When selling a car in Switzerland, the price depends not only on the vehicle's condition but also on the completeness of your paperwork. A full service history can add several hundred francs, while a missing vehicle registration document can block the sale entirely. And anyone who hands over the keys without a proper contract may still be liable years later. This checklist brings order to your documents.
The documents you need in your folder
Before you advertise the car or request an offer, gather everything. It saves time and signals professionalism to every buyer.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration (grey Fahrzeugausweis) | Mandatory for transfer of ownership and deregistration |
| MFK inspection report (form 13.20 A) | Proves the last inspection and the next due date |
| Type certificate / Code 14 | Required for re-registration, often held by the importer |
| Service book and invoices | Value-adding proof of maintenance |
| Second key and code card | A missing key costs CHF 300–800 in deductions |
| Manual, radio code, winter wheels | Accessories increase the sale price |
If the registration document is lost, your cantonal road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt) issues a duplicate for roughly CHF 30 to 50. Allow a few working days for this.
The sales contract: what must be included
A verbal car sale is legally valid in Switzerland, but almost impossible to prove in a dispute. A written contract in two copies is therefore standard. It should contain:
- Full names, addresses and dates of birth of both parties
- Make, model, registration number, chassis number and current mileage
- Purchase price in CHF, method of payment and date of handover
- Date of the last MFK plus all known defects and accident damage
- A clause excluding warranty claims
- Place, date and signatures of both parties
Important: list known defects specifically, for example "engine control unit faulty" or "rear damage unrepaired". If you conceal defects, no exclusion clause will protect you.
Excluding the warranty correctly
Under Art. 197 ff. of the Swiss Code of Obligations, a seller is generally liable for defects for two years. Private sellers may, however, exclude this liability by contract. The usual wording is: "The vehicle is sold excluding any warranty, as seen and test-driven." The exclusion becomes void if you deliberately deceived the buyer. Full honesty about accident history, rust or engine issues protects you better than any clause.
Handover, payment and deregistration
The biggest risk in a private sale is payment. Never hand over the car against a promise. Only cash verified at a bank counter or a confirmed credit on your account are safe. Be extremely cautious with e-banking screenshots and alleged escrow transfers from abroad.
After handover, the licence plates stay with you. You either deposit them at the road traffic office or transfer them to a new vehicle. The buyer needs their own electronic insurance certificate to drive away. Overpaid motor vehicle tax is refunded pro rata after deregistration, as is your liability insurance premium.
Three mistakes that get expensive
- Handing over the plates: as registered keeper you remain liable for fines and accidents.
- Estimating the mileage: an incorrect figure in the contract counts as a guarantee.
- Keeping no copy: without a signed original you have no evidence in a dispute.
The easy route with autosofortkauf.ch
If you want to avoid paperwork, viewing appointments and payment risks, sell directly to a commercial buyer. autosofortkauf.ch, based in Wangen-Brüttisellen ZH, purchases vehicles of all brands and conditions – including cars without MFK, with accident damage or engine failure. You receive a free valuation, a legally sound contract, immediate cash payment on handover and free collection anywhere in Switzerland. We handle the administration; you sign just once.