Car import from France
France is a direct neighbour with one of the largest used-car markets in Europe. French VAT of 20% is fully reclaimable on standard-rated vehicles – and the route into western Switzerland is short.
Advantages of importing from France
France has a very large vehicle fleet and a correspondingly broad offering on platforms such as La Centrale and leboncoin. French makes are naturally cheapest there, but German and Japanese brands are available in large numbers too. As a neighbouring country France is logistically attractive: pick-ups in the east and south-east of the country are close to the Swiss border, which saves both time and transport costs.
TVA sur la marge – what to watch out for
The French VAT rate is 20%. You can only reclaim it if the vehicle is sold under standard VAT rules with the TVA shown separately on the invoice. A large share of French used cars is sold under the margin scheme (TVA sur la marge) instead. In that case no VAT is stated and there is nothing to reclaim. Clarify with the dealer before buying whether an invoice with VAT shown will be issued – we are happy to help with that.
Process and costs of a French import
The process is the same as for Germany: you buy from the French dealer, we obtain the documents (CoC, certificate of origin), handle the French export customs clearance and organise the insured transport to Switzerland. We then take care of import clearance, the CO₂ levy, the MFK inspection and registration. Swiss charges are 8.1% VAT and 4% automobile tax, plus the CO₂ levy depending on the vehicle. Transports from France are arranged on request – use the calculator for all other items and talk to us directly about the transport cost.
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