Deregistering a Car in Switzerland: Plates, Taxes and Insurance Done Right

The contract is signed, the cash is counted – and then comes the question many sellers underestimate: what happens to the licence plates, the road tax and the insurance policy? Get this wrong and you may keep paying for a car that already belongs to somebody else. Here is how deregistration works in Switzerland, step by step.

Three options: cancel, deposit or transfer

In Switzerland the licence plates belong to the registered keeper, not to the vehicle. They are therefore never sold with the car. You have three choices:

• Full deregistration: You hand in both plates and the grey vehicle registration document at the cantonal road traffic office. Ideal if you will not drive another car.
• Depositing the plates: The office keeps your number on file – in most cantons for up to 24 months – so you can reuse it for your next vehicle.
• Direct transfer: You register the new car with the same plates on the same day. This saves a trip and usually some fees.

A personalised or low number is only safe if you deposit it properly. Once the deadline expires, the number goes back into circulation.

The process at the cantonal road office

1. Prepare the grey registration document and both plates.
2. Visit your cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt – in Zurich, for example, Albisgütli or one of the regional testing centres. Many cantons also accept plates at municipal counters or post offices.
3. Pay the fee: depending on the canton, deregistration or deposit costs roughly CHF 20 to CHF 50.
4. Ask for the confirmation of deregistration and keep it – it is your proof for the insurer and the tax office.

The office notifies your motor insurer automatically, but a short call or e-mail is still worthwhile so the policy is suspended or cancelled correctly.

Money back: tax and premiums

Road tax is calculated per day or per month in every canton. Deregister in May and the remainder of the year is refunded pro rata, usually without any application. The same applies to your insurance premium.

If you are only laying the car up for the winter, consider a dormant cover instead of cancelling. It costs little and still covers theft, fire and natural hazards while the car is stored in a locked space.

Common mistakes when selling

• Deregistering too early: Without plates the car may not be driven on public roads. The buyer needs dealer plates or a day permit for the transfer.
• Handing over your plates: Legally risky – you remain the keeper and are liable for fines and damage.
• No written confirmation: Without proof, refunds become a hassle.
• Forgetting the registration document: The grey document must go back to the office or, in a change of keeper, to the buyer.

What if the car is exported?

For exports the deregistration is identical, but export papers and, depending on the destination, customs plates are also needed. Reputable buyers handle all of that – you only hand over the keys and the document.

Sell without the paperwork: auto24ankauf.ch

auto24ankauf.ch in Winterthur buys vehicles of all brands from model year 2002 onwards – with or without a valid MFK inspection, and including outstanding leasing balances, which we settle directly. You get a free valuation, we collect the car anywhere in Switzerland at no cost and pay cash on the spot. We take care of the deregistration, the forms and the transfer, while you keep your plates and deposit them at your own pace. We are available every day, Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 22:30.