Denmark to Switzerland is one of the lanes we know best at Haulio. Full truck loads of cars run both ways: Danish stock heading for Swiss dealers, and Swiss cars coming north. The trip itself is a straight run through Germany. What makes it different from other European lanes is the border, because Switzerland is outside the EU customs union. Here is how a load gets from one country to the other.
Which route do the trucks take?
From Denmark, loads leave Jutland on the E45, cross the border at Padborg and continue south through Germany on the A7. Loads from Zealand often take the ferry from Rødby to Puttgarden instead. Most trucks enter Switzerland around Basel, the main crossing for traffic from Germany, and continue to Zürich, Bern, Lucerne or the Lake Geneva region.
Coming north, it is the same route in reverse, which makes this a good lane for carriers: a load south and a load back north fill both legs of the trip.
Why does Switzerland need customs paperwork?
Switzerland has close agreements with the EU, but it is not in the EU customs union. Goods crossing the border are declared on the way out of the EU and on the way into Switzerland, and cars are no exception. Inside the EU, from Denmark through Germany, there are no customs at all; the paperwork only matters at the Swiss border.
What declarations does a car need?
- Export declaration from the EU, for a car leaving Denmark.
- Import declaration in Switzerland when the car arrives.
- For cars going north, the same in reverse: export from Switzerland, import into the EU.
The declarations need the details of each car: chassis number, make and model, and the purchase invoice. Have them ready per car before the load is collected, so the truck isn’t held at the border.
What taxes are due on import?
Import VAT is due in the destination country, and Switzerland also charges taxes and duties on cars brought in. These are paid by the importer, usually through a customs broker, not by the carrier. Check the current rates with your broker or the Swiss customs authority before you buy, because they change the landed cost of the car.
Who does what?
- You or your customs broker: the export and import declarations, and paying duties and taxes.
- The carrier: collecting the cars, carrying the documents, presenting the load at the border and delivering it, with photos and a signed CMR at both ends.
- Haulio: on a transport order, we choose and manage the carrier and plan the crossing into the pickup and delivery window. On the marketplace, you choose the carrier yourself.
How long does delivery take?
Haulio delivers within 10 business days, and in 4 business days on average. The border crossing is planned into the load, and you can follow the truck live all the way, including at the border, so you know when your cars arrive.
How do you book a load?
For a hands-off load, place a transport order and mention customs in your request. To run it yourself and let carriers compete, join the marketplace. More about the lane on our Switzerland route page.
Sources
- Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS): importing vehicles into Switzerland.
- European Commission: EU customs and exports.
Frequently asked questions
Does Haulio move cars between Denmark and Switzerland?
Yes. Full truck loads between Denmark and Switzerland are one of our strongest lanes, in both directions.
Who handles customs for cars going to Switzerland?
Most importers use a customs broker who prepares the declarations and pays the duties on their behalf. Tell us in your order who your broker is, or ask us, and we plan the crossing into the load.
Does customs make delivery slower?
It adds a step at the border, which we plan into your load. Haulio’s delivery promise stays the same: within 10 business days, 4 on average.
Written by the Haulio team in Copenhagen. We run a car transport marketplace for Europe, primarily in and out of the Nordics, and write about what we see on it every day.
