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Step-by-step guide to deregistering your vehicle at the road traffic office. With checklist, costs and deadlines for all 26 cantons.
Editorial Team
The autoweg editorial team consists of Swiss automotive market experts creating in-depth guides and market analyses.
When selling to a dealer, they handle deregistration for you. For private sales, you must go to the road traffic office yourself, return the license plates and have the vehicle registration cancelled.
The dealer handles deregistration for you. You only hand over the vehicle registration and license plates at sale.
You must return the license plates to the road traffic office within 14 days after the sale.
Important: Mind the Deadline!
Insurance and taxes continue until you deregister. Deregister as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary costs.
When I sold my first car privately, I forgot about deregistration for 2 months. The insurance charged me CHF 340 during that time – for a car I no longer owned. It was only when the next bill arrived that I realised: as long as the plates aren't returned, you keep paying. At autoweg, we ensure the dealer handles everything immediately – so this costly mistake doesn't happen to you.
CHF 340 in unnecessary costs – just because I deregistered 2 months too late.
Deregistering a vehicle in Switzerland means officially taking it out of service at the cantonal road traffic office. The license plates are returned, the vehicle registration is cancelled, and motor vehicle tax and insurance end as of the deregistration date. The legal basis is Art. 11 SVG (Road Traffic Act) in conjunction with the VZV (Ordinance on the Admission of Persons and Vehicles to Road Traffic).
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The most common cause of unnecessary costs after a car sale is late deregistration. We recommend completing deregistration on the same day as the vehicle handover.
Sign the purchase contract, hand over keys, remove license plates. Photograph the mileage and condition of the car.
Go to the road traffic office as soon as possible. In many cantons you can book an appointment online or send the plates by registered mail.
You'll receive a written deregistration confirmation. Keep this document for at least 5 years.
Send the deregistration confirmation to your motor vehicle insurance. The proportional premium will be refunded within 2-4 weeks.
The vehicle must be deregistered within 14 days at the latest. After this, you risk a reminder and additional fees.
Create a purchase contract with complete details of both parties (name, address, date of birth). Note date, time and mileage at handover. Photograph the vehicle from all sides as evidence.
Tip: Use our purchase contract guide for a legally sound template.
Remove both license plates (front and rear) from the vehicle. Use a screwdriver and take care not to damage the plates – damaged plates incur additional charges (CHF 40-80 per plate).
Important: NEVER give the buyer the license plates with the car. As long as the plates are registered to you, you're liable.
Go in person to your canton's road traffic office. In the cantons of Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Aargau and Basel, you can also book an appointment online or send the plates by registered mail.
In some cantons (e.g. Zurich) you can initiate deregistration entirely online.
Present the vehicle registration (original) and your ID and return the license plates. The registration will be cancelled and you'll receive an official deregistration confirmation. Check the confirmation immediately for accuracy.
Keep the deregistration confirmation for at least 5 years – it serves as proof for insurance and tax authorities.
Notify your motor vehicle insurance in writing about the sale and send a copy of the deregistration confirmation. The premium will be refunded proportionally from the deregistration date. Motor vehicle tax is automatically adjusted by the canton.
Also enquire about a possible refund of the plate deposit (CHF 40-80).
Many car owners don't realise they get back part of their insurance premium upon deregistration. With comprehensive cover, that can easily be CHF 500-800.
Costs vary by canton between CHF 0 and CHF 50.
Overall, refunds often exceed the cost of deregistration.
These mistakes cost Swiss car sellers millions every year.
You give the buyer the license plates and they don't re-register. Result: you remain liable for insurance, taxes and fines.
ALWAYS remove plates yourself and return them to the road traffic office.
Every day without deregistration costs you: insurance premium continues, as does motor vehicle tax.
Deregister within 1-3 days of the sale.
Even after deregistration at the road traffic office, you must inform insurance separately. Otherwise the policy continues.
Send deregistration confirmation to insurance immediately.
Damaged plates cannot be returned. You must pay for replacements and don't get the deposit back.
Remove plates carefully and transport them protected.
Without confirmation, you can't prove when you deregistered. In disputes with insurance or tax authorities, you have no evidence.
Keep confirmation digitally and physically for at least 5 years.
| Dealer Sale | Private Sale | autoweg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deregistration | Dealer handles everything | You must go to road traffic office | Dealer handles everything |
| Cost to you | CHF 0 | CHF 0-50 | CHF 0 |
| Effort | Minimal | High | No effort |
| Time required | 0 minutes | 1-2 hours | 0 minutes |
| Risk | No risk | High (if buyer doesn't re-register) | No risk |
| Insurance cancellation | Dealer informs | You must cancel yourself | Dealer informs |
As long as a vehicle is registered in your name, you're liable for all fines and damages – even if you sold it long ago. Deregistration is your protection.
Find your road traffic office with address, opening hours and online services.
Road Traffic Office of the Canton of Zurich
Road Traffic and Shipping Office of the Canton of Bern (SVSA)
Road Traffic Office of the Canton of Lucerne
Arsenalstrasse 45, 6010 Kriens
Mo-Fr 08:00-11:30, 13:15-16:30
Office for Road and Shipping Traffic of the Canton of Uri
Traffic Office of the Canton of Schwyz
Traffic Safety Centre Obwalden/Nidwalden (VSZ) - Sarnen Location
Legal & DocumentsComplete process for owner change: Required documents, cantonal fees, deadlines, and common mistakes to avoid when re-registering your vehicle.
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Legal & DocumentsWhat must be in the purchase contract? All important clauses, legal tips and what to watch out for when selling your car.
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Insurance & TaxWhen and how to cancel your insurance after selling. Calculate your refund, avoid common mistakes, and understand special termination rights.
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