I have bought a 20 year old Nissan urvan campervan in the UK and am planning to drive it over to Switzerland in July. I have registered the vehicle in my name in UK, as I still have a flat there. I would be planning to drive it here with UK plates, uk insurance (I hear AA can cover it) and UK MOT. Is this legal? If not, what shall I do to make legal? Do I need to pay import tax? Who do I contact?
any advice much appreciated!
Forums in Geneva > Geneva > Seeking advice on bringing uk registered second hand campervan to Switzerland
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Seeking advice on bringing uk registered second hand campervan to Switzerland
Jun 9, 2013 @ 15:34
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I have bought a 20 year old Nissan urvan campervan in the UK and am planning to drive it over to Switzerland in July. I have registered the vehicle in my name in UK, as I still have a flat there. I would be planning to drive it here with UK plates, uk insurance (I hear AA can cover it) and UK MOT. Is this legal? If not, what shall I do to make legal? Do I need to pay import tax? Who do I contact?
any advice much appreciated!
Ceridwen JJun 9, 2013 @ 15:34
any advice much appreciated!
Ceridwen JJun 9, 2013 @ 15:34
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Re: Seeking advice on bringing uk registered second hand campervan to Switzerland
Post 1
Jun 10, 2013 @ 08:09
I'm not an expert but I was planning to bring my car with me when I moved, so did a little research.
You can bring a vehicle without paying tax as long as you owned it for six months before you arrived in switzerland. It's classed as personal effects, like furniture etc. And I think you can bring it after you arrive for something like six months, again as long as you owned it already. I'm not sure on the rules for keeping UK number plate or about the MOT, the inspection is much more strict here but every two years.
Insurance wise, I'd be rather careful, I'm sure UK insurers will only insure for something like 3 months abroad?
And watch our for the residency clause. I also still have a property in the UK and after deciding not to bring the car switzerland I thought it would be easy to just leave the car in the uk, insured at my uk address.. No, no insurer would touch it because I'm resident in switzerland. No matter how i worded it, saying I'd be "home" every three months etc, unless my uk address was my primary residence, they would not insure me/the car. Yeah I could have lied but that's never clever with insurance.
I just sold the car in the end and bought one over here.
The text you are quoting:
I'm not an expert but I was planning to bring my car with me when I moved, so did a little research.
You can bring a vehicle without paying tax as long as you owned it for six months before you arrived in switzerland. It's classed as personal effects, like furniture etc. And I think you can bring it after you arrive for something like six months, again as long as you owned it already. I'm not sure on the rules for keeping UK number plate or about the MOT, the inspection is much more strict here but every two years.
Insurance wise, I'd be rather careful, I'm sure UK insurers will only insure for something like 3 months abroad?
And watch our for the residency clause. I also still have a property in the UK and after deciding not to bring the car switzerland I thought it would be easy to just leave the car in the uk, insured at my uk address.. No, no insurer would touch it because I'm resident in switzerland. No matter how i worded it, saying I'd be "home" every three months etc, unless my uk address was my primary residence, they would not insure me/the car. Yeah I could have lied but that's never clever with insurance.
I just sold the car in the end and bought one over here.
John H, Jun 10, 2013 @ 08:09
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Re: Seeking advice on bringing uk registered second hand campervan to Switzerland
Post 2
Jun 10, 2013 @ 11:52
stuartcollins.com will insure you for unlimited foreign use as long as the vehicle is registered in UK ,taxed and tested etc and you have a UK address. They are very efficient. Cost a bit more than domestic UK insurance but you are covered.
I believe that you have to get your vehicle registered in Switzerland after 1 year. I'm getting rid of mine in the UK and buying one here.
The text you are quoting:
stuartcollins.com will insure you for unlimited foreign use as long as the vehicle is registered in UK ,taxed and tested etc and you have a UK address. They are very efficient. Cost a bit more than domestic UK insurance but you are covered.
I believe that you have to get your vehicle registered in Switzerland after 1 year. I'm getting rid of mine in the UK and buying one here.
SimonS S, Jun 10, 2013 @ 11:52
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Re: Seeking advice on bringing uk registered second hand campervan to Switzerland
Post 3
Jun 11, 2013 @ 16:48
Assume you still hold on to your UK driver's license as well. If you really need this campervan for your holidays accross Channel and intend to visit Austria,France,Germany,Italy,Spain...you can rent a small parking place on the french frontallyzone and no one will complain your traveling around as a Britt tourist but you can certainly NOT import "illegally" to Switzerland - even think of repeated entries in - as you are now registered as *resident* with work papers/permit. Good luck
The text you are quoting:
Assume you still hold on to your UK driver's license as well. If you really need this campervan for your holidays accross Channel and intend to visit Austria,France,Germany,Italy,Spain...you can rent a small parking place on the french frontallyzone and no one will complain your traveling around as a Britt tourist but you can certainly NOT import "illegally" to Switzerland - even think of repeated entries in - as you are now registered as *resident* with work papers/permit. Good luck
Milord, Jun 11, 2013 @ 16:48
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