Swiss Import Services Sàrl
Terms & Conditions of Sale
Last updated: January 2025 — Swiss law (Code of Obligations)
Article 1 — Subject Matter and Scope
These General Terms and Conditions of Sale ('T&Cs') govern all sales of motor vehicles, accessories and related services concluded between Swiss Import Services Sàrl ('Seller') and any buyer, whether a private individual or a professional ('Buyer'). Placing an order constitutes full and unreserved acceptance of these T&Cs, to the exclusion of any other document.
Article 2 — Formation of Contract
The contract of sale is formed upon signature of the order form or, for distance sales, upon written confirmation (email) from Swiss Import Services Sàrl. Offers presented on the website or in the showroom are invitations to treat and not binding offers. Swiss Import Services Sàrl reserves the right to refuse any order if the vehicle is unavailable, if there are doubts about the Buyer's creditworthiness, or for any other legitimate reason.
Article 3 — Vehicle Description
Vehicles are described with care (make, model, year, mileage, options, condition). For pre-owned vehicles, an explicit declaration of known defects is provided before the contract is concluded, in accordance with Arts. 197 et seq. of the Code of Obligations (CO). Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Buyers are invited to inspect the vehicle in person before placing an order.
Article 4 — Price and Payment Terms
Prices are expressed in Swiss francs (CHF), inclusive of VAT at 8.1%, excluding registration fees.
Payment terms
- Full payment of the purchase price is made in the garage, at the vehicle handover appointment.
- Accepted payment methods: bank transfer, credit card, cash (within legal limits).
- The vehicle will only be handed over after full payment has been received and confirmed.
In the event of late payment, default interest of 5% per annum shall apply by operation of law, pursuant to Art. 104 CO.
Article 5 — Delivery
Delivery timelines are indicative. Swiss Import Services Sàrl shall not be liable for delays attributable to manufacturers, carriers or force majeure.
- Delivery takes place at Swiss Import Services Sàrl's premises in Geneva, unless otherwise agreed (home delivery, airport or hotel delivery, subject to separate billing).
- Prior to delivery, the Buyer carries out a joint vehicle inspection. Any reservations must be noted in writing at the time of key handover.
- Risk transfers to the Buyer upon delivery, pursuant to Art. 185 CO.
- For bespoke new vehicles, delivery may take between 2 and 6 months.
Article 6 — Statutory and Contractual Warranty
Warranty for defects
Every vehicle benefits from the statutory 2-year warranty for latent defects (Art. 210 CO). For pre-owned vehicles, this may be reduced to 1 year by explicit contractual agreement. The Buyer must notify any defect within 7 days of discovery.
Manufacturer's warranty
New vehicles benefit from the manufacturer's warranty (generally 2 to 3 years depending on the brand). Specific conditions are provided at the time of delivery.
Warranty exclusions
The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear (tyres, brakes, clutch, glass, upholstery), damage resulting from misuse or unauthorised modification.
Article 7 — Retention of Title
Swiss Import Services Sàrl retains full ownership of the vehicle sold until the purchase price has been paid in full. The retention of title is registered in the relevant cantonal register. The Buyer may not sell, rent or pledge the vehicle until full payment has been made.
Article 8 — Trade-In
Where a trade-in is agreed, the trade-in value is assessed at the time of signing the order form. This valuation may be revised if the condition of the trade-in vehicle has deteriorated before delivery. The trade-in vehicle must be delivered free of encumbrances and with its complete official documents.
Article 9 — Right of Withdrawal
Swiss law (Code of Obligations) does not provide a statutory right of withdrawal for in-store purchases. Any deposit paid is retained by the Seller in the event of unilateral cancellation, unless otherwise agreed in writing. For distance sales, Swiss Import Services Sàrl may, as a commercial gesture, grant a 14-day withdrawal period from the date of written confirmation, provided the vehicle has not been delivered.
Article 10 — Limitation of Liability
Swiss Import Services Sàrl's liability is limited to the purchase price of the vehicle concerned. Swiss Import Services Sàrl shall not be liable for indirect damages, loss of profits or consequential losses. Pursuant to Art. 100 CO, this limitation does not apply in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence.
Article 11 — Data Protection
In connection with the sale, Swiss Import Services Sàrl collects and processes the Buyer's personal data for the purposes of contract performance, legal compliance and commercial communication. Processing is conducted in compliance with the nFADP. For further details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Article 12 — Amendments to T&Cs
Swiss Import Services Sàrl reserves the right to amend these T&Cs at any time. The version applicable is the one in force at the date of signature of the order form.
Article 13 — Applicable Law and Jurisdiction
These T&Cs are governed exclusively by Swiss law (Code of Obligations). The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is expressly excluded. In the event of a dispute, the parties shall seek an amicable resolution. Failing agreement, the courts of the canton of Geneva shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
Article 14 — Miscellaneous
- Severability: invalidity of any clause shall not affect the validity of the remaining T&Cs.
- Waiver: failure to invoke any provision shall not constitute a definitive waiver.
- Entire agreement: these T&Cs, the signed order form and any addenda constitute the entire agreement between the parties.
- Language: in the event of discrepancies between the French, German or English versions, the French version shall prevail.
Contact
Questions about these terms?
Our team is available to answer all your contractual queries.