Close
Best way to sell your car in Switzerland
I need help selling my car
Menu
Menu

Best way to sell your car in Switzerland

Guide by

Find out from expat auto expert Markus Häfeli of Autociel how to resell your car for a fair price and with minimum hassle.

If you have any questions about selling your car or would like Autociel's support to sell your car, click below to get in touch. 

I need help selling my car

As the number one car service provider for expats in Switzerland, we often hear from expats who are leaving Switzerland and enquire whether we can sell their cars. Because we sell with re-sale in mind, cars originally sold by us sell quickly. But most regular dealers sell "unsellable" cars. Allow us to explain.

The key for a good resale is to buy the right car in the first place

This is why our experts at Autociel wisely select the cars on offer. Many people buy cheap and end up reselling very cheap, making the overall deal a bad one. Unlike Autociel, the majority of car dealers in Switzerland don't have the specific objective of selling cars that will resell quickly and hold their value. Their business model is to sell their brands and the cars they have in stock, which is understandable. Yet most cars that are in stock are hard to resell.

Consider the residual value

Autociel uses realistic residual values on leased cars, allowing a smooth return of the car, in most cases even if the car has to be returned a few months before the term of the lease. Again, most car dealers have a very different approach, with very high residual values that do not work if you leave the country when you return the car – leaving you with very high penalties to pay.

But if you're reading this, you might have bought your car already… so what about its resale now?

You can, of course, try to resell the car privately, if you have the time and energy to do so. Some cars go quickly, but most require several weeks (if not months) to sell while you have to answer people's questions, requests for viewings and test drives etc. Once you've found a buyer, you need to trust him enough to give him the car title without having received any money – or he needs to trust you enough to pay the car before he gets anything.

Timing also needs to work for both of you as he might need the car before you can give it.

So yes, it is feasible but most of the time it takes a lot of effort and most people end up selling at the same price as we would have offered for a direct purchase of their car, or lower. If your car is very recent and still worth good money, then it will be more difficult to sell privately – mostly because buyers will need financing.

Best way to sell a car

Here is what we at Autociel can do for you to make sure you re-sell your car without any hassle and at a fair price. 

  • We offer the consignment sale service: we pick up your car, put it on sale, take care of all the de-registration and other admin, arrange viewings and test drives and arrange financing.

  • Once the car sells, we wire the money back to you – wherever you are around the globe.

  • As a professional car dealer, Autociel can also resell a bit higher than you can manage privately. This way you are not under time pressure and you can re-sell the car at the right price.

Find out more about Autociel

Autociel is Packimpex's partner of choice for all matters related to the rental, purchase, lease, import and export of auto vehicles. It was founded by Markus Häfeli in 2002 and has an excellent network in Switzerland, Germany and other European countries. You will enjoy great, money saving advice from auto experts who specialize in the complexities of expat life.

Import a car

Autociel are experts in the complexities of international sourcing, importing, and tax-free deals (when the car is a moving good). You'll enjoy many advantages compared with regular Swiss car dealerships, service in English, great advice and unique deals. Find out what you can expect if you import your car with Autociel's help.

Amazing car deals

Autociel helps expats find the best car at the best price. They can source many cars at prices lower than the Swiss norm thanks to their extensive European import network. If you need to rent a vehicle, they will provide one at half the price of most rental companies. Find out what you can expect when you buy or lease a car with Autociel's help.

Personal Service

Newcomers to Switzerland can start the purchase process even while they are still abroad. Leavers can depend on Autociel taking over their car at a fair resale price or selling it for you.

I need help selling my car

 

Not actually interested in selling your car?

Autociel can help buy or lease a car or import your car, if that's the case. Have a look at these services as well: 

Buy or lease a car

Import my car