Vehicle number and registration document from the driver and vehicle licensing office

Registering a vehicle

You can request the vehicle registration document and number plates from the driver and vehicle licensing office. You will need certain documents to do this.

For a new vehicle, you need

Confirmation from your insurance company that you have at least third-party insurance
The test report (form 13.20A) from the importer or customs (your garage will often get this for you)
An ID document (ID card, passport or foreign national's ID card)
Official confirmation of your place of residence or confirmation of registration with your commune if you are registering a vehicle for the first time; you can get these documents from your commune's residents’ register office.

For a second-hand vehicle

Confirmation from your insurance company that you have at least third-party insurance
The previous keeper's vehicle registration document
The test report, if a follow-up test has been done (form 13.20B) (web page available in German, French and Italian);
An ID document (ID card, passport or foreign national's ID card) Official confirmation of your place of residence or confirmation of registration with your commune if you are registering a vehicle for the first time; you can get these documents from the residents’ register office responsible for you.

For a vehicle from abroad

Confirmation from your insurance company that you have at least third-party insurance
Confirmation of customs clearance
Evidence that the vehicle has been registered abroad (e.g. foreign vehicle registration document)
The test report, from customs or your garage (form 13.20A) (web page available in German, French and Italian);
An ID document (ID card, passport or foreign national's ID card)
Official confirmation of your place of residence or confirmation of registration with your commune if you are registering a vehicle for the first time; you can get these documents from the residents’ register office responsible for you.

Costs

Registration costs vary from canton to canton. Generally, you will pay between CHF 50 and CHF 100 for the registration document and the number plates. For more information, contact the driver and vehicle licensing office of the canton where you live (website available in German, French and Italian).

Interchangeable number plates

If you have two or more vehicles, you can apply for interchangeable number plates. These enable you to save on insurance and road tax, but you can only have one vehicle on the road at a time. If you would like interchangeable number plates, the vehicles must:

be of the same type (you cannot register the same number for a car and a motorcycle)
belong to the same keeper, and
be kept in the same canton.

Deregistering a vehicle

Depositing your number plates

If you will not be using your vehicle for a time, you can deposit the number plates with the driver and vehicle licensing office of the canton where you live. You can post the plates in or hand them over at the counter. The office will notify your insurance company. You do not have to pay third party insurance or vehicle tax for the period that your number plates are deposited.

Deposited number plates are kept in reserve for the holder for a certain period of time after they have been handed in. The exact duration varies between cantons, but is at least one year. For more information, contact the driver and vehicle licensing office in the canton where you live. When you want to use your vehicle again you can re-register it. You will need an insurance certificate.

Selling a vehicle

If you sell your vehicle, hand over the vehicle registration document to the new owner.
Keep your old number plates, which you can use for a new vehicle.
If you do not buy a new vehicle to replace the old one, hand your plates back to the driver and vehicle licensing office.
If you scrap your vehicle, have the registration document cancelled by the licensing office.
If you deregister a vehicle with interchangeable plates, the office will cancel the registration document and notify your insurance company. You may find that you pay lower premiums as a result.

Lost or stolen number plates

If you have lost your number plates or had them stolen:

Report the loss of your plates immediately to the nearest police station or to Suisse ePolice (website available in German, French and Italian), the digital police portal for Switzerland's police forces. You will be sent a police report.
Then report the loss additionally to the driver and vehicle licensing office of the canton where you live (website available in German, French and Italian).

Further information

If you have any further questions about registering or deregistering vehicles, please contact the driver and vehicle licensing office in the canton where you live (website available in German, French and Italian).
If you have misplaced your number plates, please report the loss immediately to the nearest police station or to Suisse ePolice (website available in German, French and Italian), the digital police portal for Switzerland's police forces.

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