Why buy used
Used cars save:
- 30–50% on the price of a 3–5-year-old car
- Lower depreciation on resale
- Wide choice: 250,000+ active listings in Switzerland
- Reliable checks: serious OCN/SAN technical inspections
Switzerland has a fleet of 4.8 million passenger vehicles, two-thirds of which change hands every 5–7 years.
Buying platforms
General sites
- AutoScout24: leader, 100,000+ listings
- Comparis Auto: aggregator, comparisons
- Anibis: more versatile, private and garages
- Tutti: general second-hand, cars included
- Ricardo Auto: auctions and direct purchases
Garages and dealerships
- Multi-brand garages: wide choice, 6–12 month minimum warranty
- Official dealerships: "certified" used (CHF 1,000–3,000 more expensive but 2-year warranty, full check)
- Local garages: better human relationship, negotiation possible
Private sellers
- 20–30% cheaper than garages
- No legal warranty
- Risk of hidden defects: get an inspection
Pre-purchase checks
Documents to request
- Registration card
- Recent inspection report (OCN/SAN check)
- Complete service book
- Service invoices from last 5 years
- Proof of ownership (seller must be owner)
- Chassis number (check vehicle = documents)
Independent inspection
- TCS, ACS, trusted garage: CHF 150–400
- Checks:
- Suspension, brakes, engine
- Electronics, on-board computers
- Chassis (corrosion, deformation)
- Tyres, exhaust
- Potential accident history
- Recommended for private purchase > CHF 10,000
Additional checks
- Service book up to date
- No debt enforcement on seller (debt enforcement register)
- Mortgage status: car not pledged
- Check odometer (Swiss carfax limited, beware of tampered meters)
Registration steps
Buyer side
- Mandatory RC insurance subscribed (can be anticipated with seller)
- Registration card transferred at SAN/OCN
- Number plates: transferable if same canton, otherwise new
- Fees: CHF 30–100 by canton
Seller side
- Notify SAN/OCN of sale within 14 days
- Return plates if not transferred to buyer
- Hand over all documents (registration, inspection, etc.)
Indicative prices (5-year used, ~60,000–80,000 km)
- City car (Polo, Fiesta, Yaris): CHF 8,000–15,000
- Compact (Golf, Astra, Mégane): CHF 12,000–20,000
- Family sedan (Passat, Mondeo): CHF 15,000–25,000
- Compact SUV (Tiguan, Qashqai, X1): CHF 18,000–32,000
- Premium (Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class): CHF 25,000–45,000
- Electric: variable, emerging market
Post-purchase costs
- Registration: CHF 30–100
- RC + casco insurance: CHF 1,000–2,500/yr
- Motorway vignette: CHF 40/yr
- Cantonal tax: CHF 200–1,500/yr
- Fuel: based on use
- Technical check (OCN visit): CHF 75–150 (4 yrs after registration, then every 2 yrs)
- Annual maintenance: CHF 500–1,500
Selling your car
Price estimation
- AutoScout24, Comparis: market value
- Eurotax: professional reference
- TCS valuation: paid, expert
Preparing the sale
- Clean inside and out (CHF 50–200)
- Small repairs often worth it (CHF 200–500)
- Service book up to date
- Professional photos: key for online ads
Listing
- Detailed description: km, options, condition
- 15–20 quality photos (interior, exterior, engine, tyres)
- Realistic price: 5–10% above market to allow negotiation
- Sites: AutoScout24, Anibis, Comparis (CHF 30–150 by plan)
Negotiation and sale
- Beware of scams: fake transfers, fraudulent PayPal
- Payment: Twint, bank transfer (verify receipt before handing over keys)
- Test drive: allow with proof of ID and valid licence
- Written sale contract: protects both parties
Garage trade-in
- Easier but less profitable (10–25% below market)
- No scam risk
- Ideal if buying a new car simultaneously (offset against purchase price)
Used electric car
Specifics
- Battery: key factor, check state (real autonomy vs new)
- Manufacturer battery warranty: often 8 years / 160,000 km — verify still covered
- Charging stations: compatible?
- Cantonal subsidies: some cantons subsidise purchase (Geneva, Vaud, Valais)
Popular models
- Tesla Model 3: CHF 20,000–35,000 used
- Renault Zoe: CHF 12,000–22,000
- VW ID.3: CHF 18,000–28,000
- Hyundai Kona Electric: CHF 22,000–32,000
Tips
- Don't rush: take time to compare
- Independent inspection from CHF 10,000
- Prefer cars with up-to-date dealer servicing
- 2–4-year used cars: best price/reliability ratio
- Diesel depreciates since 2019: caution on future resale, especially urban
- Imported car: check Swiss Euro standards compatibility, conversion cost
- Hidden costs: cantonal tax and insurance can double annual cost
