Sample calculations

This is what complete import calculations with Import-Butler look like. The grand total covers – depending on the services selected – all customs, tax and service costs; the vehicle price itself comes on top. Calculate your own costs in seconds with the import calculator.

VW Multivan

Passenger car from Germany, with transport

Vehicle data

Make: VW
Model: Multivan
Vehicle type: Passenger car
Mileage: 63'800 km
Towbar: Yes
First registration: 04/2021
Country of origin: Germany
Transport: With transport
Location: DE, postal area 4xxxx
Vehicle price: EUR 44'978.00 (incl. 19 % VAT)
Kerb weight: 2'000 kg

Selected services

Abroad

Transport
Import customs clearance
Export customs clearance

Switzerland

Inspection (MFK)
Customs account
Registration
Plate frame
Insurance check
Towbar inspection
Minimum refuelling

Cost breakdown

Vehicle

Purchase price (net): EUR 37'796.64
Exchange rate EUR → CHF: 0.9315
Customs value of the vehicle: CHF 35'208.70

Estimated customs and tax costs

Automobile tax (4 %): CHF 1'408.35
Import VAT (8.1 %): CHF 3'129.30
Subtotal: CHF 4'537.65

Services abroad (excl. VAT)

Transport costs: CHF 1'449.00
Diesel surcharge: CHF 150.00
Customs documents (import): CHF 199.00
Customs documents (export): CHF 199.00
Subtotal: CHF 1'997.00

Services in Switzerland

Customs settlement: CHF 125.00
Vehicle inspection: CHF 569.00
Registration at the road traffic office: CHF 100.00
Plate frame: CHF 49.00
Towbar inspection: CHF 160.00
Minimum refuelling: CHF 49.00
VAT on services (8.1 %): CHF 85.21
Subtotal: CHF 1'137.21

Total services: CHF 3'134.21

Grand total CHF 7'671.86

Import costs in addition to the vehicle price of EUR 44'978.00.

German VAT refund (19 %) ≈ CHF 6'689.44 EUR 7'181.36

You reclaim the German VAT paid to the dealer after export. At the customs exchange rate of 0.9315 that is around CHF 6'689.44 – this flows back to you and is not included in the import costs above.

MG 4

Electric new car from Germany, self-import (under own power)

Vehicle data

Make: MG
Model: 4
Vehicle type: Passenger car
Mileage: 20'000 km
First registration: New vehicle
Country of origin: Germany
Transport: Self-import
Transport method: Under own power
Vehicle price: EUR 16'200.00 (excl. 19 % VAT)
Kerb weight: 1'500 kg

Selected services

Abroad

Import customs clearance
Export customs clearance

Switzerland

Customs account
Insurance check
CO₂ levy

Cost breakdown

Vehicle

Purchase price (net): EUR 16'200.00
Exchange rate EUR → CHF: 0.9314
Customs value of the vehicle: CHF 15'088.19

Estimated customs and tax costs

Automobile tax (4 %): CHF 603.53
Import VAT (8.1 %): CHF 1'304.87
Subtotal: CHF 1'908.40

Services abroad (excl. VAT)

Customs documents (import): CHF 199.00
Customs documents (export): CHF 199.00
Subtotal: CHF 398.00

Services in Switzerland

Customs settlement: CHF 125.00
VAT on services (8.1 %): CHF 10.13
Subtotal: CHF 135.13

CO₂ levy

CO₂ bonus (97.59 g × CHF 24.00): CHF -2'342.16
VAT on CO₂ bonus (8.1 %): CHF -189.71
Subtotal: CHF -2'531.87

Total services: CHF -1'998.74

Grand total CHF -90.34

Thanks to the CO₂ bonus, the import costs fall below zero – the bonus exceeds taxes and services. The vehicle price of EUR 16'200.00 comes on top.

There is no VAT refund here, because the price was already entered as "net" in the calculation. This is the case, for example, when the vehicle is bought from a private individual who does not charge VAT.

Skoda Octavia RS

New car with high CO₂ emissions – CO₂ levy only, via the major importer

Vehicle data

Make: Skoda
Model: Octavia RS
Vehicle type: Passenger car
CO₂ emissions: 161 g/km
Mileage: 15 km
First registration: New vehicle
Kerb weight: 1'605 kg

Selected services

Switzerland

CO₂ levy
Electronic processing (e-inspection mark)
Handling

Cost breakdown

CO₂ levy

CO₂ levy (64.92 g × CHF 62.00): CHF 4'025.04
Electronic processing with e-inspection mark: CHF 54.50
Handling fee: CHF 50.00
VAT on services (8.1 %): CHF 334.49
Subtotal: CHF 4'464.03

Grand total CHF 4'464.03

A pure CO₂-levy example: a new car with high CO₂ emissions incurs the CO₂ levy – automobile tax and import VAT are not shown here. The vehicle price comes on top.

Major-importer advantage CHF 2'142.36 saved CHF 62.00 instead of CHF 95.00 per gram

Through Import-Butler's major-importer pool you pay CHF 62.00 per gram of CO₂ instead of CHF 95.00 for an individual registration. On 64.92 grams that saves you CHF 2'142.36.

The CO₂ levy varies depending on the vehicle's emissions, weight and date of registration. The applicable CO₂ target value also gets stricter from year to year, so the chargeable excess grams – and thus the levy – tend to rise every year. For an exact price, use the import calculator.

Sample values from the import calculator. The applicable rates are 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT; the exchange rate corresponds to the customs exchange rate on the day of calculation. Your actual costs depend on the vehicle, equipment, first registration, location and the services you select. All prices shown are for illustration purposes only, are subject to change at any time and do not constitute an offer.

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