Why is it interesting to buy a used vehicle in Switzerland?
The advantages of buying a car in Switzerland:
Switzerland, despite its small geographic size, is a important point of used cars in northern Europe. Because of its position and the different languages spoken there, Switzerland is a country in which the automobile trade is numerous! There are several hundred thousand cars exchangeable on Swiss territory.
Among the positive points, the Swiss generally take care of their cars, in particular with more stringent monitoring and maintenance. In addition, part of the country is French-speaking, thus facilitating negotiations.
New prices in the country are also lower than the rest of European countries. We notice in Switzerland cheaper cars and price differences ranging from a minimum of 650 € to 10,300 € maximum on the Citroën range compared to their French counterparts.
For example, a C4 Picasso, will be sold € 24,950 in France against € 19,350 in Switzerland and a C1 sold € 10,350 on French soil will be sold in Switzerland € 9,700. The larger the purchase price, the larger the price difference will be. This is therefore a price difference which can reach 25% for certain top-of-the-range models such as German cars (sedans in particular) and which of course affects the car price of the used car in Switzerland. / p> The disadvantages when buying in Switzerland:
Pay attention to the exchange rate applied in Switzerland, the Euro and the Swiss Franc do not have the same value, be sure to check the currency of the price of the car that interests you so as not to make an error between your estimates and reality. The current value of a Swiss Franc is 0.88 €, which means that the prices will be cheaper because you will need less funds to buy a car in Swiss Francs.
If you buy in the German or Italian part of Switzerland, the language barrier may pose a problem for your exchanges with the seller. In addition, if you are going to drive your new vehicle to the border yourself, also make sure you have auto insurance that covers you while driving in Switzerland and on your new vehicle. Otherwise, you must take out a new one, preferably temporary, which will allow you to do so.
As your second-hand purchase is imported, you will have to pay certain taxes to bring your new vehicle into France .
What are the taxes to pay when buying in Switzerland?
Despite the French VAT imposed on imports, used cars are commonplace in Switzerland and their price is very attractive compared to the competition European, especially for high-end cars. If you want to buy a used car in Switzerland, you should know that the VAT payable when importing a used car from Switzerland into France is 20%. But given the much lower price of cars in Switzerland, this may, despite VAT, make the Helvetian country more interesting in terms of used prices.
Be careful, however, a car is considered to be used only when it is more than 6 months old or more than 6000 kilometers. New or almost new cars will necessarily be taxed with VAT in France, in addition to Swiss VAT. If your car has the status of "collector's vehicle", then the VAT will increase to 5.5% at customs and if your future purchase is a vehicle with a platform (of the pick-up type), the VAT may increase to 22% depending on cubic capacity and weight.
Before buying, also beware of another element: if the vehicle you are buying is not certified as "of preferential origin European ”by the manufacturer, when you go through customs, a 10% tax is also payable at customs before the vehicle can be returned to France.
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What are the procedures and formalities for buying a car in Switzerland?
Before leaving, if you have a large sum to pay for your future vehicle, do not 'remember that you will have to declare it to customs when entering Switzerland. Once the purchase of your car is complete, its license plate will no longer be valid, so you will no longer be able to drive it. You have two choices, transport the car on a truck or obtain a provisional registration which will allow you to drive for a month on Swiss territory and thus cross the border.
Then, after the purchase of your vehicle, when going through customs, you will need to present several documents:
The registration certificate or any equivalent official document The invoice for the sale If applicable, an external Community transit declaration drawn up at by means of the new computerized transit system A detailed duplicate inventory, also called form No. 2676-SD, and estimate of all your personal property on which the vehicle purchased will be mentioned
Finally, your car can begin to be cleared through customs by the French customs service, you will be able in particular to pay the sums due in respect of duties and / or taxes, in euros exclusively, either in cash, or by check, or by bank card.
It is also specified that in the event of payment by check for an amount greater than 1,524.49 euros, a certified or bank check will be required. Customs will then be able to complete an automatic tax according to your instructions. Once the customs clearance procedures are completed, the customs service will give you the following documents:
A copy of the customs declaration A receipt attesting to the payment of duties and taxes A customs clearance certificate n ° 846 A: you must present this certificate , which justifies that you have paid the duties and taxes, to the prefecture where your vehicle will be registered
Once the car in France, your vehicle must pass the French technical control, then you will need to make a request for registration, then register the car at the prefecture, this process must first be initiated on the ants.gouv.fr site.
Be careful to be careful when making a purchase
For a sale between private individuals, the best way to avoid a bad surprise is to test drive the vehicle before buying it and to check its general condition, even if this requires you to move. It is better to travel to be sure of the condition of the car rather than to receive a vehicle in poor condition and regret it afterwards.
In order to avoid any attempted fraud or scam, the best way is still to check the vehicle papers. Among the documents required when selling a used car, one of the most important is arguably the certificate of non-pledge. It is a document ensuring that the vehicle belongs 100% to the seller and has not been stolen.
Other essential documents: a technical inspection dated less than 6 months, the registration document, the invoices of the various repairs made to the car and if possible the maintenance book. The seller must also be in possession of a session certificate.
Once these documents are in hand, which you must have before signing, check all the same for the accuracy of the writings and whether they correspond well with the vehicle model and registration. You will then need the vehicle registration certificate request.
Are you looking for a reliable used vehicle? Do not hesitate to consult our catalog of used cars.
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Related articles on the purchase of a car in Europe: buy a used car in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal.
And internationally: import a used car from the United States, from Japan, United Kingdom.
