The DACH region, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, is one of the busiest areas in Europe for moving cars. It has a huge used-car market, excellent motorways and demanding Alpine terrain. It also has one important catch: Switzerland sits outside the EU customs union, so a border there is not the same as a border between Germany and Austria. This guide explains the corridors, the customs point and the Alpine practicalities so nothing catches you out.

The main corridors

Germany is the engine of the region. Hubs such as Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Cologne and Berlin generate a constant flow of cars in every direction, and the autobahn network makes internal moves fast and easy to combine. Austria connects through Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, and forms the natural gateway between Germany and Italy over the Brenner corridor.

Switzerland links to the network through Zurich, Basel and Geneva. Many cross-border runs pair a German city with a Swiss one, for example Stuttgart to Zurich or Frankfurt to Basel, while Austria feeds traffic east towards Hungary and south towards the Adriatic. Because carriers combine several cars heading the same way, your vehicle usually travels as part of a larger run. You can find specific city pairs on our car transport routes page.

Germany and Austria: no customs; Switzerland is different

Germany and Austria are both in the EU and its customs union, so cars move between them with no customs formalities, just like any domestic trip. A Munich to Vienna move involves no border paperwork at all.

Switzerland is the exception. Although it is surrounded by EU countries, it is outside the EU customs union. That means a car crossing into or out of Switzerland goes through a customs process, and import charges or VAT can apply depending on the situation, for example whether the car is being permanently imported or is only passing through. This is entirely normal and carriers handle Swiss crossings routinely, but it does add paperwork and can affect timing. If you are buying or selling across the Swiss border, factor this in and ask us early so nothing is a surprise.

Alpine passes, tunnels and vignettes

The Alps run right through this region, and the terrain shapes how carriers plan a route. The good news is that transporters stick to proven all-weather corridors, so the mountains rarely cause problems.

• Passes and tunnels: transporters favour tunnels and motorway corridors such as the Brenner and Gotthard rather than high mountain passes, which may close or restrict large vehicles in poor weather.
• Vignettes and tolls: Austria and Switzerland use a vignette (a road-use sticker or its digital equivalent), and Switzerland charges heavy vehicles separately through its road-use levy. Carriers build all of these costs into your quote.
• Winter: from roughly November to March, Alpine routes can be affected by snow, so schedules allow a little extra flexibility and carriers use suitable equipment.

A strong used-car market

German, Austrian and Swiss cars are prized for their condition, service history and specification, which is why so many buyers across Europe shop here. Germany in particular has one of the deepest used-car markets on the continent, with everything from everyday hatchbacks to prestige and performance cars. If you have found a car in Munich or Zurich, door-to-door car transport lets you buy with confidence without a long drive home on unfamiliar roads.

Because carriers combine loads on these popular corridors, moving a single car is often more affordable than people expect, and the longer the run the lower the price per kilometre. Our guide on buying a car in another EU country walks through the documents and steps involved, which is well worth reading before you commit to a purchase abroad.

The region is also home to a lot of prestige and performance cars, and for these many owners choose enclosed transport rather than an open transporter. An enclosed trailer keeps the car away from road grime, stone chips and the weather, which is reassuring over a long Alpine run. It costs more than open transport, so it is a judgement call based on the car’s value. One more practical note: Munich, Stuttgart and several other German cities operate low-emission zones, so collection or delivery in the centre may be arranged at an accessible point nearby.

How long does it take?

Within Germany and Austria, transit is usually quick because the network is dense and loads are easy to combine. Runs involving Switzerland can take a little longer, partly because of distance and partly because of the customs step at the border. Most cars in the region are delivered within a few days of collection once a suitable transporter is scheduled, though no reliable carrier will name an exact hour in advance because loads are combined and drivers follow rest rules.

Good to know