Every car that enters Switzerland must be declared to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG), either at the border or via a customs agent.
The three federal charges
- Customs duty: CHF 0. Switzerland abolished industrial customs duties, including on passenger cars, on 1 January 2024.
- Automobile tax: 4 % of the vehicle value. It also applies to electric cars – there is no federal exemption.
- Import VAT: 8.1 %, calculated on the vehicle value plus the automobile tax and the transport costs up to the Swiss destination.
Which value counts
The basis is the price actually paid (invoice), converted into Swiss francs with the official BAZG selling rate of the declaration day. Foreign VAT that you get refunded is not part of the value; foreign VAT that you keep paying is.
What you receive
After clearance you get the customs documents and the vehicle test report form 13.20 A, which the cantonal road traffic office needs for registration. Keep the invoice and proof of payment.
How Import Pilot uses this
The calculator applies exactly these rates. The euro amount is converted with the latest official BAZG rate; if your declaration day is later, the rate may change.