Driving licence and vehicle registration

Anyone moving to Switzerland who owns a car has to deal with two procedures that are often underestimated: the conversion of the driving licence and the registration of the vehicle. Both have precise deadlines, and ignoring them can have practical and legal consequences. Here is how it works and what to do to be compliant right from the start.

The driving licence

Once you are domiciled in Switzerland, a foreign licence does not remain valid indefinitely. The general rule is clear:

• you may drive with the foreign licence for a limited period, as a rule up to 12 months from taking up domicile;
• within that term you must apply for the conversion into a Swiss licence at the road traffic office (the cantonal authority responsible for vehicles and drivers).

The conversion procedure generally requires an application form, an identity document, the residence permit, a photo and an eye test. Depending on the country in which the licence was issued, conversion may take place without an examination or may require a control drive or a practical test. Licences from EU/EFTA countries generally enjoy simpler treatment.

Caution: if you do not convert the licence within the term, once the 12 months have passed you are no longer authorised to drive with the foreign document and you must regularise your situation. Acting in good time avoids trouble.

Vehicle registration

If you bring your car with you from abroad, the vehicle too must be registered in Switzerland within the prescribed deadlines after the move. The typical steps are:

• the customs clearance of the vehicle on import, with any duties and import VAT;
• the technical inspection at the road traffic office, to verify the vehicle’s compliance with Swiss standards;
• the issue of the vehicle registration document and the Swiss plates.

For registration you generally need the vehicle documents, the proof of customs clearance, a liability insurance valid in Switzerland and the inspection report. Plates in Switzerland are linked to the canton of domicile and, in many cases, assigned to the holder: if you change canton, the plates may change too.

Motor liability insurance

No vehicle may be driven without motor liability insurance, which is compulsory by law: it covers damage caused to third parties. It is a prerequisite for registration, so much so that the insurance certificate is transmitted to the road traffic office. Optional cover can be added to it:

• partial casco (comprehensive), for theft, fire, hail, glass breakage and damage caused by animals;
• full casco (collision), which also covers damage to your own vehicle in the event of an accident caused by your own fault.

It is worth comparing premiums and benefits: the choice of deductible and cover has a significant impact on the annual cost.

Taxes and recurring costs

Owning a vehicle in Switzerland involves recurring costs to budget for:

• the cantonal circulation tax, which varies from canton to canton and depends on parameters such as engine capacity, weight or emissions;
• the motorway sticker (vignette) to use the motorways, valid for one year;
• the compulsory periodic technical inspections of the vehicle;
• fuel, maintenance and insurance.

Added together, these are factors that also make the choice of car an economic decision.

Mistakes to avoid

• Letting the 12 months lapse without converting the licence and ending up driving without a valid entitlement.
• Postponing the registration of the imported vehicle beyond the prescribed deadlines.
• Driving without motor liability insurance valid in Switzerland, or forgetting the motorway vignette.
• Not factoring in the recurring costs (cantonal tax, inspections, insurance) in the family budget.

How we work at SIH ONE

We help new residents put the practical aspects of the move in order: coordinating the residence permit, registration with the municipality, compulsory insurance and the formalities linked to the licence and vehicle, so as to avoid missed deadlines and penalties.

Are you moving with your car and want to be compliant from day one? Discover our services related to permits and tackle every procedure in the right order.