What is my used car worth?
Okazio editorial team
In brief
The price of a used car in Switzerland comes down to four things: the mileage, the date of the next cantonal vehicle inspection (MFK), the service book, and the exact model — engine and trim level included.
The rest — the colour, the options, the condition of the bodywork — adjusts the price, but does not decide it.
The inspection changes everything
A car that has just passed its inspection sells noticeably better than one that is due for it in three months, all else being equal. The reason is simple: the buyer does not know what the inspection will reveal, and deducts the risk they are taking from their offer.
If you are selling: having the car inspected before putting it up for sale costs money, but you almost always get it back. Give the date in the listing.
If you are buying: ask for the date of the last inspection and for the report. A car sold “uninspected” is not a bad buy in itself, but it is a negotiation, not a bargain.
The service book
A stamped, complete service book, with the invoices, is worth several thousand francs on a mid-range vehicle. It is the only proof that the mileage has been matched by maintenance.
Conversely, a missing service book on a recent car is a question without an answer — and an unanswered question has a price.
Mileage, in perspective
High mileage on a well-maintained motorway car is better than low mileage made up of short trips in town, especially with a diesel engine. Say in the listing how the car was used: “commuting, 60 km of motorway a day” tells a buyer more than a figure on its own.
The paperwork, to prepare before you publish
- The vehicle registration document (Fahrzeugausweis / permis de circulation).
- The most recent inspection report.
- The service book and the invoices.
- The spare key — if it is missing, that gets noticed, and gets negotiated.
Setting the price
- Look up the prices of active listings for the same model, same engine, same trim level, in a similar mileage bracket. Not the price someone hoped to get two years ago: what is online today.
- Adjust for the inspection and the service book, which are your two real selling points.
- Leave a margin for negotiation that is visible but slim. A round, firm price attracts fewer messages than a price slightly above your minimum.
What not to do
Don't hide a known fault. A buyer who discovers it on the spot doesn't negotiate: they leave. Saying “clutch will need replacing” in the listing filters out the time-wasters and brings in the people who actually buy.
Sources and method
Editorial guidance: prices, proportions and depreciation figures are not based on a statistical survey of Okazio sales. Compare the exact model, condition and similar listings; an asking price does not establish the sale price.