Car Shipping to Switzerland
from the United Kingdom
Switzerland, though not an EU member, is a popular destination for UK vehicle exports including classics, performance cars, and family vehicles for relocating British and Swiss residents. The Ship Cars arranges door-to-door road transport combined with short-sea shipping links via neighbouring EU ports, or direct container shipping where required. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to Switzerland from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to Switzerland is priced per vehicle and route — request a free quote for a fixed price. 7–12 days from Southampton to a European port, plus 2–4 days road transport to Swiss destinations — 10–16 days door-to-door overall. Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Rotterdam (transhipment), Antwerp (transhipment), Zurich (final delivery) and 2 more ports. The Ship Cars, the vehicle shipping agent of Ascope Shipping Services LTD, handles UK collection, export paperwork and customs documentation end to end.
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
7–12 days to a European port, plus 2–4 days road transport to Swiss destinations — 10–16 days door-to-door overall
Ports
Rotterdam (transhipment), Antwerp (transhipment) +3
Starting From
£1,400
Shipping to Switzerland: cars, trucks, machinery and import rules
Always confirm current import rules with the official authority before shipping.
Car shipping from the UK to Switzerland
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Rotterdam (transhipment), Antwerp (transhipment), Zurich (final delivery), Geneva (final delivery) in about 7–12 days from Southampton to a European port, plus 2–4 days road transport to Swiss destinations — 10–16 days door-to-door overall. Prices depend on vehicle size and method — see our car shipping costs.
Choose RORO shipping for the lowest price on running vehicles, or container shipping for extra protection and personal effects. Specialist options include classic car shipping and electric vehicle shipping.
Estimate your price with the cost calculator or check upcoming departures on the RORO sailing schedule.
Truck and commercial vehicle shipping to Switzerland
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Rotterdam (transhipment), Antwerp (transhipment), Zurich (final delivery), Geneva (final delivery), priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 7–12 days from Southampton to a European port, plus 2–4 days road transport to Swiss destinations — 10–16 days door-to-door overall.
- Exact length, width, height and gross weight required for a quote
- Running and non-running trucks accepted (towing / crane loading arranged)
- Tanks drained, loose items removed, V5C and export declaration needed
- Check Switzerland age and emissions limits for commercial vehicles before buying
Read more: truck shipping service, commercial vehicle shipping and our guide to shipping a truck from the UK.
Machinery and plant shipping to Switzerland
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Rotterdam (transhipment), Antwerp (transhipment), Zurich (final delivery), Geneva (final delivery). Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including Switzerland, inspect for biosecurity.
- Tracked machines loaded on MAFI trailers or flat-racks
- Professional washing and fumigation certificates where required
- Dimensions and weight drive the price — oversize cargo quoted individually
- Commercial invoice and proof of ownership needed for customs
See our heavy machinery shipping service and customs clearance support.
Switzerland vehicle import rules
- Switzerland is outside the EU customs union and applies its own import VAT of 8.1% on the vehicle's value.
- Since Brexit, UK-origin vehicles no longer benefit from EU preferential tariffs, so a customs duty based on vehicle weight (typically CHF 12–15 per 100kg) applies.
- Vehicles must pass a Swiss Strassenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) technical inspection before receiving Swiss number plates, and a Certificate of Conformity or individual approval is required for non-EU-homologated vehicles.
Documents required
- V5C registration document
- Passport or ID
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading/CMR road consignment note
- Swiss customs declaration (Form 13.20A)
- Certificate of Conformity or individual type approval
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official Switzerland & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Overview
Switzerland, though not an EU member, is a popular destination for UK vehicle exports including classics, performance cars, and family vehicles for relocating British and Swiss residents. The Ship Cars arranges door-to-door road transport combined with short-sea shipping links via neighbouring EU ports, or direct container shipping where required.
Shipping Methods
As a landlocked country, vehicles typically arrive by RORO or container at a European port such as Rotterdam or Antwerp, then continue by covered car transporter to Swiss cities including Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. This combined sea-and-road service keeps costs competitive while providing full door-to-door tracking.
Transit Time
7–12 days from Southampton to a European port, plus 2–4 days road transport to Swiss destinations — 10–16 days door-to-door overall.
Import Regulations
Switzerland is outside the EU customs union and applies its own import VAT of 8.1% on the vehicle's value. Since Brexit, UK-origin vehicles no longer benefit from EU preferential tariffs, so a customs duty based on vehicle weight (typically CHF 12–15 per 100kg) applies. Vehicles must pass a Swiss Strassenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) technical inspection before receiving Swiss number plates, and a Certificate of Conformity or individual approval is required for non-EU-homologated vehicles.
Documents Required
- V5C registration document
- Passport or ID
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading/CMR road consignment note
- Swiss customs declaration (Form 13.20A)
- Certificate of Conformity or individual type approval
Costs & Fees
Combined sea and road transport from £1,400–£2,200 depending on destination canton. Import VAT 8.1%. Weight-based customs duty approximately CHF 12–15 per 100kg. Vehicle inspection fees approximately CHF 100–150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Switzerland in the EU customs union for car imports?
How does my car get from a European port to Switzerland?
Do I need a technical inspection to register a UK car in Switzerland?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Switzerland?
Which UK ports do you ship from to Switzerland?
What documents do I need to ship a car to Switzerland?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to Switzerland?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Switzerland?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to Switzerland from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to Switzerland every month. Europe remains the shortest, fastest and most cost-efficient corridor for UK vehicle exports. Short-sea RORO vessels sail weekly from Bristol, Southampton, Tilbury and Immingham into Atlantic and Mediterranean automotive hubs, while consolidated container services give classics and high-value vehicles enclosed protection across the same lanes. Typical clients on this lane include classic-car collectors, alongside private owners relocating to Switzerland and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-Switzerland corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with Switzerland customs.
Vehicles depart from Immingham, Liverpool, Tilbury and arrive at Rotterdam (transhipment), Antwerp (transhipment), Zurich (final delivery) and 2 more ports via short-sea Channel and North Sea routings. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 7–12 days from southampton to a european port, plus 2–4 days road transport to swiss destinations — 10–16 days door-to-door overall, supported by marine all-risks insurance, GPS-tracked UK collection and bonded warehousing where required. For an instant indication of cost, use our car shipping cost calculator or request a tailored quote on our quote page.
How UK to Switzerland car shipping works
Every shipment to Switzerland follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Immingham, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Rotterdam (transhipment) (and onward feeder to Antwerp (transhipment) where required), and destination customs handover. You choose the shipping mode that best matches the vehicle profile and budget — see the full breakdown on our car shipping costs page or compare live RORO sailing dates to Switzerland.
RORO to Switzerland
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for Switzerland. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Rotterdam (transhipment). RORO shipping to Switzerland — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to Switzerland
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Antwerp (transhipment). Dedicated container shipping to Switzerland.
Switzerland ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for Switzerland are typically routed through Rotterdam (transhipment) as the lead discharge port, with Antwerp (transhipment), Zurich (final delivery), Geneva (final delivery), Basel (final delivery) available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to Switzerland and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Rotterdam (transhipment)
- Port of Antwerp (transhipment)
- Port of Zurich (final delivery)
- Port of Geneva (final delivery)
- Port of Basel (final delivery)
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
Switzerland import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into Switzerland is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest Switzerland customs schedule before quoting.
- EU type approval and Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
- Post-Brexit 10% import duty and country-specific VAT (TVA, IVA, MwSt, BTW)
- National roadworthiness inspections (ITV, contrôle technique, TÜV, APK, IPO)
- Re-registration with local plates and CO2-based road tax
Document checklist for Switzerland
- V5C registration document
- Passport or ID
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading/CMR road consignment note
- Swiss customs declaration (Form 13.20A)
- Certificate of Conformity or individual type approval
For full country-specific customs rules, see our Switzerland import guides and articles, our UK and Switzerland customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Rotterdam (transhipment).
Who ships to Switzerland
- • Returning Switzerland residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to Switzerland
- • Europe car dealers and Switzerland re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to Switzerland
- • Saloons, hatchbacks and family cars
- • SUVs, 4x4s and pickups (Land Rover, Range Rover, Toyota, Nissan)
- • Luxury and executive vehicles (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi)
- • Performance and supercars (McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari)
- • Classic and historic vehicles (pre-1990 with HMRC NOVA exemption)
- • Motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes
- • Vans, light commercials and motorhomes
- • Electric and hybrid vehicles (EV battery documentation supported)
Why exporters choose The Ship Cars for Switzerland
• Specialist UK-to-Switzerland corridor with weekly capacity
• Marine all-risks insurance and bonded UK warehousing
• HMRC NOVA, C88, EORI and DVLA V5C export handled in-house
• Transparent UK to Switzerland pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Rotterdam (transhipment) agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to Switzerland
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Europe destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Europe countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as Switzerland. Many customers shipping to Switzerland also enquire about Germany, France, Italy because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to Switzerland
Request a free, no-obligation UK-to-Switzerland shipping quote online. Most quotes are returned within one working hour.
Shipping a vehicle to Switzerland?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for Switzerland, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options