Skip to content
general-news — Inspection — Circolazione — Industry — Business — Taxes — Swiss — Registering — Finance — Politics

Unveiled: Potential Overcharging in Swiss Cantons for Driving-Related Services?

Motorists across Switzerland might have encountered their local canton's car office for various reasons. And for some residents, the costs could be unnecessarily high, depending on their specific location.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read

Revamped Take:

Swiss Car-Related Offices: A Breakdown

Skip the jargon—these babysitters, colloquially known as Strassenverkehrsamt, Service des automobiles, or La Sezione della circolazione in various Swiss cantons, handle registrations, taxes, driver's tests, licenses, and inspections for your beloved vehicles.

But here's the kink—Switzerland's federalist law grants each canton the freedom to self-govern, from tax rates to education. This flexibility extends to setting their own fees associated with these vehicle services.

SO, WHAT'S THE DEAL?

Have a look at the numbers: a 2024 report by the Federal Finance Administration shows that the average administrative fees for all Swiss cantons cumulatively amount to 115 percent, meaning you're coughing up 15 percent more in additional fees compared to the actual service cost.

A dozen cantons outshine this norm, with Ticino and Geneva charging an astronomical 59 and 47 percent more than the national average, respectively. That's quite the bite!

Other high-fees cantons include Graubünden (42 percent), Thurgau (41), Basel-Country (37), Appenzell Innerrhoden (35), Aargau (31), Bern and Appenzell Ausserrhoden (27), St. Gallen (23), Lucerne and Glarus (16).

Now, don't get too excited; the 'lower'-fee cantons—Vaud and Schwyz (13), Valais and Fribourg (3), Basel-City (2)—are still charging more than the average.

Buck the trend, Zurich and Zug, are only 87 percent, meaning they're 13 percent below the average; Neuchâtel, the priciest canton, follows suit, with fees at 86 percent, undercutting the average by a whopping 14 percent.

HOLD ON A SEC…

It's essential to bear in mind that higher or lower administrative costs don't exclusively dictate the quality of the service—Zurich charges 250 francs for a driving test, while Fribourg only asks 190.

SO WHAT'S BEING DONE TO CUT COSTS?

Stefan Meierhans, Switzerland's designated price monitor, notes that some administrative tasks, like inspections, could be handled in a more cost-efficient manner by improving management practices.

Since 2022, he's been coaxing cantons to do the right thing and reduce their costly automotive services. However, progress, alas, hasn't been swift.

KEEP IN THE LOOP

Stay alert for updates regarding Swiss car-related administrative fees. You'll want to monitor announcements from the Federal Office for Roads (ASTRA) as well as individual cantonal transportation departments, such as Zürich and Geneva.

  1. The Swiss cantons, responsible for registrations, taxes, inspections, and other vehicle-related services, have varying fees due to Switzerland's federalist law.
  2. In a 2024 report, the Federal Finance Administration revealed that the combined administrative fees for all Swiss cantons equate to 115 percent of the actual service cost.
  3. Ticino and Geneva have particularly high fees, charging 59 percent and 47 percent more than the national average, respectively.
  4. Interestingly, Zurich and Neuchâtel, despite being considered 'lower' in fees, are still above the average at 87 percent and 86 percent, respectively.
  5. To address the issue, Switzerland's price monitor, Stefan Meierhans, has encouraged cantons to streamline their practices and reduce costs, but progress has been slow.
In Switzerland, if you own a vehicle, you likely interacted with your local automobile office at some point. Depending on your canton, these fees you've been shelling out might be significantly higher than necessary.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest