Can You Transfer a Car Title Without Insurance? A Swiss Guide (2025)

For the Car Buyer

1. Shop for Insurance First: Before you even agree on a final handover date, you need to find an insurance provider. Get quotes, choose a policy that fits your needs (from basic liability to comprehensive casco), and sign the contract.
2. Provide Vehicle Details: Your insurer will need the car’s Stammnummer (main registration number) from the old carte grise to issue the policy. The seller must provide you with this information.
3. Receive Your Electronic Certificate: Once you've committed to a policy, your insurance company will automatically send the electronic attestation d'assurance to your canton's vehicle registration office. This is usually done within a few hours.
4. Go to the Registration Office: Only after your insurer confirms the certificate has been sent can you go to the registration office with the seller’s cancelled carte grise and other required documents to officially register the car in your name.

For the Car Seller

1. Provide the Buyer with Vehicle Info: The buyer will need the Stammnummer from your carte grise to arrange their new insurance policy.
2. Annul the Carte Grise: You must present your carte grise at the registration office for annulment. The official will stamp it as "cancelled," at which point you can hand it over to the buyer. This is a crucial step that officially ends your ownership.
3. Cancel Your Insurance Policy: Your insurance doesn't automatically end when you sell the car. After the registration has been officially transferred to the new owner, you must contact your insurance provider and send them proof of the cancellation. They will then terminate your policy and refund any premium you've overpaid. Do not cancel your insurance before the title is transferred, as this would leave the car uninsured while still registered to you.

• Step 1. Choose Your Coverage: Decide if you need basic third-party liability (mandatory), partial casco (covering theft, fire, glass damage), or full casco (covering damage to your own car in an at-fault accident).
• Step 2. Request a Quote: Contact a Swiss insurance provider like Assurance Genevoise. You’ll need to provide your personal details, information about the car, and your driving history.
• Step 3. Confirm and Pay: Once you accept the quote and provide all necessary documentation, you'll sign the contract. Most insurers allow for immediate activation of the policy.
• Step 4. Let Your Insurer Handle the Rest: The moment your policy is active, the insurer sends the proof of insurance directly to the registration office. There's no paper certificate for you to carry; it's all handled digitally for maximum efficiency.