AMAG

AMAG and the motor vehicle inspection process

AMAG describes itself as "No. 1 Car Dealer in Switzerland with 90 locations." The company operates across the full automotive lifecycle: buying and selling new and used cars, leasing, subscriptions, electric vehicle services, maintenance, tyre services, damage reporting, and regulatory compliance work including motor vehicle inspections (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, or MVI). For someone newly arrived in Switzerland with an imported car or a domestic purchase requiring inspection, AMAG offers the preparation side of the inspection process. The company handles regulatory compliance work as a core part of its business, which matters because the MVI is not optional and failure carries real consequences (you cannot legally drive the car until it passes).

A motor vehicle inspection is a legal requirement in Switzerland. The site states: "It is a legal requirement to take your vehicle to the relevant driver and vehicle licensing office for its MVI firstly after five years, then again after another three years and thereafter every two years." For imported vehicles or newly acquired cars, timing varies by your situation and canton. The site notes: "There may be a delay of some months before your vehicle is called in for its MVI, depending on the canton." Once called, you must bring your car to the official test, and AMAG can help prepare it to pass. This is particularly relevant for expats: if you import a car, you face the MVI sooner than established residents, and if you are unfamiliar with Swiss standards, the inspection can be a stressful surprise.

How AMAG prepares your vehicle for inspection

AMAG distinguishes between preparation (MVI-Vorbereitung) and the official inspection itself. The process works like this. First, AMAG performs a preparatory inspection to identify any issues before the official test. The site says: "We thoroughly check your vehicle to get it ready for the MVI. If we find anything wrong, we'll put together a quote for you and discuss it together." This is the practical work: if your brakes are worn, your windscreen has a chip, your battery is weak, or your cooling system is suspect, the preparation inspection surfaces it. AMAG then offers to fix the issues and quotes the work. Once your vehicle passes the preparation inspection, AMAG can optionally present it to the driver and vehicle licensing office on your behalf. The site states: "We'll happily present your vehicle to the driver and vehicle licensing office for you if you like." You retain the option to take it yourself, though using AMAG's service means one less appointment to book and one less piece of Swiss bureaucracy to navigate directly.

The Winter Check PLUS service (mentioned elsewhere on the site) is an example of the kind of pre-inspection work: it includes "changing to winter tyres, checking the battery and windscreen wiper system as well as checking the brakes and cooling system." These are the classes of issue that might cause an MVI to fail. For someone arriving in winter, the seasonal check also prepares the car for weather conditions you may not have driven in before.

AMAG's reach and service infrastructure

With 90 locations across Switzerland, AMAG has a garage or service center in or near most cantons and major regions. The company operates tire shops, battery services, brake services, charging stations, and general automotive support at various locations. It sells and services multiple brand lines: VW, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, CUPRA, VW Commercial Vehicles, Bentley, Microlino, and handles Tesla service through partnerships. This breadth means an AMAG garage near you likely handles not just inspections but ongoing maintenance. If you buy or lease a VW or Audi through AMAG, you can return to the same location for service, which streamlines the experience for expats unfamiliar with the Swiss garage ecosystem.

The company also offers bundled services beyond inspection: car insurance through AMAG (brand-specific policies for Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda), a carwash network, damage reporting, hail damage claims, car paint and body work, glass repair, and a fleet management service called "Totalmobil." For electric vehicle owners, AMAG highlights its "fast-charging network" with high-performance stations and promotes a "charging at a special price: 0.28 CHF per kWh" offer. This matters for expats considering whether to buy electric: AMAG's network means you have a known charging option integrated with the company that maintains your car.

What the site emphasizes and what it leaves unanswered

The site emphasizes AMAG's scale, legitimacy, and one-stop convenience. The messaging is that you bring your car to AMAG before the MVI, they get it ready, and you drive it to the official test knowing it is prepared. For expats, this outsources regulatory compliance to an established company with decades of track record and visible presence in your region.

The site does not publish prices for MVI preparation or inspection presentation services. It does not detail typical timelines (how many days until an inspection is ready) or what a typical inspection finding and quote might look like. It does not specify which body issues might cause a failure (though brakes, batteries, cooling systems, and windscreens are mentioned as part of routine checks). The site does not clarify whether you need an advance appointment or can walk in to a location, whether all 90 locations offer the full inspection service or only some, or whether English-language consultations are available to expats. The site is a service page, not a complete import guide, so it does not address customs clearance, CO2 levies, registration timelines, or the first 12 months of residency rules.

Who it suits

AMAG suits someone already in Switzerland with a vehicle (newly purchased, recently imported, or already owned) who needs to navigate the mandatory motor vehicle inspection. It suits people who want to work with an established, large company with visible presence across the country. It suits anyone who values the convenience of handling preparation, inspection, and ongoing maintenance in one place. For expats buying or leasing through AMAG itself, using the same company for the MVI simplifies the relationship and language barrier.

It does not suit someone planning a car import who needs guidance on the front-end logistics (customs, duties, paperwork, shipping). The site addresses inspections for cars already in Switzerland, not the import process itself. Anyone importing a car should contact AMAG directly about whether they handle import preparation and at what cost, or consult a dedicated import specialist. It also does not suit someone seeking English-language guidance if their nearest AMAG location does not offer it, though the company's size and international brand partnerships suggest English support is likely available in major cities. Anyone considering using AMAG for MVI preparation should call ahead to confirm pricing, appointment availability, and typical turnaround time.