Hi all,
We are buying acar in Switzerland for the first time. We have foudn one we wliek through a private owner - is there a way to check the car history?
I seem to remember a fellow expat once telling me it is possible but am not sure which swiss authority to turn to. It doesnt seem to be the Office Cantonal Des Automobiles. We have a copy of the grey card and all the necessary info....
Many many thanks in advance for any answers!
Ana
Forums in Geneva > Geneva > Check car history when buying new car?
Only members can see names and photos
Check car history when buying new car?
Sep 21, 2009 @ 18:26
The text you are quoting:
Hi all,
We are buying acar in Switzerland for the first time. We have foudn one we wliek through a private owner - is there a way to check the car history?
I seem to remember a fellow expat once telling me it is possible but am not sure which swiss authority to turn to. It doesnt seem to be the Office Cantonal Des Automobiles. We have a copy of the grey card and all the necessary info....
Many many thanks in advance for any answers!
Ana
Ana_StefSep 21, 2009 @ 18:26
We are buying acar in Switzerland for the first time. We have foudn one we wliek through a private owner - is there a way to check the car history?
I seem to remember a fellow expat once telling me it is possible but am not sure which swiss authority to turn to. It doesnt seem to be the Office Cantonal Des Automobiles. We have a copy of the grey card and all the necessary info....
Many many thanks in advance for any answers!
Ana
Ana_StefSep 21, 2009 @ 18:26
Your Reply:
Only members can see names and photos
Re: Check car history when buying new car?
Post 1
Sep 24, 2009 @ 01:31
If you are not sure, best to get it checked by a local garage. There's no certainty the garage will pick up everything, there is always an inherent risk with 2nd hand cars. But they should pick up anything major.
Try www.garagepitstop.ch - they speak English & French, are very reasonably priced, and have a 10% glocals discount (see the "offers" tab on the glocals site).
You should get it checked before you buy. And I seem to recall you need to have it checked by the service des automobiles in Carouge also, as part of having the cart gris transfered to your name.
If you are buying private, then you probably won't have the "quality 1" guarentee or anything like that. The Q1 stuff is mostly rubbish to be honest, they don't even pay for most of the part, refuse to pay for the labour to investigate issues, etc. But for private, the normal thing is to have it checked by someone that knows, like a garage, etc.
- Kevin.
Try www.garagepitstop.ch - they speak English & French, are very reasonably priced, and have a 10% glocals discount (see the "offers" tab on the glocals site).
You should get it checked before you buy. And I seem to recall you need to have it checked by the service des automobiles in Carouge also, as part of having the cart gris transfered to your name.
If you are buying private, then you probably won't have the "quality 1" guarentee or anything like that. The Q1 stuff is mostly rubbish to be honest, they don't even pay for most of the part, refuse to pay for the labour to investigate issues, etc. But for private, the normal thing is to have it checked by someone that knows, like a garage, etc.
- Kevin.
The text you are quoting:
If you are not sure, best to get it checked by a local garage. There's no certainty the garage will pick up everything, there is always an inherent risk with 2nd hand cars. But they should pick up anything major.
Try www.garagepitstop.ch - they speak English & French, are very reasonably priced, and have a 10% glocals discount (see the "offers" tab on the glocals site).
You should get it checked before you buy. And I seem to recall you need to have it checked by the service des automobiles in Carouge also, as part of having the cart gris transfered to your name.
If you are buying private, then you probably won't have the "quality 1" guarentee or anything like that. The Q1 stuff is mostly rubbish to be honest, they don't even pay for most of the part, refuse to pay for the labour to investigate issues, etc. But for private, the normal thing is to have it checked by someone that knows, like a garage, etc.
- Kevin.
Sandokan, Sep 24, 2009 @ 01:31
Try www.garagepitstop.ch - they speak English & French, are very reasonably priced, and have a 10% glocals discount (see the "offers" tab on the glocals site).
You should get it checked before you buy. And I seem to recall you need to have it checked by the service des automobiles in Carouge also, as part of having the cart gris transfered to your name.
If you are buying private, then you probably won't have the "quality 1" guarentee or anything like that. The Q1 stuff is mostly rubbish to be honest, they don't even pay for most of the part, refuse to pay for the labour to investigate issues, etc. But for private, the normal thing is to have it checked by someone that knows, like a garage, etc.
- Kevin.
Sandokan, Sep 24, 2009 @ 01:31
Your Reply:
Only members can see names and photos
Re: Check car history when buying new car?
Post 2
Sep 24, 2009 @ 01:36
Also check the annual car tax for Geneva canton - it can be very expensive for high power cars. For estimated examples: 150 bhp (150cv / 140kw) costs around 400 CHF per year, but 350 (350cv / 310kw) will cost you closer to 1400 CHF per year. I believe it is horrendous compared to most European countries. Also get an insurance quote, as even casco partial is very expensive. Glocals have a discount with a company that is probably worth looking at - check the "offers" tab.
As an example, I have almost exactly the same car in the UK & Switerland (UK one is a 4 door salon, CH one is a cabrio, but they are the same type of car and exactly the same type and engine) ... and the CH car costs around 2.5 time more per year to run in terms of tax & insurance ... even though the CH car is in the underground parking most of the time!!
As an example, I have almost exactly the same car in the UK & Switerland (UK one is a 4 door salon, CH one is a cabrio, but they are the same type of car and exactly the same type and engine) ... and the CH car costs around 2.5 time more per year to run in terms of tax & insurance ... even though the CH car is in the underground parking most of the time!!
The text you are quoting:
Also check the annual car tax for Geneva canton - it can be very expensive for high power cars. For estimated examples: 150 bhp (150cv / 140kw) costs around 400 CHF per year, but 350 (350cv / 310kw) will cost you closer to 1400 CHF per year. I believe it is horrendous compared to most European countries. Also get an insurance quote, as even casco partial is very expensive. Glocals have a discount with a company that is probably worth looking at - check the "offers" tab.
As an example, I have almost exactly the same car in the UK & Switerland (UK one is a 4 door salon, CH one is a cabrio, but they are the same type of car and exactly the same type and engine) ... and the CH car costs around 2.5 time more per year to run in terms of tax & insurance ... even though the CH car is in the underground parking most of the time!!
Sandokan, Sep 24, 2009 @ 01:36
As an example, I have almost exactly the same car in the UK & Switerland (UK one is a 4 door salon, CH one is a cabrio, but they are the same type of car and exactly the same type and engine) ... and the CH car costs around 2.5 time more per year to run in terms of tax & insurance ... even though the CH car is in the underground parking most of the time!!
Sandokan, Sep 24, 2009 @ 01:36
Your Reply:
Only members can see names and photos
Re: Check car history when buying new car?
Post 3
Sep 24, 2009 @ 11:35
Thanks Kevin, all that info is super helpfu. I presume its also reasonable to ask the owner to provide us with the Service book? I saw one for a different car once and it even had any major repairs noted in it. The owner of the car we are looking at now claims to have lost it....
The text you are quoting:
Thanks Kevin, all that info is super helpfu. I presume its also reasonable to ask the owner to provide us with the Service book? I saw one for a different car once and it even had any major repairs noted in it. The owner of the car we are looking at now claims to have lost it....
Ana_Stef, Sep 24, 2009 @ 11:35
Ana_Stef, Sep 24, 2009 @ 11:35
Your Reply:
Only members can see names and photos
Re: Check car history when buying new car?
Post 4
Sep 25, 2009 @ 02:36
Totally. No service book = suspicious.
You should certainly get the car checked by a local garage like Pitstop. It will probably cost you around 150-200 CHF I would guess, but to put that in perspective, a serious issue with a car can easily cost you 1000CHF. For example, I have a (self-caused) issue with the exhaust on one of the cars in Geneva, and it is going to cost me around 1000CHF to put it right...
You should certainly get the car checked by a local garage like Pitstop. It will probably cost you around 150-200 CHF I would guess, but to put that in perspective, a serious issue with a car can easily cost you 1000CHF. For example, I have a (self-caused) issue with the exhaust on one of the cars in Geneva, and it is going to cost me around 1000CHF to put it right...
The text you are quoting:
Totally. No service book = suspicious.
You should certainly get the car checked by a local garage like Pitstop. It will probably cost you around 150-200 CHF I would guess, but to put that in perspective, a serious issue with a car can easily cost you 1000CHF. For example, I have a (self-caused) issue with the exhaust on one of the cars in Geneva, and it is going to cost me around 1000CHF to put it right...
Sandokan, Sep 25, 2009 @ 02:36
You should certainly get the car checked by a local garage like Pitstop. It will probably cost you around 150-200 CHF I would guess, but to put that in perspective, a serious issue with a car can easily cost you 1000CHF. For example, I have a (self-caused) issue with the exhaust on one of the cars in Geneva, and it is going to cost me around 1000CHF to put it right...
Sandokan, Sep 25, 2009 @ 02:36
Your Reply:
Only members can see names and photos
Re: Check car history when buying new car?
Post 5
Sep 25, 2009 @ 10:44
Thansk again - and fully agree with getting it checked I agree its definitely worth teh 100chf. I was thinking of going with the TSC standard check (I understand its the swiss version of the AAA) or is it more limited compared to a garage?
Again extremnely grateful for all your advice!
Ana
Again extremnely grateful for all your advice!
Ana
The text you are quoting:
Thansk again - and fully agree with getting it checked I agree its definitely worth teh 100chf. I was thinking of going with the TSC standard check (I understand its the swiss version of the AAA) or is it more limited compared to a garage?
Again extremnely grateful for all your advice!
Ana
Ana_Stef, Sep 25, 2009 @ 10:44
Again extremnely grateful for all your advice!
Ana
Ana_Stef, Sep 25, 2009 @ 10:44
Your Reply:
Only members can see names and photos
Re: Check car history when buying new car?
Post 6
Sep 28, 2009 @ 02:20
TCS is great. They have Swiss-only, European and world-wide travel cover. However, some insurance companies offer the roadside assistance stuff included in their policy.
No idea about the TCS check-ups. Expect they would be very good, but possibly a little more expensive than a local garage. Have a check done though, wherever. Also check when the last control technique was done (must be done by the Geneva state garage in Carouge), its due every 2-3 years and can be quite tough to pass, especially with older cars.
No idea about the TCS check-ups. Expect they would be very good, but possibly a little more expensive than a local garage. Have a check done though, wherever. Also check when the last control technique was done (must be done by the Geneva state garage in Carouge), its due every 2-3 years and can be quite tough to pass, especially with older cars.
The text you are quoting:
TCS is great. They have Swiss-only, European and world-wide travel cover. However, some insurance companies offer the roadside assistance stuff included in their policy.
No idea about the TCS check-ups. Expect they would be very good, but possibly a little more expensive than a local garage. Have a check done though, wherever. Also check when the last control technique was done (must be done by the Geneva state garage in Carouge), its due every 2-3 years and can be quite tough to pass, especially with older cars.
Sandokan, Sep 28, 2009 @ 02:20
No idea about the TCS check-ups. Expect they would be very good, but possibly a little more expensive than a local garage. Have a check done though, wherever. Also check when the last control technique was done (must be done by the Geneva state garage in Carouge), its due every 2-3 years and can be quite tough to pass, especially with older cars.
Sandokan, Sep 28, 2009 @ 02:20
Your Reply:
