Taxes are where cross-border car purchases are most often misunderstood. Here is the general picture. Rules in your country are set by your authorities and can change, so treat this as an overview, not tax advice.
Swiss VAT
The standard Swiss VAT rate is 8.1%. When a VAT-registered dealer sells a car that is exported, the sale can be made without Swiss VAT, or the VAT is refunded once the export is confirmed by customs. Private sellers do not charge VAT, so there is nothing to refund.
Import into the EU
- Customs duty: usually 0% or 10% of the customs value. A car can enter at 0% when it qualifies as originating under the free trade agreement between Switzerland and the EU and the origin can be proven; otherwise the standard rate for cars, 10%, normally applies.
- Import VAT: charged at your country’s rate, on the value of the car plus transport and duty.
- Registration taxes: some countries add a registration or CO2 tax.
Outside the EU
Countries such as the UK, Norway, the Balkan states, Ukraine and the Gulf states have their own rules, which can include age limits, excise duties or conformity checks. We check them for your listing before you buy.
Our role
We prepare the Swiss export documents, help you estimate the taxes and send everything your customs office or agent needs.