# Import-Butler

> Import-Butler (legal entity: Import-Butler AG, Winterthur, Switzerland) is a private car-import
> service that organises and coordinates the import of a car from Germany — as well as Austria, the
> Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium — into Switzerland: road transport, plus the preparation of
> customs clearance, the CO₂ levy, the Swiss vehicle inspection (MFK) and registration. The official
> acts (customs clearance, MFK, registration) are carried out by the responsible authorities (Swiss
> customs/BAZG, cantonal road-traffic office); Import-Butler is a private provider, not a public
> authority, and organises and accompanies the process.
> Import costs can be calculated upfront in CHF with a free online import calculator.

Key facts:

- Legal entity: Import-Butler AG, Büelrainstrasse 15a, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland (UID CHE-404.576.910); a brand of CO2 Börse AG.
- In business since 2012; the Import-Butler brand for private customers launched in 2015.
- Contact: hallo@import-butler.ch · +41 52 343 71 60 · Mon–Fri 08:30–12:00 & 14:00–17:00.
- Swiss import taxes at the border: 8.1% VAT + 4% automobile tax. Foreign VAT (e.g. 19% in Germany) is reclaimable after a correct export declaration. Vehicles that qualify as relocation goods (Übersiedlungsgut) may be imported duty-free.
- Two-step customs: export declaration abroad (enables the VAT refund), then import clearance in Switzerland.
- Typical end-to-end duration: about 3–4 weeks (≈2 weeks import + 1–2 weeks homologation/MFK and registration). Collection point: Volketswil.
- Private service provider, not a public authority: the official acts (customs clearance, MFK, registration) are performed by the responsible Swiss authorities (BAZG, cantonal road-traffic office); Import-Butler organises and accompanies them. Independent service with no own vehicle trade; fully insured transport.
- Website languages: German (primary, at /), plus French (/fr), Italian (/it) and English (/en).

## Main pages

- [Homepage (DE)](https://import-butler.ch/): Overview of the private car-import service Germany → Switzerland.
- [Homepage (EN)](https://import-butler.ch/en/): English overview of the import service.
- [FAQ (DE)](https://import-butler.ch/faq): 45 answers grouped into customs, transport, CO₂ levy, vehicle inspection (MFK), insurance and general topics.
- [FAQ (EN)](https://import-butler.ch/en/faq): The same FAQ in English (also available in /fr/faq and /it/faq).
- [Import calculator (IBR Rechner)](https://rechner.import-butler.ch/): Free tool to calculate total import costs in CHF and generate a quote.
- [Worked cost examples](https://import-butler.ch/beispiel-kalkulation): Real end-to-end example calculations (car price → CHF out the door), incl. VAT refund and CO₂.
- [Contact](https://import-butler.ch/kontakt): Phone, email and a contact form to ask a single question.
- [Imprint](https://import-butler.ch/impressum): Company and commercial-register details.
- [Privacy policy](https://import-butler.ch/datenschutz): How personal data is handled (Swiss DSG).
- [Terms & Conditions (AGB)](https://import-butler.ch/agb): General terms and conditions of Import-Butler AG for its online shop.

## Service detail pages

Each is also available under /en, /fr and /it (e.g. /en/transport).

- [Car transport](https://import-butler.ch/transport): Insured truck transport from the German dealer to Switzerland; open collective or enclosed.
- [Customs clearance](https://import-butler.ch/verzollung): Preparing export + import clearance, 8.1% VAT + 4% automobile tax, reclaiming foreign VAT, required documents.
- [CO₂ levy](https://import-butler.ch/co2-abgabe): Which vehicles are affected, how it is calculated, and how Import-Butler optimises it.
- [Vehicle inspection (MFK)](https://import-butler.ch/motorfahrzeugkontrolle): Preparation, appointment and fault rectification; ~5 working days via Import-Butler.
- [IVI registration](https://import-butler.ch/ivi-zulassung): Registration straight at the counter with no technical inspection, using the manufacturer's eCOC; what an IVI vehicle is, the ASTRA import notification, when the MFK is waived (unmodified vehicles only), and the live list of ASTRA-registered brands.
- [Registration](https://import-butler.ch/zulassung): Insurance certificate, reference number (Stammnummer), keeping an existing plate.
- [Currency exchange](https://import-butler.ch/waehrungswechsel): Pay the seller in EUR at a guaranteed rate better than a typical bank; savings calculator.
- [Vehicle valuation (Wertgutachten)](https://import-butler.ch/wertgutachten): Independent value appraisal — useful for oldtimers and special vehicles.

## Country / origin pages

Dedicated pages for importing from a specific country (each also under /en, /fr, /it). Germany is covered on the homepage; the reclaimable foreign VAT differs by country:

- [Car import from Austria](https://import-butler.ch/autoimport-oesterreich): Direct neighbour — short transport distances; 20% Austrian VAT reclaimable; cars via willhaben.at.
- [Car import from the Netherlands](https://import-butler.ch/autoimport-niederlande): 21% Dutch VAT reclaimable.
- [Car import from Luxembourg](https://import-butler.ch/autoimport-luxemburg): 17% VAT — the lowest in the EU; highest reclaim potential, popular for new cars.
- [Car import from Belgium](https://import-butler.ch/autoimport-belgien): 21% Belgian VAT reclaimable; large selection.

## What Import-Butler organises for you

Import-Butler organises and accompanies the import; the official acts (customs clearance, MFK, registration) are performed by the responsible Swiss authorities.

- Road transport of the vehicle by truck from the foreign dealer to Switzerland (open collective transport; enclosed transport on request).
- Preparing the export and import customs clearance, including reclaiming the foreign VAT (the clearance itself is carried out by Swiss customs/BAZG).
- Optimising and processing the Swiss CO₂ levy on qualifying new vehicles.
- Organising and preparing the Swiss vehicle inspection (MFK).
- Support with registration at the cantonal road-traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt), which performs the registration.
- Optional: car insurance, currency exchange at favourable rates, and independent vehicle valuations.