Below you'll find insider tips on getting the best from Geneva, from hints on finding a home to reviews of the hottest restaurants in town.
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Registering A Vehicle
In Switzerland, your licence plates belong to you at your registered address, and not to the car. The cost for registration and licence plates is SFr 135, and the plaque for Geneva is GE. If you own two cars but only use one at a time, then you can just transfer your licence plates from one car to another.
Personnel of permanent missions and international organisations are eligible for CD (‘Corps Diplomatique’) licence plates. In general, only the owner of a vehicle registered with CD licence plates is authorised to drive that vehicle, although family members may be allowed to do so. If you are going to be resident in Geneva for less than three months, you can get temporary Z plates for your car.
In addition to licence plates, your car must have a car permit (‘carte grise’). This permit acts as a ledger, indicating when it has been tested, if it has ever been in an accident, etc. It costs SFr 45 to get your permit, which is available from the Service des Automobiles (see Important Addresses, [p.88]).
Before your Swiss plates and road permit (‘permis de circulation’) are issued, your car must undergo a roadworthiness test (also called a ‘technical control’). If the car is more than ten years old, a control is required at the time of registration (the cost of the test is included in the registration fee). Cars older than five years have to pass a technical inspection similar to the UK MOT. This should be done every two or three years, depending on the age of the car. If you are importing a car, it is a good idea to have TCS (Touring Club Suisse) or ACS (Automobile Club Suisse) perform the technical control, as they will be able to advise you on what modifications need to be made to your vehicle (if any). Certain dubious garages may see an unsuspecting expat and suggest unnecessary modifications. The cost for the technical control is SFr 60. For more information, and to make an appointment for your inspection, contact the Service des Automobiles (see Important Addresses, [p.88]).
Road tax is calculated at between SFr 12 and SFr 15 per 100kg, depending on the cubic capacity of the engine and the weight unity. Depending on engine size, a medium sized car will cost between SFr 300 and SFr 700 per year. When you register your car at the Service des Automobiles, the road tax bill is sent with your car registration papers. A refund is available if you leave the country within the paid year. If you own two cars and transfer the plates, you only need pay road tax for the car with the largest engine (the most expensive!).
To use the motorway, you must have a vignette displayed on the left hand side or top centre of your windscreen. It costs SFr 40 and is valid for one year. You can buy it at border crossings, post offices and service stations.
Every two years your car will have to have an emissions test (‘test anti-pollution’), unless it is an old car, in which case this test should be done annually. You have to display a green and white sticker on the side window of your car, showing the month and year that the test is next due. The test certificate should be kept in your car. The inspections are carried out by the Service des Automobiles (see Important Addresses, [p.88]), and the cost is SFr 75.
LEVEL 4
To register your car you should go to the Service des Automobiles et de la Navigation in Carouge (see Important Addresses, [p.88]). If you are buying a new car, a reputable dealer will normally perform this service for you. If you are doing it on you own, you will need to take the following documents:
• Your driving licence
• Your residence permit
• A certificate of residence (available from your community office)
• Certificate of insurance
• Original legitimisation card
• Attestation of technical control
• If the car is imported, form 13.20A from Customs
• SFr 150.
Personnel of permanent missions and international organisations are eligible for CD (‘Corps Diplomatique’) licence plates. In general, only the owner of a vehicle registered with CD licence plates is authorised to drive that vehicle, although family members may be allowed to do so. If you are going to be resident in Geneva for less than three months, you can get temporary Z plates for your car.
In addition to licence plates, your car must have a car permit (‘carte grise’). This permit acts as a ledger, indicating when it has been tested, if it has ever been in an accident, etc. It costs SFr 45 to get your permit, which is available from the Service des Automobiles (see Important Addresses, [p.88]).
Before your Swiss plates and road permit (‘permis de circulation’) are issued, your car must undergo a roadworthiness test (also called a ‘technical control’). If the car is more than ten years old, a control is required at the time of registration (the cost of the test is included in the registration fee). Cars older than five years have to pass a technical inspection similar to the UK MOT. This should be done every two or three years, depending on the age of the car. If you are importing a car, it is a good idea to have TCS (Touring Club Suisse) or ACS (Automobile Club Suisse) perform the technical control, as they will be able to advise you on what modifications need to be made to your vehicle (if any). Certain dubious garages may see an unsuspecting expat and suggest unnecessary modifications. The cost for the technical control is SFr 60. For more information, and to make an appointment for your inspection, contact the Service des Automobiles (see Important Addresses, [p.88]).
Road tax is calculated at between SFr 12 and SFr 15 per 100kg, depending on the cubic capacity of the engine and the weight unity. Depending on engine size, a medium sized car will cost between SFr 300 and SFr 700 per year. When you register your car at the Service des Automobiles, the road tax bill is sent with your car registration papers. A refund is available if you leave the country within the paid year. If you own two cars and transfer the plates, you only need pay road tax for the car with the largest engine (the most expensive!).
To use the motorway, you must have a vignette displayed on the left hand side or top centre of your windscreen. It costs SFr 40 and is valid for one year. You can buy it at border crossings, post offices and service stations.
Every two years your car will have to have an emissions test (‘test anti-pollution’), unless it is an old car, in which case this test should be done annually. You have to display a green and white sticker on the side window of your car, showing the month and year that the test is next due. The test certificate should be kept in your car. The inspections are carried out by the Service des Automobiles (see Important Addresses, [p.88]), and the cost is SFr 75.
LEVEL 4
To register your car you should go to the Service des Automobiles et de la Navigation in Carouge (see Important Addresses, [p.88]). If you are buying a new car, a reputable dealer will normally perform this service for you. If you are doing it on you own, you will need to take the following documents:
• Your driving licence
• Your residence permit
• A certificate of residence (available from your community office)
• Certificate of insurance
• Original legitimisation card
• Attestation of technical control
• If the car is imported, form 13.20A from Customs
• SFr 150.
The Process
To register your car you should go to the Service des Automobiles et de la Navigation in Carouge (see Important Addresses, [p.?]). If you are buying a new car, a reputable dealer will normally perform this service for you. If you are doing it on you own, you will need to take the following documents:
• Your driving licence
• Your residence permit
• A certificate of residence (attestation de domicile) available from the mayor's office or administrative offices in your town. If you are registering a company car you will need to provide a business registry certificate (extrait du Registre du commerce). If your company is a corporation you may be asked to provide the official statutes as well.
• Certificate of personal liability insurance
• Attestation of technical control
• Completed registration form (formule de demande d'immatriculation) which can be dowloaded from the Office Cantonal des Automobiles et de la Navigation website, www.geneve.ch/san.
• If the car is imported, form 13.20A from Customs
• SFr 135 and an additional SFr. 95 for each vehicle you would like to register with the same plates. An additional SFr. 40 if you are registering a new vehicle.
• Your driving licence
• Your residence permit
• A certificate of residence (attestation de domicile) available from the mayor's office or administrative offices in your town. If you are registering a company car you will need to provide a business registry certificate (extrait du Registre du commerce). If your company is a corporation you may be asked to provide the official statutes as well.
• Certificate of personal liability insurance
• Attestation of technical control
• Completed registration form (formule de demande d'immatriculation) which can be dowloaded from the Office Cantonal des Automobiles et de la Navigation website, www.geneve.ch/san.
• If the car is imported, form 13.20A from Customs
• SFr 135 and an additional SFr. 95 for each vehicle you would like to register with the same plates. An additional SFr. 40 if you are registering a new vehicle.
