Swiss car hire madness

[kelvedon]

I just received this email from British Airways informing me that a new EU law prevents EU residents who hire cars in Switzerland from taking those cars outside Switzerland.

Given the size of Switzerland, it is very common to cross the border, but this new directive means that if you do, the hirer could be liable for a charge at the border equal to 10% of the cars value.

To circumvent this, potential hirers will be given EU plated cars. This is going to be a logistical nightmare for the car hire companies and an example of EU bureaucracy gone even madder. It would appear this directive does not apply to non EU residents.

"Dear Customer,

I am contacting you with further information regarding your Avis car hire reservation in Switzerland.

A new EU Directive means that any customer wishing to drive into another country must advise Avis at time of pick up. EU residents can only drive a vehicle with an EU license plate out of Switzerland therefore all customers will be asked to sign a document when collecting the car to advise of their plans. Avis endeavour to provide all EU customers wanting to drive out of the country an EU plate car. If you are given a non-EU plate car and you drive out of the country you could be liable for a charge at the border (10% of the value of the car). This charge is made at the border therefore it is imperative you sign the document at the depot so that Avis can give you the correct vehicle for your plans.

As part of our commitment to customer service, we like to ensure that our customers are made aware of such information prior to travel. This email is for clarification purposes and I trust this will not affect your stay or enjoyment in any way.

In closing, I would like to thank you for booking with British Airways Holidays, and wish you an enjoyable trip.

Best regards,
Linda Lazzaro,
Customer Support and Operations
British Airways Holidays

Tel : 0344 493 0787 (07:30 - 20:00, daily)"

 

[Scr77]

Thanks for posting. I presume this applies to all EU Boarders and not just Switzerland ?

 

[travelislife]

Thanks for posting. I presume this applies to all EU Boarders and not just Switzerland ?

Well Switzerland isn't part of the EU so not sure that would be correct, but no idea really.

 

[opusman]

Yes applies to all EU residents bringing non-EU registered cars into the EU (from anywhere, not just CH).

 

[Scr77]

So do we presume that taking a rental car into ​Switzerland won't be an issue? I have a one way rental from France to Switzerland in September.

 

[opusman]

So do we presume that taking a rental car into ​Switzerland won't be an issue? I have a one way rental from France to Switzerland in September.

No issue there.

 

[Mal]

Utter EU madness!

 

[dajop]

Probably won't affect most AFF'ers as I assume most are not EU residents.

But the above notwithstanding, I guess in addition to Swiss rentals being common, Norwegian might be as well. Then there are the former Yugoslav countries still outside the EU. And so on.

 

[marki]

Utter EU madness!

Yes thinking exactly the same, this is why the EU has gone mad!

 

[opusman]

If you brought a foreign reg'd car into Australia I suspect they'd try to charge you customs duty on it, why should the EU be any different?

 

[kelvedon]

So do we presume that taking a rental car into ​Switzerland won't be an issue? I have a one way rental from France to Switzerland in September.

In fact the Swiss recipient car hire company would be happy to receive your French plated car as they could then use it for customers who wanted to cross the border as Switzerland is surrounded by EU countries.

 

[burmans]

If you brought a foreign reg'd car into Australia I suspect they'd try to charge you customs duty on it, why should the EU be any different?

Don't mock the knockers, they hate logic!

 

[kelvedon]

If you brought a foreign reg'd car into Australia I suspect they'd try to charge you customs duty on it, why should the EU be any different?

Yes you need a Carnet to bring your own car into Australia, but given we have no land borders, it inconveniences very few people. However, the size and proximity of Switzerland, make this decision bureaucratic madness. Its not like the car hirer can sell the vehicle once they're in an EU country.

 

[opusman]

Yes you need a Carnet to bring your own car into Australia, but given we have no land borders, it inconveniences very few people. However, the size and proximity of Switzerland, make this decision bureaucratic madness. Its not like the car hirer can sell the vehicle once they're in an EU country.

Bureaucratic madness, a.k.a. enforcement of completely normal customs regulations?

 

[medhead]

If you brought a foreign reg'd car into Australia I suspect they'd try to charge you customs duty on it, why should the EU be any different?

And when you drive back over the border in the car do you get the 10% back?

Don't mock the knockers, they hate logic!

Bureaucratic madness, a.k.a. enforcement of completely normal customs regulations?

Seriously, customs regulations only apply to permanent importation. If we follow your logic then every item that a traveller to the EU bring with them needs to be subject to a 10% tax on entry to the EU. All those computers, cameras, etc. etc. collect 10% when you get off your flight from Oz at LHR.

 

[opusman]

Seriously, customs regulations only apply to permanent importation. If we follow your logic then every item that a traveller to the EU bring with them needs to be subject to a 10% tax on entry to the EU. All those computers, cameras, etc. etc. collect 10% when you get off your flight from Oz at LHR.

Seriously, try bringing a car into Australia and tell them "don't worry, it's not staying" and see how far you get.

 

[kelvedon]

Bureaucratic madness, a.k.a. enforcement of completely normal customs regulations?

But we're talking about a car you've temporarily hired. Its doesn't belong to you, you can't sell it, and car hire company can't re register it in the EU without paying the appropriate taxes.

 

[opusman]

But we're talking about a car you've temporarily hired. Its doesn't belong to you, you can't sell it, and car hire company can't re register it in the EU without paying the appropriate taxes.

Who knows, maybe there's a thriving black-market in smuggling cars into the EU disguised as rentals. I don't know why they've introduced this rule, I just figure there's probably a sensible reason for it beyond the knee-jerk EU-haters' theory of "bureaucratic madness". And they are hardly the only state/organisation to charge customs duty for imports, particularly big and expensive things like cars.

Blame Switzerland for not joining the EU if you want to blame someone.

 

[dajop]

Who knows, maybe there's a thriving black-market in smuggling cars into the EU disguised as rentals..

Probably from the non-EU members in eastern europe. But of course extremely unlikely from Switzerland, where cars (or indeed anything other than chocolate items) are not exactly cheap ..... but I guess it's under a capture all not easy to differentiate ...

 

[medhead]

Seriously, try bringing a car into Australia and tell them "don't worry, it's not staying" and see how far you get.

We're not talking about australia where talking about europe with 14 countries inside the space of Victoria, or something like that. It's not even a comparable situation. Interesting comment but irrelevant.

Who knows, maybe there's a thriving black-market in smuggling cars into the EU disguised as rentals. I don't know why they've introduced this rule, I just figure there's probably a sensible reason for it beyond the knee-jerk EU-haters' theory of "bureaucratic madness". And they are hardly the only state/organisation to charge customs duty for imports, particularly big and expensive things like cars.

Blame Switzerland for not joining the EU if you want to blame someone.

Ok so we've gone from normal customs regulation to "some good reason for it". A thriving black market run by hire car companies? EU-haters? Talk about grasping at straws...

BTW a hire car is not an import.