Swiss specifics
Motor vehicle tax: the cantons compared
Vehicle tax in Switzerland is a cantonal matter — for the same car you pay a different amount depending on where you live. Here you will find which cantons are cheap and which are expensive, how the tax is worked out and where there is room to save.
How does vehicle tax work in Switzerland?
The motor vehicle tax (Motorfahrzeugsteuer) falls due once a year and helps pay for the road network. Each canton decides on its own how high the tax is and which formula applies. The most common bases are:
- Gross weight: the permissible total weight of the vehicle in kilograms — the most frequent basis.
- Engine power: kilowatts (kW) or horsepower — a few cantons weight power heavily.
- Engine displacement: cylinder capacity in cubic centimetres — rare, but it exists.
- CO2 emissions: a handful of cantons take emissions into account.
Canton by canton: what does the tax cost?
The overview below shows typical amounts for a mid-size petrol car (around 1'500 kg) in a range of cantons:
| Canton | Typical tax per year | Basis of calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich (ZH) | approx. CHF 150–250 | Weight + power |
| Bern (BE) | approx. CHF 150–250 | Weight + power |
| Geneva (GE) | approx. CHF 200–350 | Weight + CO2 |
| Vaud (VD) | approx. CHF 200–300 | Weight + power |
| Basel-Stadt (BS) | approx. CHF 180–280 | Weight |
| Aargau (AG) | approx. CHF 120–200 | Weight |
| St. Gallen (SG) | approx. CHF 130–220 | Weight |
| Zug (ZG) | approx. CHF 100–180 | Weight |
| Schwyz (SZ) | approx. CHF 100–160 | Weight |
| Lucerne (LU) | approx. CHF 140–220 | Weight |
| Ticino (TI) | approx. CHF 160–260 | Weight + displacement |
How to pay less vehicle tax
- Go electric: in many cantons an electric car costs you nothing in tax.
- Prefer a light vehicle: the lower the permissible gross weight, the lower the tax.
- Keep the canton in mind: before you move, check what the tax looks like in the canton you are heading to.
- Check the multi-vehicle rules: some cantons grant a discount when the same keeper has several vehicles registered.
FlexiMoto: transparent from the start
At FlexiMoto every vehicle comes with a transparent cost breakdown. Alongside the purchase price you also see the usual running costs such as insurance and tax — so you know before you buy what is coming your way.
Frequently asked questions
How is vehicle tax calculated in Switzerland?
The calculation differs from canton to canton. Most cantons go by the gross weight of the vehicle and/or by its engine power. Some also use engine displacement or CO2 emissions as the basis. Electric cars get a large reduction in many cantons, or are exempt altogether.
Which canton has the lowest vehicle tax?
Cantons such as Zurich, Bern, Geneva and Vaud currently levy no vehicle tax at all on electric cars. For petrol and diesel cars the amounts vary widely. Put simply: Zug and Schwyz count as low-tax cantons, while Vaud and Geneva tend to be more expensive for conventional vehicles.
Do I pay the tax in the keeper's canton or in the vehicle's?
Vehicle tax falls due in the canton where the vehicle keeper lives. If you move, you register the vehicle with the new canton and pay that canton's tax from then on. As a rule the difference is not charged retroactively.
Related guides
- Tax benefits for electric cars – What an electric car saves you in tax.
- MFK inspection (Swiss roadworthiness test) – Procedure, costs and checklist.
- Car insurance – Liability, partial casco, full casco.
- To the vehicle marketplace – Vehicles with a tax overview.