My first car

Think carefully about what you will need the car for. Your needs and desires will influence the size of the vehicle, the drive technology and therefore the cost of the vehicle.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I tend to travel long or short distances by car?
• Do I often travel in the mountains and in snowy conditions?
• Do I need a car with a lot of space?
• Do I have a parking space at home and/or at work?
• Might my living situation change in the near future?
• How much do I want to spend on the car?

Drive technology
If you frequently want to drive longer distances, an economical diesel vehicle could be of advantage. For shorter distances, a petrol car is the wiser choice. If you are interested in a hybrid or electric vehicle, make sure you have the necessary charging stations at home or at work. Alternatively, you can use smart solutions to charge while on the road. With our Zurich Z Volt App, for example, you can find charging stations near you.

Personal circumstances
Ask yourself how long you want to keep the vehicle. Might your circumstances change in the foreseeable future? For example, due to the birth of a child, because you are moving to a city or will be absent for a longer period of time?

Costs and financing
Depending on your budget, a used car might be better than a new car. If you are interested in leasing, then a car dealer is generally the right place for you. This is because there are financial institutions that can help you finance a lease.

Once you know what you mainly need your car for, you can start looking for your dream car. To do so, use online portals or inquire at car dealers, garages, etc. Once you have found a model that meets your requirements, you can arrange a test drive.

During the test drive, pay attention to how the car handles:

• Does the vehicle show error messages?
• Does it drive smoothly?
• Does it stay in the lane? 
• Does the engine idle smoothly? 
• Are there any odd noises while driving? 
• Do the radio, air conditioning, electric windows or sunroof, etc. work?
• Do the brakes work properly?
• With used cars, it is very helpful to take a specialist along for the test drive.

You were able to test drive your dream car and are satisfied with it. Now's the time to start negotiating.

Buying used cars

When buying a used car, make sure you pay attention to the condition of the vehicle and not only to the price. Because with used cars, you may soon be faced with the repairs and service costs. Or you may have to buy new tires soon.

When was the last vehicle inspection carried out? Was it a while back? Then use this argument to negotiate a lower price. Also check the service booklet. Make sure that all services have been regularly and properly documented. Before buying, you can also ask the seller to have the vehicle serviced at their own expense. If the seller does not comply with your request, you can use this argument when negotiating the price.

Buying a new car

Winter and summer tires
When buying a new car, it is often forgotten that summer or winter tires will be necessary by the next season at the latest. Before buying, it is therefore worth checking whether a set of winter and summer tires is included. This is often not the case. We therefore recommend buying the necessary tires at a good price during the sales talk.

Warranty
You should also pay attention to the warranty offered by the seller or the manufacturer. There are big differences depending on the brand. Before buying, check how long the warranty is valid and whether an extended warranty is offered.

Vehicle servicing
Vehicle servicing is included free of charge for a certain period when you buy a new car. Check how long the vehicle servicing is valid for and what it includes.

Stock vehicles at a good price
New cars are very interesting because you can configure the vehicle exactly how you want it. However, garages and car dealers often have pre-configured stock vehicles that are new or only a few months old, which are offered on attractive terms. We therefore recommend that you keep an eye out for such models.

As soon as the sales agreement has been signed, you should take care of the car insurance. Motor third party liability insurance is compulsory for every car. You are not allowed to drive your car without it.

If the car still has a certain value, we recommend that you also take out single vehicle accidental damage insurance. This covers, among other things, damage to the vehicle caused by vandalism, fire, theft or hail. For new or good-as-new cars, we recommend comprehensive insurance. This covers the repair costs for damage to your own vehicle in the event of a collision. In the case of leasing, the leasing company will always require comprehensive insurance.

Furthermore, the following additional coverage is useful:

• Gross negligence cover
• Roadside assistance cover 
• Passenger accident insurance
• Traffic legal protection
• Parking damage cover (Parking damage cover is optional additional coverage for comprehensive insurance. The cover is worthwhile for vehicles that are only a few years old and as good as new). 

You can find more information in our guide article "Comprehensive cover or partial casco – which one do I need"?

As soon as you have taken out at least motor third-party liability insurance, you can ask your insurer to send the car insurance certificate to the Road Traffic Office. To register the car, you will need to go to the Road Traffic Office in person. Alternatively, you can ask your garage to do this for you, or you can send your documents by post.

When you go to the Road Traffic Office, you will need the following documents in addition to proof of insurance:

• Proof of identity (Swiss passport, ID card or foreigner's ID card)
• Original old vehicle registration document (for used vehicles)
• Original inspection report (form 13.20 A) for new vehicles

You will then receive a vehicle registration document and the number plates for your car. All you need to do now is attach these to the vehicle and drive off!