Buying a Car in Switzerland: How to Find Your Perfect Vehicle

Buying a car is a long-term decision—after all, this new addition to your life will accompany you for several years. From choosing the vehicle type to setting a budget and comparing ongoing costs, there’s a lot to consider, as a new car can be expensive. Even used cars can set you back several thousand CHF, so it’s essential that the new car perfectly suits you and your needs. CARIFY provides insights on what to consider when buying a car in Switzerland.

Why Buy a Car in Switzerland?

Switzerland is a beautiful country, with many natural wonders to discover. However, most of them can’t be reached comfortably without a car. Even in urban areas, flexible mobility isn’t a mere luxury. Sometimes, having your own car is the most convenient way to reach your destination quickly.

Benefits of Buying a Car in Switzerland

Having your own car parked at home is not a luxury for many; it’s a necessity. Here are the main reasons to buy a car in Switzerland:

• Growing Family: As your family grows, so do your mobility needs. With young children, you’re often carrying large amounts of luggage: strollers, diapers, toys, food, drinks, and spare clothes. An own car can simplify these logistical challenges. A spacious family car is also great for family vacations.

• Daily Commute: If you live outside the city and need to commute to work, a reliable and fast car is a welcome convenience.

• Professional Mobility: In your job, you’re rarely at your desk all day. Instead, you may need a car to visit clients, go to other offices, or transport equipment.

• Flexible Mobility: Spontaneous activities are much easier with a car. An evening at the movies, a mountain trip, or visiting family—all of these become simpler with a car.

Public Transportation vs. Car

Public transportation is a fantastic option! It’s environmentally friendly and daily brings numerous people who don’t own cars to their destinations. But trains and buses aren’t perfect for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of public transportation:

Pros:

• Sustainable with little or no CO₂ emissions per person

• More affordable than maintaining a car

• No need to find parking

• Stress-free as you don’t need to navigate traffic

Cons:

• Inflexible schedules, especially late at night and on weekends

• Harder to access in rural areas

• Often a long walk to the nearest stop

• Delays or cancellations

• Sometimes no seat or limited luggage space

• Long travel times

With a car, you can comfortably reach your destination regardless of the weather and always have a seat. Here are the pros and cons of owning a car:

Pros:

• Flexibility to go anytime and nearly anywhere

• Comfort of staying dry and reaching your destination at your own speed

Cons:

• High ongoing costs for maintenance and upkeep

• Stress when driving on busy roads

• Environmental impact from fuel-powered cars

Options for Buying a Car in Switzerland

You’ve decided—a car it is. But where’s the best place to find your dream car? CARIFY presents your options:

Traditional Dealerships

At a trusted dealership, you can get advice on the car that best fits your budget and mobility needs. However, salespeople might push you to buy a car you can’t afford or that proves impractical.

Most dealerships offer both new and used cars. Used cars are cheaper, but the condition may vary. Reputable dealerships thoroughly check used vehicles and often provide warranties beyond the legal minimum.

Advantages: advice, guarantee, test drive, possibility of discounts and bargains (daily registrations)

Disadvantages: Limited selection, lack of price comparison

Online Purchase Platforms

Digital marketplaces feature cars from both dealers and private sellers, offering a wide selection of makes and models.

However, you may need to travel a long distance for viewings and could discover the car doesn’t meet your expectations. Worse, some cars may have hidden issues that aren’t apparent until after purchase.

Advantages: selection, price comparison, available from the comfort of your home

Disadvantages: Lack of advice, possibility of fraud, test drive often not possible, possibly hidden additional costs

CARIFY: Simple Car Purchases with Flexibility

CARIFY’s “Try and Buy” model lets you test-drive your chosen car for up to six months before committing to buy. This way, you’re sure to get exactly what you want in top condition.

Advantages: Huge selection, price comparison, bookable from the comfort of your own home, flexible trial period, guarantee and warranty from the dealer, cost transparency

The Most Important Factors When Buying a Car in Switzerland

Before settling on a car model, you should consider the following steps:

Budget Planning and Costs

How much money do you have each month for your car’s running costs? Make a list of the expenses that will come up, such as:

• Loan/Leasing payments

• Taxes

• Insurance

• Maintenance, service, roadside assistance, toll sticker, and tires

Choosing the Right Car

Large cars are much more expensive to maintain than small ones. However, they often offer less space inside and in the trunk. Gasoline cars are cheaper than electric ones, but fuel and maintenance are more expensive. Additionally, some environmental zones restrict them.

Swiss Regulations and Insurance

Every car driven in Switzerland must comply with regulations, which include technical standards for safety and emission norms. Vehicles owned by residents must be registered with the relevant cantonal authority, approved for road use, and have a valid motor vehicle inspection. The authority also collects an annual vehicle tax. No car is allowed on Swiss roads without liability insurance. Comprehensive insurance, however, is optional.

CARIFY’s “Try and Buy”: How It Works

With “Try and Buy,” you see upfront what costs you can expect. In our wide selection of new and nearly new cars, you're sure to find your dream car.

Flexibility and Convenience

Instead of facing buyer’s remorse from a rushed decision, CARIFY lets you test-drive cars at your own pace without going without a vehicle. Not the right fit? No problem – just return it and try another. You also have the choice between buying or leasing.

Advantages Over Traditional Leasing

With an extended trial period, you only commit when you're fully confident. Until then, you drive under the terms of our car subscription. If you decide to keep the car, we refund the subscription fees you've already paid.

Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Car with CARIFY

Here's how to buy a car through CARIFY:

Choose a Car Online

Under “Try and Buy,” you’ll find all the cars our partner garages offer for purchase. Filter by criteria like make, model, or fuel type, and select your vehicle.

Test with “Try and Buy”

The unique feature of our program: you can test-drive the car for up to six months before buying. During this time, you only pay the monthly subscription rate, allowing you to get a sense of the car’s ongoing costs.

Purchase and Transition to Ownership

Fourteen days before the trial period ends, you decide: to keep it or return it (you can cancel the subscription through your CARIFY account). If you want to keep it, contact our customer service. The purchase price is displayed on our site, with an additional registration fee of 250 CHF covering re-registration, toll sticker, and fuel at handover. We deduct 100% of the subscription fees you've paid during the trial from the final purchase price.

Conclusion

Buying a car shouldn't be done on impulse – besides the purchase price, you need to consider ongoing costs and your mobility needs. Buying through CARIFY provides peace of mind: with our “Try and Buy” program, you can choose from over 400 garages across Switzerland and test different cars for up to six months. When you decide to buy, you can be confident it's the perfect car for you!

FAQs

How do I buy a car in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, you can buy a car from a dealer, privately, on online platforms, or through CARIFY.

How much does it cost to buy a car in Switzerland?

Costs depend on the vehicle class, make, model, age, and condition. New cars range from 20,000 to over 100,000 CHF, while used cars are available from 5,000 to 50,000 CHF.

What is CARIFY’s “Try and Buy” model?

First try, then buy: with CARIFY’s “Try and Buy” program, you can test your dream car for 1 to 6 months before deciding to purchase.

What are the benefits of buying a car through CARIFY?

• Flexible trial period

• Cost transparency

• Wide selection

• Easy purchase process

• Warranty and assurance

• Dedicated customer service