Can I drive a car with foreign licence plates in Switzerland?

No, not if you are resident in Switzerland - only the driver's place of residence matters, not their nationality. If checked, the vehicle is considered imported and import charges become due.

The rule: the driver's residence, not their nationality

A person resident in Switzerland may not, in principle, drive a vehicle registered abroad on Swiss territory, even if it belongs to visiting relatives. If checked, the vehicle is considered imported: import charges (customs duties, the automobile tax and VAT) become due, with a risk of customs criminal proceedings.

A limited exception

A customs declaration for temporary admission, requested before the vehicle enters Switzerland, allows an exception to this rule: it authorises 12 entries per year, of a maximum of three days each, with every border crossing needing to be certified.

This rule targets Swiss residents, not tourists

This restriction targets people resident in Switzerland. A visitor genuinely resident abroad who comes to Switzerland with their own vehicle registered in their home country falls under a different regime (standard temporary customs admission), to be verified with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) for a precise length of stay.