Buying a car privately: the paperwork in Switzerland

The documents to see first

The vehicle registration document

It is the vehicle's official document (Fahrzeugausweis / permis de circulation). Check that:

• the chassis number on it matches the one stamped on the car;
• the registered holder is indeed the person in front of you — if not, ask why;
• the date of the next cantonal vehicle inspection (MFK) is the one given in the listing.

A seller who doesn't show you the registration document is not selling a car they are in a position to sell.

The inspection report

It states what the inspection found and what was put right. A car that has recently passed its inspection is a selling point; a car that is due for one soon is a negotiation.

Ask for the report, not just the date.

The service book and the invoices

It is the only proof that the mileage has been matched by maintenance. Look at how regularly the car was serviced, not just at the last visit.

The seller's identity document

For a large sum, it is normal to check that the person is the one named on the registration document. An honest seller understands.

The sales contract

Write one, even a short one. It must include:

• the full identity of both parties;
• the vehicle, with its chassis number;
• the mileage on the odometer on the day of the sale;
• the price and the method of payment;
• the date, and the handover of the keys;
• a statement that the car is sold as seen, between private individuals, if that is the case.

Two copies, signed. That is what settles any disagreements later on.

What to check on the car

• The stamped chassis number, compared with the registration document.
• The condition of the tyres, including the spare wheel.
• The spare key — if it is missing, that gets noticed, and gets negotiated.
• No warning light on the dashboard, with the engine running.
• A test drive of at least a quarter of an hour, including some motorway if possible.

After the purchase

The change of holder goes through the road traffic office of your canton of residence (Strassenverkehrsamt / service des automobiles), and third-party liability insurance must be in place before you drive. The procedures, deadlines and fees vary from canton to canton: check with yours before the sale, not after.

Warning signs that should make you walk away

• A seller who is not the registered holder and doesn't explain why.
• A chassis number that doesn't match, or is illegible.
• A price well below the market, with urgency attached.
• A refusal of a test drive, or a refusal to let a garage see the car.
• A request for a deposit to “reserve” the car before you have seen it.