I recently Bought a surron electric motorcycle and I was blasted with a jungle of varying information.
The issue is that there are plentiful different standards for different vehicles.
the following information is from my own research (May 2024) and may be incomplete, incorrect or no longer up to date. Please make your own due diligence and research
As far as I found out, these vehicles do not require a special registration, License or insurance in Switzerland
these vehicles require a "Mofa License" category M and a special insurance.
This "Haftpflichtversicherung" is provided by the road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt) When you register the Vehicle to obtain your numberplate.
Normally the Dealer provides the number plate as well as the vehicle registration card (Fahrzeugausweis). You may still need to register your numberplate and license.
In some occasions, the Dealer does not provide the number plate and vehicle registration card. You may receive an official vehicle data sheet as well as an official import paper with the vehicle data (Form. 13.20 A) In this case you can register the vehicle with the government agency with these papers.
Before you buy, clarify with the dealer if he provides these documents, otherwise you will have a lot of hustle afterwards
these vehicles count as a small motorcycle/Roller/Töffli -> Kleinmotorrad.
they usually require a drivers license of category M. Special attention is required that these rides are street legal. Clarify with your dealer if they are and if he provides the nessesary documents for registration (MFK is important)
With many vehicles, as with the pedelec, you may receive a number plate and registration document. However. Since these vehicles count as Motorcycles, you need to get a separate insurance before you can officially register the vehicly. Search for Motorcycle insurance.
Since these are often new or chinese brands, they may not be listed in the online registration forms of the insurance. In this case, you need to contact an insurance of choice and ask for a liability (Haftpflicht) insurance. The Insurance will need your numberplate and vehicle registration card (Fahrzeugausweis).
Alternatively, for special vehicles, you can send the federal vehecle-datasheet along with the Form. 13.20 A which you should have received from your vendor.
After you received the insurance, you can officially register the vehicle with the road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt)