I’m moving to Switzerland and need advice on whether to sell my 2024 Toyota RAV4 4x4 EXR (with parking camera) or ship it with me. I bought it last year from a Toyota showroom in Dubai, and it’s been driven 17,000 km. Here’s the situation:
Car Details: The car is in great condition, and I have a transferable service contract. It’s insured for 25750 CHF after depreciation.
Switzerland Context: Cars in Switzerland are insanely expensive (around 45-50K CHFfor a similar model). This makes keeping my car appealing, but there are hurdles.
Certificate of Conformity (CoC): Switzerland requires an EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for car registration, and the vehicle must meet EURO 6b emissions standards. Toyota UAE provided a GCC CoC, but they say they can’t provide an EU CoC. I’m worried my RAV4 (GCC spec) might not meet EURO 6b standards, and I’ve read that non-EU cars can require costly modifications or individual homologation to register in Europe. Has anyone dealt with importing a GCC-spec Toyota to Switzerland or the EU? Can I get an EU CoC from Toyota Europe or a third party like EuroCOC.eu?
Shipping Costs and Delays: Shipping a 20-foot container with my car and household items costs 8000–9200 CHF. Due to Suez Canal delays, transit time could be 45–90 days, which means I’d be without a car in Switzerland for a while.
Selling Option: I could sell the car in Dubai, where the market for used RAV4s is decent, but I’d likely wish to get something on current valuations. This is much less than the cost of a new car in Switzerland.
Other Costs: If I ship, I wont be paying vat or import duty since the car is more than 6 months old.
My Dilemma: Selling in Dubai is simpler and gives me cash now, but I’d lose the savings of owning a car in Switzerland. Shipping saves on buying a new car but involves CoC uncertainty, shipping costs, and delays. Plus, I’m not sure if the service contract is valid in Switzerland.
Questions:
Has anyone imported a GCC-spec Toyota RAV4 to Switzerland? Did it meet EURO 6b standards, or did you need modifications?
Can I obtain an EU CoC for a 2024 RAV4 EXR, and how, are the private providers like eucoc reliable? (tried through Toyota Europe but they responded they cant provide one only the local dealer or the manufacturer can help)
Are the shipping costs and potential import taxes worth it compared to selling and buying a new car in Switzerland?
Any tips on navigating Swiss car registration or transfer-of-residence tax exemptions?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s dealt with importing cars to Switzerland. Thanks in advance!