Sell your car in Winterthur

Step by step

1. Check for a leasing block (code 178) Required by law

   If the registration document carries code 178 ('change of keeper prohibited'), typically on leased or financed cars, the car cannot be transferred until the leasing company or whoever requested the entry releases it. Deleting the code is free.

   Free to delete (canton of Zurich)

   Kanton Zürich, Strassenverkehrsamt – Code 178
2. Prepare the car and its papers Recommended

   Check that the papers are complete: the vehicle registration document with any supplementary sheets, service book, manuals and radio/key codes. TCS recommends an official inspection before a change of keeper if the last one was more than a year ago and the car is over 10 years old.

   TCS – Ratgeber Autokauf und -verkauf
3. Sign a written purchase contract Recommended Seller and buyer

   A private seller may exclude the statutory warranty, but it has to be agreed clearly (e.g. 'ab Platz, ohne Garantie'), the seller must be able to prove it, and it is void if a defect was fraudulently concealed (Art. 199 Code of Obligations). TCS publishes a free model contract.

   TCS – Ratgeber Autokauf und -verkauf
4. Hand over the car with the original registration document Required by law

   When you sell, you must give the buyer the original vehicle registration document (Fahrzeugausweis). The plates do not go with the car: remove them, since they belong to the canton and are issued to you as keeper.

   Kanton Zürich, Strassenverkehrsamt – Fahrzeug wechseln
5. Deregister the car and deal with the plates Required by law

   If you sell the car you must deregister it with the road traffic office, which cancels the registration document. In Zurich you send or bring the plates and the document: deregistration and destroying the plates are free, or the plates can be stored for a year. If you register a replacement car you can keep the plates instead (in Vaud, within 15 days).

   Free in Zurich; storing the plates costs CHF 50 for one year

   Kanton Zürich, Strassenverkehrsamt – Fahrzeug abmelden
6. Contact your insurer Recommended

   Tell your liability (RC / Haftpflicht) insurer that you sold the car; the cantonal offices refer you to the insurer for this.

   État de Vaud, SAN – Déposer vos plaques
7. Buyer registers the car Required by law Buyer

   The buyer submits the previous original registration document and proof of insurance, which their insurer sends electronically to the road traffic office, by post or at the counter. Older cars may first need an official inspection (rules differ by canton). A temporary driving permit can cover the time until the new document arrives.

   Kanton Zürich, Strassenverkehrsamt – Fahrzeug wechseln

Documents checklist

Tick what you already have. This stays on your device, and none of it is needed to post your car.

• Vehicle registration document, original (Fahrzeugausweis / permis de circulation / licenza di circolazione)The seller hands the original to the buyer; the old registration is cancelled when the car is deregistered or re-registered.Required by law
• Number plates (Kontrollschilder / plaques)Stay with the seller: handed in, stored or moved to a replacement vehicle; they remain the property of the canton.Required by law
• Buyer's proof of liability insurance (Versicherungsnachweis / attestation d'assurance RC)Requested by the buyer from their insurer, which sends it electronically to the road traffic office.Required by law
• Written purchase contract (Kaufvertrag / contrat de vente)Recommended; records warranty terms, accident status, last inspection, price and payment method.Recommended
• Service book, manuals and radio/key codesPart of a complete set of papers for the buyer.Recommended

Stay safe when buyers contact you

• Check code 178 on the registration document before buying or selling: a car still under leasing cannot change keeper without the leasing company's release.
• Write the warranty terms into the contract: only what is in writing counts, and an exclusion is void if a known defect was concealed.