Few tips!

if you are going to live and work in geneva city! don't buy a car! Public transport is reliable and cheap comparing to a car maintenance/parking/taxes and fuel cost ! 

If you really want to buy a car! Go to autoscout24.ch or anibis.ch find a car that really fits your needs and choice. 

I would really advice you to inspect the car with "TCS Occassion Test" before buying a car. it will help you to avoid from buying a lemon.  

The insurance cost depends on your driving license and history but the basic car insurance (obligatoire) would cost you in between 1100 to 1800 CHF a year. Go to comparis.ch to get a good deal.

Car tax depends on which car you are going to buy. But roughly estimate would be in between 450 to 750 CHF a year. 

Parking cost depends on your situation. If you have parking included in your housing. It is good otherwise keep in mind. private Parking can cost your upto 1200 CHF or more a year.

Hi Matt. I sell mine cause I do not needed any more.

It's a Ford Mondeo, 10 years old, good condition, Zurich number plates (that means you should put Geneva ones in a year I think), 1800 cc, manual transmition, winter and summer tyres with wheels (8 tyres + 8 wheels).

2800.00 CHF cash. You will need around 2000.00 CHF more for insurance, check, plates and road tax. I interested, give me an e-mail and I will sent you pictures. The car is now parked in garage in Sankt Gallen, so it is a little tricky to see it but if interested we can get there with a cheap train ticket.

I moved to Lausanne from Zurich two months ago, that's why car is "left behind" in a way.

You know "brad h" is right. Do you actually need a car?

Cheers,

John

Hi Matt. I sell my car because I do not needed any more.

You know "brad h" is right. Do you actually need a car?

2800.00 CHF cash. You will need around 2000.00 CHF more for insurance, check, plates and road tax. If interested, give me an e-mail and I will sent you pictures. The car is now parked in garage in Sankt Gallen, so it is a little tricky to see it but if interested we can get there with a cheap train ticket.

Hi Brad,

Thanks for this - very useful.

Excuse my ignorance, but when you say you would advise me to inspect the car with "TCS Occasion Test", what does this mean?

Thanks.

Matt

You never know about the cars! Especially the used cars! Often people sell the cars when it has some problem.(especially in a price range your are looking for) Sometimes it has major problem. For example! Head gas Kit,cylinder crack, Timing belts need to be changed. Cars was repaired after a big accident. Suspension, radiator, clutch, gears blah blah blah and many other things (MFK or expertise doesn't cover these things). Sometimes the repair could cost you a fortune. So you take the car to TCS for a 90 Minute test. They briefly control the car and engine condition and they tell you the problems car is suffering with. The test costs 120CHF if you are a member in other case it costs 220 CHF (Membership costs 100CHF). It really help also in negotiation of price. If the seller of a car don't allow you for TCS occassion test. Don't buy the car.

http://www.occasions-test.tcs.ch/TestOccasion

http://www.tcs.ch/fr/auto-mobilite/centres-techniques/test-occasion-tcs.php

TCS test accepted

Do pay attention at how many kms the car has and have it checked by a garage before you buy.  Having a car gives you a lot of personal freedom despite the cost, but if you only want to use it to commute to work to / from Geneva, better take the train... driving in Geneva sucks big time!!  But it depends what you need the car for.

In my opinion, if you are going to remain in Switzerland for at least 2 years, and you won't drive more than 15000 or 20000 kms per year, then lease a new car.  Its under warranty, and you return it at the end of the lease (never buy).  Full coverage insurance would cost you around 1200 CHF/year depending on driving history, type of car, horse power, etc.  If you lease a car that is "A" energy rated, you might not pay taxes for the first 2 years.  

Anyway, better to be well informed and consider all your options.  Mechanics are quite expensive and a big waste of time if you have to get something fixed.

Hi there!

Thks for the tips. I am actually also looking for a car and I REALLY need one (going to ski resorts, shopping, traveling, etc...). I live in Annemasse and would have to change the licence plate if it is registered in Switzerland. Could you please let me know how much it is to switch from Swiss to French?Are there any additional costs involved?

I am actually quite interested about your car Iannis.

Adrien

I don't know how much it would be to change Swiss plates to French plates,  You would have to go to the French prefecture to ask that question.  But if your car can pass the regular Swiss inspection, it will probably pass the French one as I hear the French are less strict than the Swiss in this matter.  But if you are going to buy a car, better buy one with French plates....it would be cheaper than buying a Swiss registered car.  Look at www.leboncoin.fr

I have to agree with Jean-Jacques: buying a car from France may be much more easy as soon as your residency is in France. 

Thanks for your replies. I found the information here: http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=30 (although it's in French).

In a nutshell, I would have to pay the VAT (19,6%) + 10% based on the value of the vehicle. However, I am wondering how they assess the value of the vehicle: based on the transaction cost (I doubt) or the market value?And if it's the market value who is doing the assessment?

Once I have more information about the total final cost involved I might consider your offer Iannis...

Hi All

We are selling our car as we are moving back to Australia. We bought it from a car delearship only 8 months ago so I think all the checks etc are up to date to sell. Its a 1998 Mazda 121 with 155,000 ks. Selling for 1,500 (we bought it for 2,500) CHF. Its very economical and small enough to get into the difficult carparks in Geneva! See the ad in the classifieds section if you are interested.

The French estimate market values of cars based on the assessment by Argus, which provide market values of cars according to year, model, powertrain, etc... 

http://www.lacentrale.fr/lacote_origine.php

Sorry I meant this web site, although they give out the same info

http://www.france-cotation.fr/

We're selling our 1994 Golf Station Wagon, 160,000 km, for 2000 chf (neg.). It comes with winter tires. We've taken it in for maintenance annually with no major problems ie. in good shape. Insurance is with Winterthur is less than $600/yr. Message me if interested.