- ensuring the Bill of Sale noted that I paid a price WITHOUT VAT and that the VAT amount was noted on the Bill of Sale (if you don’t do this, you will incur taxes, charges and VAT on the Swiss side for the FULL price of the vehicle)
- ensuring the Dealer had de-registered the vehicle from the PRA/ACI (Italian Public Vehicle Register http://www.up.aci.it/macerata/spip.php?article90 ) – in actuality the Dealer had to get the car “destroyed” (see other post above)
- ensure the Dealer had declared that he had sold the vehicle to me, FOR EXPORT (ensure you have these papers with you) AND
- ensure the Dealer had handed back the Registration Plates (NB: if the plates are still on the car OR the Dealer hasn’t de-registered the vehicle, the DEALER is liable for any damage/fines incurred by you as a driver. YOU on the other-hand can be denounced for stealing the car and be arrested at the border and have the car impounded until ownership is clarified)
- ensure that I followed this procedure http://www.up.aci.it/macerata/IMG/pdf/export_vehic...

Once I was happy of the above, the Car was ready to be picked up by the Transporter and I handed over the paperwork to him.

I travelled twice to Italy to complete this paperwork.
First to buy the car and get the Dealer to follow the above points to a letter! (2 working days!)
Second to ensure I was present at the loading of my car onto the Transporter and all paperwork was in hand with the Spediter/Driver. (1.5days)

I drove over both times (Verona) and enjoyed a lovely couple of days there sorting out the car paperwork and catching some good food, coffee and the scenery.

The car arrived on my doorstep a day after I had seen it leave Verona

I paid Import tax/duties, fees and charges as well as the Swiss VAT at the Swiss Spediter in Montreaux. I highly recommend you call them and ask them what they expect of you and when BEFORE the truck leaves Italy.

Getting the rest done in Switzerland is the easiest part and doesn’t need to be repeated.

Option 3. Don’t use a transporter and drive the car back yourself.
This is the most complex Option as it requires all the Dealer points mentioned above PLUS:
- YOU sorting out the registration of your vehicle at the PRA (in Italian!) in your name as a non-EU Foreigner, not residing in Italy (Good Luck!)
- YOU sorting out getting Italian Temporary Plates (Targheta - €50)
- YOU paying for Italian Insurance (mega-expensive) to the tune of around €600!
- YOU running around between Dealer and PRA office(s) and Insurance offices
- YOU knowing more about the entire process better than the Italians!

You will run into a lot of ignorance and a lot of “no, it’s not possible” mixed with bad advice, false advice and general lack of wanting to get the problem solved. The further the Italian city is away from your intended country, the worse the knowledge is about how to export a vehicle.

My first Italian import was via this option, I imported an Audi A3 5-door Sportback Quattro S-Line and it took us 3 trips to Italy (Turin) and about 4days in total AND my wife speaks Italian!
It wasn’t a nightmare but it wasn’t easy.

I highly recommend the 2nd Option but you will still need to be on your toes with regard to the Spediters paperwork, otherwise it is relatively hassle free and very cost effective. The Transporter charged me €450 from Verona to Fribourg plus the admin work at the border.

The VAT return on both my Audi and Porsche made both experience well worth the trouble & expense.

Italy now has 22% VAT, (21% at the time of my purchases) one of the highest in EU which meant I got more money back than buying a similar vehicle in Germany.

The cars I was after either didn’t exist in Switzerland (eg. Try and find an Audi A3 Quattro S-line Sportback with black hood liner!), were better equipped in Italy than their Swiss counterparts (eg. S-Line leather seats, leather steering wheel, S-line stitching options, plus sunroof, plus, Audi SatNav, etc) or were just ridiculously expensive in Switzerland, often a good 20% more expensive!

I “saved” 20% on my Audi: Purchased for €16K without VAT (total all-in cost of purchase plus import plus VAT plus registered in my driveway – CHF22’500 after Italian VAT re-imbursement) and my insurer valued it at CHF32K

I bought my Cayman S €25’000 without VAT and it sits in my garage after paying a total of CHF40’000 (taking my Italian VAT reimbursement into account) insurer valued it at CHF49’000

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Steve

[JMGS4]

jacksonman said:

JMGS4 said:

You must pay the IT VAT, and then when leaving IT you must get an export chit signed (green chit) then do the import into CH. The green chit has to be taken back to the vendor in IT who then must pay you the IT VAT back... with a dealer in Rome I doubt whether they know the procedure and will definitely plead ignorance and try to get out of paying back the VAT.
The best is to tell them to deliver it to CH without VAT, then THEY have to do the export paperwork for the VAT... Swiss procedure already told by others.
Just noticed it's a second hand vehicle... there should be no VAT on it!!!

Its not this simple. I have done it twice now ie. Italy to Switzerland and this is highly over-simplified.
I'll post my reply on the original Post.
Steve

Sorry if I was misleading.....thought that IT would comply with EU law on exporting to EFTA.....

[satans worm]

jacksonman said:

satans worm said:

Just bringing this up again, I'm looking to buy and import a porsche 964 from Italy into Switzerland .
It's from a garage near Rome, and I was wondering if anyone knows exactly what the procedure is on getting the vat back ?
Plus some questions on the insurance side of things, assuming I can arrange the temporary Italian insurance and plates, does it count while I drive it Switzerland to get it home after the border and take it to the MFK inspection?
Seems prices are a good 5k softer than in Switzerland, as long as I can get that VAT back!
Any other tips or hints welcome,

Ok, here’s my advice & experience doing this twice from Italy to Switzerland.
Option 1. If you have money to burn and don’t want to get involved, choose the expensive "Autociel.ch" option. They wanted to charge me CHF5’000 for importing a Porsche from Verona to Fribourg.
Option 2. If you want less hassle with regard to doing all the administrative paperwork in Italy yourself, or if you don’t have a good grasp of Italian AND their motor vehicle registration system then go with an Italian Car Transport company/Spediter.
www.spedingo.com is a site where you can post your transportation requirement and you will receive offers from various companies who will bid on your requirement.
Do your homework and check the ratings and reviews of the companies making bids, the more you are informed, the less likely you will have any surprises.
I chose a car transporter that I found here. We agreed that he would pick up my car (2010 Porsche Cayman S) in Verona, and transport it to Fribourg. He managed all the export paperwork and admin on the Italian & Swiss side of the border. I had to manage;
- getting the Bill of Sale from the Dealer
- ensuring the Bill of Sale noted that I paid a price WITHOUT VAT and that the VAT amount was noted on the Bill of Sale (if you don’t do this, you will incur taxes, charges and VAT on the Swiss side for the FULL price of the vehicle)
- ensuring the Dealer had de-registered the vehicle from the PRA/ACI (Italian Public Vehicle Register http://www.up.aci.it/macerata/spip.php?article90 ) – in actuality the Dealer had to get the car “destroyed” (see other post above)
- ensure the Dealer had declared that he had sold the vehicle to me, FOR EXPORT (ensure you have these papers with you) AND
- ensure the Dealer had handed back the Registration Plates (NB: if the plates are still on the car OR the Dealer hasn’t de-registered the vehicle, the DEALER is liable for any damage/fines incurred by you as a driver. YOU on the other-hand can be denounced for stealing the car and be arrested at the border and have the car impounded until ownership is clarified)
- ensure that I followed this procedure http://www.up.aci.it/macerata/IMG/pdf/export_vehic...

Once I was happy of the above, the Car was ready to be picked up by the Transporter and I handed over the paperwork to him.

I travelled twice to Italy to complete this paperwork.
First to buy the car and get the Dealer to follow the above points to a letter! (2 working days!)
Second to ensure I was present at the loading of my car onto the Transporter and all paperwork was in hand with the Spediter/Driver. (1.5days)

I drove over both times (Verona) and enjoyed a lovely couple of days there sorting out the car paperwork and catching some good food, coffee and the scenery.

The car arrived on my doorstep a day after I had seen it leave Verona

I paid Import tax/duties, fees and charges as well as the Swiss VAT at the Swiss Spediter in Montreaux. I highly recommend you call them and ask them what they expect of you and when BEFORE the truck leaves Italy.

Getting the rest done in Switzerland is the easiest part and doesn’t need to be repeated.

Option 3. Don’t use a transporter and drive the car back yourself.
This is the most complex Option as it requires all the Dealer points mentioned above PLUS:
- YOU sorting out the registration of your vehicle at the PRA (in Italian!) in your name as a non-EU Foreigner, not residing in Italy (Good Luck!)
- YOU sorting out getting Italian Temporary Plates (Targheta - €50)
- YOU paying for Italian Insurance (mega-expensive) to the tune of around €600!
- YOU running around between Dealer and PRA office(s) and Insurance offices
- YOU knowing more about the entire process better than the Italians!

You will run into a lot of ignorance and a lot of “no, it’s not possible” mixed with bad advice, false advice and general lack of wanting to get the problem solved. The further the Italian city is away from your intended country, the worse the knowledge is about how to export a vehicle.

My first Italian import was via this option, I imported an Audi A3 5-door Sportback Quattro S-Line and it took us 3 trips to Italy (Turin) and about 4days in total AND my wife speaks Italian!
It wasn’t a nightmare but it wasn’t easy.

I highly recommend the 2nd Option but you will still need to be on your toes with regard to the Spediters paperwork, otherwise it is relatively hassle free and very cost effective. The Transporter charged me €450 from Verona to Fribourg plus the admin work at the border.

The VAT return on both my Audi and Porsche made both experience well worth the trouble & expense.

Italy now has 22% VAT, (21% at the time of my purchases) one of the highest in EU which meant I got more money back than buying a similar vehicle in Germany.

The cars I was after either didn’t exist in Switzerland (eg. Try and find an Audi A3 Quattro S-line Sportback with black hood liner!), were better equipped in Italy than their Swiss counterparts (eg. S-Line leather seats, leather steering wheel, S-line stitching options, plus sunroof, plus, Audi SatNav, etc) or were just ridiculously expensive in Switzerland, often a good 20% more expensive!

I “saved” 20% on my Audi: Purchased for €16K without VAT (total all-in cost of purchase plus import plus VAT plus registered in my driveway – CHF22’500 after Italian VAT re-imbursement) and my insurer valued it at CHF32K

I bought my Cayman S €25’000 without VAT and it sits in my garage after paying a total of CHF40’000 (taking my Italian VAT reimbursement into account) insurer valued it at CHF49’000

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Steve

Huge thanks, lots of reading and considering to be done!
Fortunately I have an Italian Swiss friend for language differculties :-)