Last updated:

Vehicles & Green Plates at CERN

⚠️ Important

Green plates are a privilege tied to your CERN status. Misuse or failure to return them when leaving can result in fines and customs issues. Follow all procedures carefully.

Green Plates Overview

Green plates (plaques vertes) are French registration plates in the 431 K or 431 CD series. They are available only to CERN members of the personnel who reside in France and hold a special French residence permit (AT-, FI- or CD-series) issued by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE). The registration is handled by the Préfecture de police in Paris and arranged on your behalf through CERN's Host States Relations service. Their validity is tied to your CERN contract — when it ends, you must return them.

Vehicles on green plates are exempt from French VAT and/or import duties, the registration certificate (carte grise) is issued free of charge, and the vehicle is exempt from the French technical inspection (contrôle technique).

If you reside in Switzerland, you cannot register a vehicle in France on green plates. Instead, your carte de légitimation (types B or C, with customs privileges) lets you import or buy a vehicle free of Swiss VAT and customs duty and register it on ordinary Swiss (Geneva) plates. Host States Relations can advise on whichever route applies to you.

Bringing Your Car

If you already own a vehicle, you can bring it into Switzerland under a temporary importation for up to one year without paying customs duties, provided you have owned it for at least six months before arriving. For a permanent stay, you will need to go through the customs clearance process at Geneva customs, presenting your purchase invoice, original registration, and proof of insurance.

The key documents you will need include your original vehicle registration certificate, purchase invoice or proof of ownership, a valid insurance certificate (green card), your passport, and your CERN carte de legitimation. Start the importation process as soon as possible after arriving, since delays can complicate the procedure. CERN's Host States Relations service can guide you through the steps.

Buying a Car in Switzerland (Swiss residents)

If you reside in Switzerland, your carte de légitimation (type B or C) lets you purchase a new car without paying Swiss VAT (currently 8.1%), which can save thousands of francs. Choose your vehicle at a Swiss dealership and let them know you hold customs privileges — the dealer prepares the invoice free of VAT, and CERN's Host States Relations service handles the registration paperwork.

To complete the registration, submit your purchase invoice and insurance certificate to Host States Relations. They will process the exempt registration with the Swiss authorities, and you will receive your plates and vehicle registration document. Most major Swiss dealerships are familiar with this process, and some near CERN in the Geneva area even have dedicated staff for international organisation registrations.

Buying a Car in France (French residents)

If you reside in France and are eligible for green plates, buying a new vehicle can likewise be exempt from French VAT when registered on green plates — confirm the exact procedure with Host States Relations, as the dealer and French customs (DGDDI) must handle the exemption. France also has a large second-hand market, with websites like leboncoin.fr and La Centrale being popular choices for used vehicles (note that a used car bought on the ordinary market and registered on standard French plates does not carry a tax exemption).

To register a car in France you need a carte grise (vehicle registration certificate), which you can apply for online through the ANTS website or at an approved garage. Be aware that cars over four years old must pass a controle technique (the French equivalent of an MOT) every two years, so make sure any used car you buy has a valid certificate.

Driving License

An international driving permit (IDP) paired with your national license is valid in Switzerland for up to 12 months from your arrival date. After that period you must exchange it for a Swiss license. Switzerland has agreements with many countries — including most EU/EFTA nations, the USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia — that allow a direct exchange without a driving test. CERN's Host States Relations service can help with the process and provide the necessary attestations.

If you live in France and hold a non-EU license, you may also need to exchange it for a French one. EU licenses, however, are valid throughout France without any exchange required.

Insurance

Third-party liability insurance (responsabilite civile) is mandatory in both Switzerland and France — you simply cannot register a vehicle without proof of coverage. CERN has negotiated group insurance rates with several providers, so check with the Staff Association or Host States Relations for current offers, as they can be significantly cheaper than individual quotes.

The type of insurance you need depends on where the vehicle is registered: French insurance for green-plated (French) vehicles and Swiss insurance for cars on Swiss plates. You may also want to consider joining the Touring Club Suisse (TCS) for roadside assistance, legal protection, and travel insurance — CERN staff often benefit from discounted membership rates.

Parking at CERN

To park on site, apply for a CERN parking sticker through ADaMS (CERN's administrative database) using your vehicle registration details. Parking at the Meyrin site is limited and fills up early in the morning, so consider arriving before 8:30 or using alternative transport. The Prevessin site generally has more availability, and free shuttle buses connect the two sites.

CERN has also installed electric vehicle charging stations at both the Meyrin and Prevessin sites. Check the CERN maps for locations and current availability.

Leasing a Vehicle

Leasing is a popular alternative to buying in both Switzerland and France, and it can be a practical option if you do not plan to stay long enough to justify a purchase. In Switzerland, leasing contracts typically run for 36 to 48 months with fixed monthly payments, and the car remains the property of the leasing company. Swiss leasing rates tend to be competitive, and several providers near Geneva — including AMAG, Emil Frey, and bank-affiliated leasing arms — offer deals for international organisation staff. Keep in mind that green plates and their tax-free advantages do not apply to leased vehicles, since the car is not registered in your name.

In France, leasing takes two main forms: LOA (location avec option d'achat), where you can buy the car at the end of the contract, and LLD (location longue duree), which is a pure rental. French leasing can include maintenance, insurance, and assistance in the monthly payment. Compare offers carefully, as the total cost of leasing over several years can exceed the cost of buying a comparable used car outright.

Fuel Costs & Road Expenses

Fuel prices in Switzerland and France fluctuate regularly, but as a general rule fuel is cheaper in France than in Switzerland. Many CERN employees living on the Swiss side make a habit of filling up at French petrol stations in Saint-Genis-Pouilly or Ferney-Voltaire, where savings of 10 to 20 centimes per litre are common. Diesel tends to be cheaper than petrol in France, while in Switzerland the gap is smaller.

If you drive on Swiss motorways, you are required to purchase a motorway vignette, an annual sticker that costs CHF 40 and is valid from 1 December of the preceding year through 31 January of the following year. The vignette can be bought at border crossings, post offices, petrol stations, and online. Driving on a Swiss motorway without a valid vignette results in a fine of CHF 200 plus the cost of the vignette. For those who frequently drive in French cities such as Lyon or Paris, a Crit'Air sticker is mandatory for entering low-emission zones. The sticker costs a few euros and is ordered online from the French government's certificat-air.gouv.fr website — it classifies your vehicle by emission level and must be displayed on the windshield.

Parking Beyond CERN

Parking in central Geneva is expensive and tightly regulated. Street parking uses a zone-based system with time limits and fees that vary by colour (white, blue, yellow, and green zones each have different rules). Underground car parks in the city centre typically charge CHF 3 to 5 per hour. If you commute by car, consider using park-and-ride facilities (P+R) located at the outskirts of Geneva, where you can park for a flat daily rate and continue by public transport.

On the French side, parking in towns like Saint-Genis-Pouilly and Ferney-Voltaire is generally more relaxed and often free in supermarket car parks and residential areas. However, the town centres are increasingly introducing paid parking zones, so check local signs. If you live in France and commute to CERN, the CERN parking sticker covers your on-site parking needs — see the Parking at CERN section above for details.

Selling Your Car / Leaving CERN

When your CERN contract ends, you must return your green plates to CERN's Host States Relations service — this is mandatory and failure to comply can result in penalties. When you leave, you can re-export your vehicle to your home country or another destination without paying import duties.

If you prefer to sell an exempt vehicle locally instead, keep in mind that the buyer will normally have to pay the VAT and/or customs duty that were originally waived (French duties for a green-plated car, Swiss duties for a car bought VAT-free on Swiss plates), so factor this into the sale price. It is best to start the process at least two to three months before your departure date to allow time for notifying Host States Relations, cancelling your insurance, and completing the plate return procedure.

Sources

Review and maintenance

Maintained by Efrén Rodríguez Rodríguez. Content and official sources are reviewed quarterly.

  • Verify legal deadlines and authority links
  • Recheck transport timetables and stop names
  • Revalidate tax thresholds and rates
  • Confirm CERN service URLs and portal names