Importing a car from Switzerland to Austria: process, costs and checks

Yes, you can import a used car from Switzerland to Austria. As Switzerland is a third country in this context, the seller and VIN, original documents, export, proof of origin, transport, charges and approval must all be consistent before you pay. Do not proceed if the VIN or authority to sell is inconsistent, originals are missing, insurance cover has only been confirmed orally, or the budget omits customs duty, import VAT and NoVA.

New/used status: The vehicle is used only if it has more than 6,000 km and was first brought into use more than six months ago. 1

Before purchase: identity, contract and condition

Check the VIN on the vehicle against the vehicle registration document, approval papers and contract. You should also obtain evidence of the seller's identity and authority to sell. The sources do not provide a complete ownership, finance, accident, service or condition history for the individual car; unresolved points therefore remain genuine purchase risks.

Record the parties, VIN, price and currency, mileage, known damage, documents, keys, proof of origin, handover and payment method in the contract. Use a traceable payment method and pay only after checking the identity and agreed originals. Documents promised for later should be made a written condition of payment or release.

A valid Swiss motor vehicle inspection (MFK) is not a complete condition or valuation report. TCS distinguishes it as a road-safety inspection from an Occasionstest used-car test with further inspection points and a test drive. An independent pre-purchase inspection is likewise only a snapshot: it is not a guarantee, registration, Austrian § 57a roadworthiness inspection or comprehensive history check. 6

Export from Switzerland and safe transport

A vehicle being permanently exported must be declared without prompting at a Swiss customs office competent for commercial goods. The listed documents include the vehicle registration document, even if cancelled, proof of identity, the e-dec export customs declaration and, where applicable, proof of origin. 2 To claim a customs preference, the Swiss exporter must prepare the appropriate proof of origin before export; the place of purchase or seller's address does not prove preferential origin. 2

Swiss customs information identifies export plates or loading the vehicle onto another transport vehicle. Because the plate procedure is cantonal, the competent canton, validity and territory of insurance cover for the driver, period and entire route must be confirmed in writing. Otherwise, carriage on another vehicle is the more robust option. 2

Zurich is only a cantonal example. For vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, eligibility there is tied to a Zurich vehicle registration document or purchase in the canton with a contract; a different branch applies to heavier vehicles. Certain originals are required. Non-remunerated use, no more than eight other people, presentation of a technically defective vehicle, the end of the month and a maximum of 35 days, as well as the prohibition on extension, repeat issue and changing vehicles, are also Zurich rules. The collective insurance does not prove foreign cover or recognition. 5

Customs duty and taxes in Austria

For a passenger car, the standard branch at the EU border is 10% customs duty, plus 20% Austrian import VAT and NoVA for registration. A 0% customs duty rate requires documented preferential Swiss origin, normally supported by EUR.1 or, for goods worth up to EUR 6,000, a qualifying invoice declaration of origin. The place of purchase is not sufficient. 3

The NoVA cannot be calculated reliably without the date of first registration, value, CO2 or emissions data and the correct tax branch; a current formula must not be applied indiscriminately to every used vehicle. 8

For NoVA 2, the invoice serves as proof of purchase when buying from an authorised vehicle dealer. For an ordinary private purchase, you need the purchase contract plus a vehicle valuation unless a confirmed exception applies. The vehicle and approval papers, extract from the Austrian vehicle approval database, photo ID and customs assessment are also required. Only after the applicable tax has been paid will the tax authority release the vehicle for registration. 9

Approval and registration in Austria

Every imported vehicle must be entered in the Austrian vehicle approval database before registration. With EU type approval, a new Austrian approval is usually not required, but the database entry and evidence such as a COC or foreign vehicle registration certificate are still necessary. Without EU type approval, individual vehicle approval and possibly an exception approval are required. 4

As at 13 September 2026, an entry with EU type approval could cost up to EUR 180.00. Individual vehicle approval was stated at approximately EUR 150.00 depending on the evidence, with no cost ceiling. 4 The budget uses only the first approval route as its assumption.

For registration, you need motor third-party liability insurance valid in Austria, identity and approval evidence and, if the periodic inspection is due, a current positive report if it is not recorded in the database. The database entry, NoVA clearance and customs confirmation are also required. 10 The listed base items total EUR 270.00; the optional chip-card vehicle registration certificate costs EUR 31.10. The individual items and additional costs are set out in the FAQ and budget. 10

You may generally use foreign plates for one month from the vehicle's first entry into Austria. One further month requires credible evidence that registration could not be completed in time. This extends neither the Swiss plates nor the insurance; whichever basis ends first is decisive. 1

Plan a realistic budget

The selected options are carrier transport and, subject to confirmed EU type approval, entry in the Austrian vehicle approval database. Alternatives are not added together. Because prices and charges remain unresolved, there is no grand total; add a contingency for exchange rates, storage time and technical modifications. Universal amounts for NoVA, transport or insurance are not supported. 8 7

Chronological checklist

Work in sequence; do not postpone any unresolved pre-payment stop point until after import.

Frequently asked questions

Is a car bought in Switzerland automatically free of customs duty?

No. For a passenger car, 10% is the standard customs-duty branch. A 0% rate requires accepted proof of preferential Swiss origin, normally EUR.1 or, for goods worth up to EUR 6,000, a qualifying invoice declaration of origin. The place of purchase or the seller is not sufficient. In addition, 20% Austrian import VAT and NoVA for registration apply; the specific amounts depend on the vehicle. 3, 8

Can I simply drive to Austria with a Zurich export plate?

Not without case-specific confirmation. For vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, Zurich ties eligibility to a Zurich-issued vehicle registration document or purchase in the canton. The listed originals are the vehicle registration document, driving licence, identity document and application, plus the purchase contract for an out-of-canton vehicle; the branch for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes is different. Use is non-remunerated and limited to no more than eight other people; a technically defective vehicle must be presented first. The plate is valid until the end of the month, for no more than 35 days, and cannot be extended, reissued or transferred to another vehicle. The published information does not establish insurance cover or recognition for your entire cross-border route. 5

Does a current MFK replace the pre-purchase inspection or the Austrian Pickerl inspection?

No. The MFK assesses road safety, while an Occasionstest used-car test may cover additional aspects of condition and a test drive. A pre-purchase inspection is nevertheless only a snapshot and not a guarantee. It replaces neither Austrian approval nor a due positive report under the Austrian § 57a roadworthiness inspection. 6, 10

Which documents do I need for the NoVA 2 declaration?

When buying from an authorised vehicle dealer, the invoice serves as proof of purchase; for an ordinary private purchase, you need the purchase contract and a vehicle valuation, such as Eurotax, Autopreisspiegel or a report by a generally sworn and court-certified expert, unless a confirmed exception applies. You also need the foreign vehicle and approval papers, the extract from the Austrian vehicle approval database, photo ID and, for this import, the customs assessment. The applicable tax must be paid before the tax authority releases the vehicle for registration. 9

How long may I use the imported car in Austria with foreign plates?

Generally, for one month from the vehicle's first entry into Austria. One further month is possible only if you provide credible evidence that registration could not be completed in time. This rule extends neither the validity of the Swiss export plates nor their insurance. If either basis ends earlier, you cannot rely on the Austrian one-month period. 1

Which Austrian costs can be calculated in advance?

As at 13 September 2026, the listed base items for passenger-car registration total EUR 270.00: an authority share of EUR 178.00, handling of EUR 65.60, a ZMR query of EUR 1.10, an inspection sticker of EUR 2.30 and number plates of EUR 23.00. The optional chip-card vehicle registration certificate costs EUR 31.10. An approval-database entry for an EU-type-approved vehicle can cost up to EUR 180.00; individual vehicle approval is stated at approximately EUR 150.00 depending on the evidence. Taxes, insurance, inspections, transport and modifications are additional. 10, 4

Next step

If you are considering an independent vehicle inspection before purchase, first check current availability for the specific location in Switzerland at caraudit.at. Switzerland was not named in the live coverage checked on 13 September 2026; this implies neither an appointment nor a service commitment, and it does not establish permanent unavailability. If an inspection is offered, clarify its scope and conditions before ordering. It does not replace an MFK, approval, Austrian § 57a roadworthiness inspection or import handling, and it is not a guarantee; it cannot guarantee that every defect or every gap in the vehicle's history will be found. 11, 12

Sources

1. Allgemeines zum Eigenimport von Kfz
2. Exporting a vehicle from Switzerland
3. Kfz-Import aus Drittländern
4. Import von Kfz — Genehmigungsdatenbank und Typisierung
5. Obtain an export plate
6. The TCS used-car test
7. Überstellungskennzeichen
8. NoVA Steuersatz
9. Verfahren bei Fahrzeugimport
10. Kfz-Zulassung
11. CarAudit Austria — service and order page
12. CarAudit-Bedingungen