You can import a used car from Switzerland to Slovenia, but the purchase price is not the final cost.
You can import a used car from Switzerland to Slovenia, but the purchase price is not the final cost. This guide is for a private individual resident in Slovenia who is buying a previously registered used M1 passenger car for personal use. Because Switzerland is outside the EU, this is an import of a vehicle, not an acquisition from another Member State. Before paying, clarify the original documents and VIN, the seller's authority to sell, cantonal deregistration or export, transport, and the information required for customs duty, import VAT and DMV. 1 2
If the seller does not produce the originals, the information does not match or the route has not been demonstrably arranged, stop the purchase. eUprava warns that documents may be forged, but it does not authenticate the documents for the particular car. 3
| Decision | What to check | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Originals and VIN | Check the original documentation and that the VIN matches on the vehicle, the documents and the proof of purchase. | Do not pay if there is a discrepancy or an original is missing. The source warns that documents may be forged, but it does not authenticate them. 3 |
| Seller and authority to sell | Obtain transaction-specific evidence of identity, ownership, authority to sell and any encumbrances. | A Fahrzeugausweis or signed contract alone does not prove all these facts; resolve open questions before transferring funds. 3, 4 |
| Customs file | Provide the invoice, purchase price and related indirect costs incurred outside the EU customs territory; if claiming preferential treatment, also provide appropriate proof of origin. | Do not assume a specific amount of customs duty or import VAT without confirmed tariff treatment. 5 |
| Technical and tax data | Use the date of first use to check the age branch for the roadworthiness inspection, and treat mileage as separate transaction and history information. For DMV, obtain evidence of the vehicle type or tariff classification, fuel, combined CO2 emissions, power in kW and/or EURO emissions category; for individual vehicle approval, gather the documents, approval evidence, and information about technical condition and modifications. | Mileage is not listed as an input for DMV or individual vehicle approval. Without the evidence relevant to each respective branch, the DMV amount or approval outcome remains unresolved. 6, 7, 3 |
| Deregistration and route | Check the canton's rules, the method of deregistration or export, and the temporal and territorial validity of the plates, certificate and insurance. | If the entire route is not demonstrably covered, choose transport that does not involve driving the car yourself. 3, 4, 8 |
Documents, identity and condition of the car
Compare the original documentation with the VIN on the car, the contract or invoice, and the technical data. Check the seller's identity, ownership, authority to sell and any encumbrances separately; the packet does not establish these facts for your transaction. A registration document is not, by itself, comprehensive proof of ownership or history. 3
For the used-vehicle registration procedure in the Canton of Zurich, the original Fahrzeugausweis and proof of insurance sent electronically by the insurer are required. These requirements do not prove ownership or a complete history and do not automatically apply in another canton. 4
ASTRA's public IVZ products do not disclose VINs or the names or addresses of registered keepers, and ASTRA does not offer an on-demand number-plate lookup. This public route therefore cannot confirm the history, ownership or condition of the particular car. 9
For a car with Zurich plates, the seller can book a voluntary Motorfahrzeugkontrolle. The inspection assesses statutory road safety, compliance and environmental requirements, but it does not verify ownership or guarantee that it will find every mechanical defect or predict the car's future condition. Keep it separate from a pre-purchase inspection, a Slovenian roadworthiness inspection and individual vehicle approval. 10
Deregistration and transport from Switzerland
In Zurich, the current keeper must deregister the car when it is sold and return the registration plate; they may retain it if they will register another vehicle within 14 days. During the Ausserverkehrssetzung, the authority cancels the Fahrzeugausweis. This rule does not establish the procedure in another canton. 4
There are three alternatives for delivery: tow-truck transport, a specialist carrier or driving the car yourself. The towing vehicle must be appropriately insured. If you drive the car yourself, it must be temporarily registered abroad, where you also obtain the plates and vehicle registration certificate; the general guidance does not identify the Swiss issuer, duration or insurance cover. 3
| Option | What you need | Limitation | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tow-truck transport | An appropriately insured towing vehicle and arrangements for the specific collection. | Check the conditions for the selected vehicle and the entire route. | Request a quote 3 |
| Specialist carrier | A written quotation stating the collection and delivery locations and the agreed scope. | Check liability and handover in the provider's terms. | Subject to quotation 3 |
| Driving the car yourself | Temporary registration abroad, plates and a vehicle registration certificate issued there, and documented insurance cover. | Issuance is cantonal; before departure, demonstrate validity for the time and territory of the entire route. | To be determined 3, 8 |
Geneva issues temporary export plates for permanent export only to an applicant resident in the canton or for a vehicle based there. They are valid until the end of the current month and cannot be extended or renewed. A vehicle more than nine years old requires a prior inspection if more than three years have elapsed since its last inspection. 8
The application requires an original identity document, the original Swiss vehicle registration certificate and a signed form. A green card and motor third-party liability insurance are listed separately, but the source does not confirm the territory covered or recognition outside Switzerland. Obtain evidence of this before driving, and do not apply the Geneva rules to another canton without a current source. 8
Customs duty, individual approval and taxes
Customs duty, import VAT and DMV are three separate categories. The source confirms that they are considered when importing a car from a third country, but not a fixed or necessarily positive amount. Resolve the tariff classification, rates, exemptions, procedure and tax bases for the specific transaction. 1 5
The customs value includes the purchase price and related indirect costs incurred outside the EU customs territory. Attach the invoice to the customs declaration; if you claim preferential tariff treatment, you also need acceptable proof of origin. Do not apply an assumed preference or tariff rate without a decision. 5
For a used vehicle from a country outside the EU, individual vehicle approval is carried out in Slovenia. Gather the available conformity evidence, technical data and information about modifications, then ask the competent provider for the list required for this car. The packet does not specify the complete documentation, price, duration or outcome. 7
Absent a proven exception, DMV is assessed when a covered vehicle is first put into circulation or first registered in Slovenia; the importer is one of the liable taxpayers. The amount depends on the vehicle type or tariff classification, fuel, combined CO2 emissions, power in kW and/or EURO emissions category. Without verified data and a decision, there is no fixed amount. 6
Roadworthiness inspection, insurance and registration
A car that is no more than four years old does not require a Slovenian roadworthiness inspection under the eUprava guidance. The source does not resolve the position for an older vehicle or recognition of a particular foreign certificate; obtain a decision for your case. The roadworthiness inspection remains separate from individual vehicle approval. 3
Registration requires compulsory motor third-party liability insurance, payment of the annual road-use charge and fulfilment of the other prescribed obligations. The vehicle registration body issues the vehicle registration certificate and the prescribed number of Slovenian plates; the certificate's validity is tied to the applicable roadworthiness-test period, insurance and paid obligations. A Slovenian policy is not Swiss export cover. 11
You cannot complete first registration online. You obtain new plates and pay the annual road-use charge, registration fee and fee for the new vehicle registration certificate form; the source does not state the amounts. 3
Budget without a misleading total
Enter the purchase price, written quotations, and customs and tax decisions. Do not publish a total while mandatory items remain unresolved.
| Item | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price of the car | To be determined | The amount and currency from the signed contract or invoice; the value is also part of the customs documentation. 5 |
| Optional pre-purchase inspection | Request a quote | The price, availability, location and scope for the particular car must be confirmed before ordering. 12 |
| Selected transport by specialist carrier | Subject to quotation | A written quotation for the exact collection and delivery locations and the agreed scope of service. 3 |
| Customs duty | To be determined | Tariff classification, customs value, eligibility for preferential treatment and acceptable proof of origin. 1, 5 |
| Import VAT | To be determined | The current tax base, rate and customs authority's decision for the specific import. 5 |
| Slovenian motor vehicle tax (DMV) | To be determined | Vehicle type or tariff classification, fuel, combined CO2 emissions, power in kW, EURO emissions category and the decision. 6, 5 |
| Individual vehicle approval | Request a quote | Documents, technical condition, any modifications and the competent provider's requirements for this car. 7 |
| Slovenian roadworthiness inspection, if required | To be determined | The vehicle's age, documents and a current decision on the required inspection or recognition of foreign evidence. 3 |
| Slovenian motor third-party liability insurance | Request a quote | An insurer's quotation for the particular vehicle and policyholder; it is not a substitute for Swiss export cover. 11, 3 |
| Annual road-use charge | To be determined | A current calculation by the vehicle registration body for the particular vehicle. 11, 3 |
| Registration fee | To be determined | The current amount charged by the vehicle registration body at first registration. 3 |
| New vehicle registration certificate form | To be determined | The current amount for the form at first registration in Slovenia. 3 |
| Slovenian registration plates | Unknown | The prescribed number and type of plates and the vehicle registration body's current charge. 11, 3 |
Chronological checklist
Close a step only when you have the document, decision or valid policy.
| Step | Evidence | When | Your check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check the seller, originals and VIN | Original documents and transaction-specific evidence of identity, ownership and authority to sell | Before paying a deposit or the purchase price 3, 4 | To check |
| Compile the purchase and technical file | Contract or invoice, and evidence of the purchase price, mileage, first use, CO2, kW, EURO emissions category and modifications | Before making the final decision 5, 6, 7 | To check |
| Confirm cantonal deregistration or export | Current instructions from the competent canton, a Fahrzeugausweis cancelled on deregistration, or a valid export arrangement | Before collecting the car 4, 8 | To check |
| Select one transport option | A carrier's quotation or evidence of temporary registration, plates, certificate and insurance | Before departure from Switzerland 3, 8 | To check |
| Arrange the customs declaration and import VAT | Invoice, customs value, tariff decision and, where required, acceptable proof of origin | As instructed by the competent customs authority 5 | To check |
| Complete individual vehicle approval and the DMV process | Approval evidence and a tax decision based on the data for the particular vehicle | Before first registration in Slovenia 7, 6 | To check |
| Resolve the roadworthiness inspection and insurance | Valid evidence concerning the roadworthiness inspection and a Slovenian motor third-party liability policy | Before registration 3, 11 | To check |
| Complete first registration | Paid obligations, the vehicle registration certificate and the prescribed number of Slovenian plates | At the vehicle registration body, not online 11, 3 | To check |
Documents or conditions still need checking. Do not treat the file as complete.
Frequently asked questions
Is buying a used car in Switzerland an acquisition of a vehicle from the EU?
No. Switzerland is on the list of non-EU countries, and Slovenia's eUprava treats a vehicle from such a country as an import. Do not therefore use the procedure for acquiring a vehicle from another Member State. For this route, customs duty, import VAT and DMV must be resolved separately; the source does not specify a fixed amount for any of these items for your car. 1, 2, 5
Can I use ASTRA to check a car's history by VIN or number plate?
Not through the public route described in the source. Public IVZ products do not publish VINs or the names or addresses of registered keepers, and ASTRA has no on-demand number-plate lookup. This is not evidence that the car is free of damage, encumbrances or incorrect mileage. For these elements, you need evidence for the particular transaction and separate checks that are actually available for the vehicle. 9
What do I need to know about a car registered in the Canton of Zurich?
The original Fahrzeugausweis is important in Zurich's registration procedure for a used vehicle, but it is not standalone proof of ownership or a complete history. When the car is sold, the current keeper must deregister it and return the registration plate; they may retain the plate if they will register another vehicle within the next 14 days. The authority cancels the Fahrzeugausweis on deregistration. These rules apply to Zurich and must not be transferred to another canton without a new source. 4
Can I always obtain Geneva export plates to drive to Slovenia?
No. For permanent export, Geneva restricts them to an applicant resident in the canton or to a vehicle based there. They are valid until the end of the current month and cannot be extended or renewed. A prior roadworthiness inspection is required for a vehicle more than nine years old if its last inspection was more than three years ago. The application requires an original identity document, the original Swiss vehicle registration certificate and a signed form. A green card and insurance are listed separately, but territorial cover and recognition outside Switzerland are not confirmed. 8
Does every imported used car require a roadworthiness inspection in Slovenia?
Not under the age rule stated by eUprava: a car that is no more than four years old does not require a Slovenian roadworthiness inspection. The packet does not, however, determine the position for an older car or recognition of a particular foreign inspection. Check this for your vehicle and documents. The roadworthiness inspection is separate from individual vehicle approval, which applies to a used vehicle imported from a country outside the EU. 3, 7
What must be arranged before first registration in Slovenia?
For this procedure, you must resolve individual vehicle approval, customs and tax obligations, the applicable roadworthiness-inspection requirement and Slovenian motor third-party liability insurance. The vehicle registration body issues the vehicle registration certificate and the prescribed number of plates once the annual road-use charge and other prescribed obligations have been settled. First registration cannot be completed online; you also pay the registration fee and the fee for the vehicle registration certificate form, but the source does not state the amounts. 7, 6, 11, 3
Check whether a pre-purchase inspection is available
If you want to check whether an inspection of the particular car is available before purchase, use CarAudit to check current availability and terms for its location. The scope, appointment, price and result are not guaranteed in advance, so confirm them before ordering. 12
Sources
- List of non-EU countries - Taxation and Customs Union - European Commission
- eUprava - Uvoz vozila iz tujine
- eUprava - Kupil bom rabljen avto v tujini
- Fahrzeuge & Kontrollschilder
- Uvoz avtomobila iz tretjih držav | FINANČNA UPRAVA REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE
- Davek na motorna vozila (DMV) | FINANČNA UPRAVA REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE
- eUprava - Homologacija vozila
- Obtenir des plaques d'immatriculation
- FAQ Fahrzeugdaten
- Fahrzeugprüfung
- eUprava - Registracija vozila
- CarAudit: rabljenega avta ne kupujte na slepo | 270 kontrolnih točk | Slovenija
