Vehicle registration? The fast, uncomplicated way

Registering your vehicle at the Road Traffic Office is also called redemption or enrollment. Here you receive the vehicle registration document and license plates. 

The Road Traffic Office of your canton of residence is responsible. You can normally find the nearest location online via the website of the respective Road Traffic Office.

First, take out motor vehicle insurance. The insurance company then submits the electronic insurance certificate to the responsible Road Traffic Office. After this, you or your garage owner go to the Road Traffic Office with the original of the previous vehicle registration document or in the case of a new car with the inspection report. The latter then issues the license plates and the new vehicle registration document. It is often also possible to send the original vehicle registration document by mail to the Road Traffic Office. In this case, you will also receive the plates and new documents by mail. The best way of finding out whether the responsible Road Traffic Office offers this option is on its website.

You will need proof of customs clearance to register an imported vehicle. To register your vehicle with the cantonal Road Traffic Office, the customs office will issue an inspection report form 13.20 A. 

The electronic insurance certificate serves as confirmation from the insurance company (Art. 68, (1) SVG) for the Road Traffic Office that the statutory liability cover exists. The insurance company forwards this proof electronically to the Road Traffic Office.

No, you only get a copy of your insurance policy. The insurance certificate is only intended for the Road Traffic Office.

The electronic insurance certificate is valid for 30 days from its date of issue. It serves as confirmation that the statutory liability cover exists. Contact your insurance company if you need more time to register the vehicle. It will provide the Road Traffic Office with an insurance certificate again.

The insurance takes effect as soon as your car has been registered at the Road Traffic Office and you have the new vehicle registration document and license plates. You can find the precise insurance cover in your insurance contract.

The responsible Road Traffic Office invoices you for the costs. They are between CHF 20 and 50 for the license plates and about CHF 40 for the vehicle registration document. The costs vary by canton. Find out more about this at the Road Traffic Office of your residential canton. 

You need the following documents: 

• ID document: Swiss passport, ID card or foreigner's ID card 
• Either the original of the vehicle registration document or the inspection (13.20 A) report in case of an imported vehicle
• Electronic insurance certificate of your insurance company

Would you like to retrieve your license plates you have deposited? Order the insurance certificate here.

• Retrieval of licence plates

For all other reasons, e.g. change of vehicle please contact your local agency or call us to request an insurance certificate.