Here is a summary guide of the different type of parkings you can get in Geneva (summarised and translated from French, the original is on the web stie of the fondation de parkings http://www.geneve.ch/parkings/ )

There are essentially 3 ways you can get a parking in Geneva

Getting an abbonament to a 'Public Parking'. This are underground parkings around town, usually they belong to associations, shops, or the city (like Parking du Month Blanc). Instead of paying the usual hourly rate you can ask for an assigned spot and pay a monthly rent.

Renting a Spot at one of the 'Parking des Habitants' - same concept as the Public Parking but in order to get an assigned spot you need to proof that you live in the area. This ones are usually cheaper then that parking publics.

or Getting a Macaron - parking permit that allows you to park in the streets on the spots with blu lines for an unlimited amount of time in the area where you live.

You can find the forms to fill and the phone number to ask for information on the website I linked. The site is in french but if you call usually someone speaks english.

What else do you need to know:

If you are importing your car you need to go through certain procedures at the customs and pay import taxes on the car, and then you then have to get swiss plates etc

One important thing to notice is that you MUST exchange your driving licence for a swiss one within the first year you are in CH. The exchange procedure is really easy, if you are from the EU or UK just go to the specific office, bring your old driving licence, a picture, pay a fee and you get the new one. If you wait more then 1 year you will have to re-take the driving test in order to get the swiss licence.

Another important thing to know is that to drive on Swiss highways you need a 'sticker' that says you paid the highway tax for the year. (there is no 'peage' unlike France or Italy). The sticker can be purchased in all post offices and has to be visible on the front glass of the car.

This is all you need know as basics :)

One good website for more information is the touring club swiss www.tcs.ch. THe site has quite a lot of usefull informations, and being a member has a lot of advantages (their services in case of 'panne' or emergency breakdown is amazing!!)

Hope this helps

Valentina
Hoiling, Apr 24, 2009 @ 12:23

lydiakerr, Apr 24, 2009 @ 12:57

Wow sounds complicated! Do you think I will need to change number plates and licence if only there for 3 months? I think we are staying in a blue zone so we were hoping to apply for a macaron...
lydiakerr, Apr 24, 2009 @ 13:00

Here is a link with more information about importing the car. I don't know what the regulations are if you are only staying here temporarily, i think in that case it will be easier and with less papers to do. You can either find the information here

http://switzerland.isyours.com/E/immigration/relocation/vehicles/importing.html

Or if not  there you can find for sure the infomrations here

http://www.ge.ch/san/ the official website of the Office de l'automobile in Geneva. Again, if the website is only in french (I don't really know as I use it in French) you can always call them and ask.

Hope this helps a bit more.

Vale
Hoiling, Apr 24, 2009 @ 13:09

Can I suggest that you just ask here on/in Glocals if anyone has a parking space to rent for the 3 months in/at the location you require. From personal experience I've found everyone is incredibly helpful and have always found it very easy to rent a space.



Providing you aren't in prime locations you should find something for Chf 100 or less as that's the maximun I pay.



Bon chance
Jivebaby, Apr 24, 2009 @ 13:23

Thanks everyone for your help. One thing that is certain - I will need to brush up on my French ASAP! 
lydiakerr, Apr 27, 2009 @ 16:26

hi,

How did you end up with this? Did you get the macaron to park for free in your living area until you are here temporarily?

I have the similar issue: I have a six-month work permit expiring end of June and I have just imported my car fom other EU country.

Can I go to the Office de l'automobile with my work permit, my car documents (the car is on y name) and get a macaron to park the car in my living area?

Please anyone help me.

 

thanks in advance

 

 

 

Lubomir Marinov , Apr 3, 2013 @ 12:58

Thanks, but cannot read French unfortunately. Could you please tell if I can get a macaron with my foreign EU plates?

apprciate it very very much

thanks and very best regards

Lubomir Marinov , Apr 3, 2013 @ 14:25