Can I get the German VAT back when importing a car to Switzerland?

Yes. A car exported to Switzerland is a VAT-free export in Germany. A dealer can sell it net of the 19% VAT against proof of export, or refund it once German customs stamps the export document at the border. Private sellers do not charge VAT in the first place, so there is nothing to reclaim.

Is it cheaper to import a used car from Germany than a new one?

Usually yes, because of the CO₂ sanction. A car registered in Germany more than 12 months before the Swiss customs declaration — or with over 5,000 km and more than 6 months of German registration — counts as a used import and is not subject to the Swiss CO₂ penalty, so you pay only 4% automobile tax, 8.1% import VAT and the CHF 20 clearance. A brand-new car can add a CO₂ sanction of several hundred to a few thousand francs.

Do I need export plates to drive a German car to Switzerland?

To drive it on public roads before Swiss registration you need valid plates and insurance — typically German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) with export insurance, or transport on a trailer. At the Swiss border you clear customs and pay the taxes; you then register the car in your canton after it passes the technical inspection.

Importing a Car from Germany to Switzerland: Costs & Steps (2026)

Quick answer

You buy the car net of the 19% German VAT (it's an export), then pay Switzerland 4% automobile tax + 8.1% import VAT on the price, plus a CHF 20 clearance certificate. A brand-new car can also owe a CO₂ sanction; a used car registered in Germany for 6+ months usually doesn't. Put your numbers in the car import calculator for the total.

Step 1 — Buy without the German VAT

A car sold for export to Switzerland is VAT-free in Germany. How you get there depends on the seller:

Dealer. Ask for an export sale (Ausfuhrlieferung). Reputable dealers either invoice you net of the 19% straight away, or take the VAT as a deposit and refund it once you send back the export document stamped by German customs at the border.
Private seller. Private sales carry no VAT anyway, so the price you agree is the price you pay — nothing to reclaim.

Either way, the value that Swiss customs taxes is the net price plus any transport to the border — not the VAT-inclusive German sticker.

Step 2 — Get it to the border

To drive the car legally before it's Swiss-registered you need plates and insurance: usually German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) with short-term export insurance, valid for a few weeks. Trailer transport is the alternative and avoids the plates entirely. Bring the full paperwork to the border: purchase contract/invoice, the vehicle's Certificate of Conformity (CoC), the German registration (Fahrzeugbrief/-schein), and your ID.

Step 3 — Clear Swiss customs

At the border crossing you declare the car and pay, on the spot:

Automobile tax — 4% of the price plus transport.
Import VAT — 8.1%, charged on that value including the automobile tax.
CO₂ sanction — only if the car is being registered in Switzerland for the first time and exceeds its individual target (see below).
Customs assessment certificate — CHF 20 (Form 13.20 A). You need this document to register the car.

There is no percentage customs duty — passenger cars have been duty-free since Switzerland scrapped industrial tariffs in 2024. Work out the exact figure in the calculator before you travel so there are no surprises at the counter.

The CO₂ sanction: new vs. used

This is the item that decides whether a German car is a bargain. Switzerland charges a first-time-registration penalty of CHF 95 per gram of CO₂ above the vehicle's individual target (the fleet reference is 93.6 g/km, adjusted for weight).

New / nearly-new car — the sanction applies. On a thirsty petrol or diesel model it can run to several hundred or a few thousand francs.
Used car, registered in Germany 12+ months ago — or over 5,000 km and 6+ months old — treated as a used import, no CO₂ sanction. This is why importing a one- or two-year-old German car is often far cheaper than a new one.
Electric car — 0 g/km, so no sanction either way.

Step 4 — Register it in Switzerland

Once the car is in Switzerland you have a short window to register it in your canton. In brief: get the customs certificate (Form 13.20 A) from clearance, have the car pass the technical/emissions inspection (MFK) if required, obtain the vehicle approval, then register at the cantonal road-traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt) and take out Swiss insurance. Rules and deadlines vary by canton — confirm yours before you import.

Worked example — a used car from Germany

EUR 25,000 used car (registered in Germany 8 months, so CO₂-exempt), driven over the border. Indicative rate 0.94.
Item	Amount
Net purchase price (VAT-free export)	EUR 25,000
Value in CHF at 0.94	CHF 23,500.00
Automobile tax — 4%	CHF 940.00
Import VAT — 8.1% of 24,440	CHF 1,979.64
CO₂ sanction (used, exempt)	CHF 0.00
Clearance certificate	CHF 20.00
Swiss import taxes	CHF 2,939.64
Landed cost before registration	≈ CHF 26,440

Add cantonal registration, the inspection, and Swiss insurance on top. Had the same car been brand-new at 120 g/km and 1,500 kg, the CO₂ sanction alone would have added roughly CHF 2,100 — see how in the calculator.

Frequently asked — German car imports

Can I get the German VAT back?

Yes — an export to Switzerland is VAT-free. A dealer sells net or refunds the 19% against the customs-stamped export document. Private sales carry no VAT to begin with.

Is a used German car cheaper to import than a new one?

Usually, because a car registered in Germany for 6+ months escapes the CO₂ sanction. On a new car that penalty can add hundreds to a few thousand francs.

Do I need export plates?

To drive it before Swiss registration, yes — German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) with export insurance, or move it on a trailer. Then clear customs at the border and register at home.