How to register your vehicle and get Swiss number plates

Once you’ve arrived in Switzerland, registering your car and obtaining local number plates is one of the first administrative steps you’ll need to take, especially if you’ve brought your vehicle from abroad. In Geneva, the procedure is handled by the Office cantonal des véhicules (OCV). In other cantons, such as Vaud, it’s managed by the Service des automobiles et de la navigation (SAN).

1. Make sure your car is eligible for import and registration

If you’re importing your car from abroad, you’ll first need to ensure it meets the technical requirements for road use in Switzerland. This involves customs clearance, emissions compliance, and presenting the right documents.

I’ve covered this process in a dedicated article.

2. Book an appointment at the OCV or SAN

Once your car is ready for registration, you can make an appointment with your local road traffic office:

• Geneva (OCV)
• Vaud (SAN)

Appointments can typically be made online, and you’ll receive a confirmation by email.

3. Pass the technical inspection (expertise) if required

Depending on the age and origin of your car, a technical inspection may be necessary. This check ensures that your vehicle meets Swiss safety and environmental standards.

In some cases (e.g. new vehicles or those already registered in Switzerland), this step may be waived.

4. Submit the registration documents

At your appointment, you’ll need to bring:

• Your ID or residence permit
• Proof of address (e.g. a recent utility bill or rental contract)
• The customs clearance form (13.20A) if imported
• The foreign or Swiss vehicle registration certificate
• Your car insurance proof (attestation d’assurance électronique) – see my dedicated article here
• The form to request number plates downloadable here for Geneva and here for Vaud

5. Pay the registration fee and road tax

The registration fee varies by canton but is usually around CHF 110.

In addition, there is an annual cantonal road tax. In Geneva, the system changed recently:

• For petrol/diesel (ICE) vehicles: the tax is based on CO₂ emissions.
• For electric vehicles: it is calculated based on the vehicle’s weight.

You can estimate the amount using the Geneva tax calculator (bottom of page). The invoice for the annual tax will be mailed to you by post in the days following the registration. The tax will be calculated pro rata temporis: for example, if you register your vehicle on the first of July, you will pay 50% of the tax for that year, then pay for the (full) following year in December (5 months later). After that, the tax will be due in December every year. It is not possible to pay in installments.

In Vaud, the tax is generally based on power, weight, and fuel type. You can check the official SAN page for up-to-date rates.

6. Receive your registration certificate and Swiss plates

Once approved, you’ll receive:

• Your new Swiss vehicle registration certificate (carte grise)
• A pair of number plates for your car

Plates in Switzerland are tied to the individual, not the car. This means if you sell or change your vehicle, you typically keep your number plates and transfer them to the new car. However, you must return the plates to the OCV (or your cantonal office) if you leave Switzerland or no longer own a vehicle. You cannot keep plates indefinitely without using them. Additionally, you can only use the set of plates with the vehicle that it is registered for, unless you use the “plaques interchangeables” option.

Diplomatic plates and legitimation cards

If you work for a diplomatic mission or an international organization and hold a legitimation card (type B or C), you may be eligible to apply for CD plates (corps diplomatique).

• These plates must be requested using a special form, which must be stamped by your mission or organization before submission to the OCV.
• CD plates are made to order and must be requested in advance. They cannot be picked from a general stock.
• CD plates are not issued for motorcycles.
• Vehicles with CD plates are exempt from the annual vehicle tax and from periodic technical inspections, as long as they remain registered under CD status. However, technical inspection may still apply before CD registration (e.g. during import).
• Only the cardholder and their registered dependents are allowed to drive a CD-plated vehicle. This differs from regular Swiss plates and is strictly enforced.

While CD plate holders benefit from privileges, they must still comply with Swiss traffic laws. Police can stop CD-registered vehicles for checks. If traffic fines remain unpaid, they will be sent directly to the mission or organization employing the car’s registered owner.

In serious cases, the head of mission or organization may lift immunity if requested by local authorities.