Registering a car in a foreign country can feel like braving a dragon’s lair armed with nothing but paperwork and hope. Do you have the right forms? Will you incur unforeseen fees? Will you get sent home for forgetting some obscure document? No wonder we gave the decision to import our car to Switzerland so much thought.

But whether you import a car or buy one here, at some point in the process, you will come into contact with the Strassenverkehrsamt/Service des Automobiles. They handle everything to do with driving, from licences to car registrations to number plates and everything else in between.

This can feel a bit daunting, so I wanted to share some tips I’ve learned about getting a car on the road here.

The “Grey Card”
Whenever you register a car in Switzerland, the Strassenverkehrsamt will issue a “grey card” – the car’s official registration document. The grey card contains important information and acts as your vehicle’s passport, so keep it with your car at all times. If you sell the car, the new owner will need the grey card to transfer the vehicle into their name. Similarly, if you move to a different canton, you must register the car in the new canton and update the grey card with your new address.

Along with the grey card, the Strassenverkehrsamt will allocate a set of car number plates to you. This is an important distinction from many countries – in Switzerland a car’s plates are assigned to you as the owner, not the vehicle. Consequently, every time you sell or buy a car, you can keep your plates and transfer them to your new vehicle.

Last but not least, don’t forget to organise car insurance before registering your car. The Strassenverkehrsamt will need proof that you’re insured before issuing a grey card.

The (dreaded?) MFK
Cars in Switzerland are required to pass the MFK inspection regularly to ensure they’re roadworthy. How often depends on the car’s age and category (there are different rules for historic cars), but sooner or later it’s a hoop you’ll need to jump through. You will be allocated a specific date/ time and told to report at a near-to-you (though not necessarily the nearest!) testing centre. You can reschedule if needed, but do so promptly to avoid a cancellation fee.

When you go for the MFK, make sure your car is CLEAN. And I don’t just mean “clean”. I mean bells and whistles CLEAN-CLEAN. The guys who run the inspection centres take great pride in their work environment and you could eat your dinner off the floor of the garages. Okay, slight exaggeration – but only just. One of our cars failed its MFK because the mechanics deemed it too dirty and refused to let us into their garage. You have been warned.

The “say-ash”
Many years have passed since our first MFK, but as the saying goes, I remember it like it was yesterday. We were understandably nervous, so we engaged a Swiss garage to prepare and service the car. They assured us it would pass its MFK with flying colours. On the day of the inspection, all was going well. The grey card was as good as ours – until the inspector tapped his clipboard. “What now?” we wondered. The man looked grave. “You are missing a say-ash,” he said. A say-ash? We peppered the man with questions: How quickly could we get one? From where? How much would it cost? And what exactly was a say-ash? He smiled and pointed to a stack of “CH” stickers.

I didn’t even mind feeling a little silly. For once, a simple solution. And from a garage no less. Who knew it could be that easy?

ANNA CHARLES