The vehicle inspection (MFK) is due, the summons is in your letterbox — but the car would hardly pass without expensive repairs. Many owners believe they must present the vehicle for inspection before selling. That is not true: in Switzerland, a car may be sold without a valid MFK.

The legal position in brief

The MFK requirement concerns operating the vehicle on public roads, not selling it. You may sell a vehicle with an expired inspection at any time — the buyer must then have it inspected before re-registering it. If you sell to a dealer or exporter, the issue disappears for you entirely.

Is an MFK before the sale still worth it?

A fresh MFK can raise the price with private buyers — but do the maths honestly:

  • Inspection fee: 60 to 90 francs depending on the canton
  • Garage preparation work: easily 500 to 2,000 francs
  • On older vehicles, often follow-up repairs: brakes, exhaust, suspension, rust

For vehicles worth under roughly 8,000 francs, preparation costs frequently exceed the price benefit by a wide margin. The investment usually only pays off for newer, well-kept cars that would pass easily anyway.

Typical situations — and the best solution

Inspection summons received, car has defects

Sell to a buying service before the inspection date. You save the fee, the repairs and the stress. The summons does not oblige you to inspect if the vehicle is deregistered or sold.

Failed the inspection

Even after a failed MFK you are free to choose: fix and re-present — or sell the vehicle as-is. The defect report actually creates transparency and speeds up the valuation.

Car has been deregistered for a while

Deregistered vehicles without MFK are everyday business for export dealers. What matters is the registration document (even cancelled) and the keys; collection is by trailer.

How simple it is with autosofortkauf.ch

We buy vehicles with expired, missing or failed MFK throughout Switzerland. Send us the vehicle details and any defect report — you receive a fair quote, free collection and immediate payment. No inspection stress at all.