Cars & Banks

CARS

In general people should try to avoid importing their own car from abroad as the procedure is complicated and expensive. If you plan to buy a car it is better to purchase it directly in France or Switzerland. The same applies if you buy a car with Swiss plates, you will have some fees to import it into France.

For further information please contact Installation Service – CERN Service Portal: easy access to services at CERN (service-now.com)

RENTING A CAR IN SWITZERLAND

Car Rental Request (from CERN or external rental company) – CERN Service Portal: easy access to services at CERN (service-now.com)

Patrick Locations is usually cheaper than other companies in Geneva

RENTING A CHEAP CAR IN FRANCE

Carrefour Location ​Location véhicule (carrefour.fr) ​- 700 EUR / month

Rent a car Cessy – 08 90 70 83 11 – 700 euros / month

​Renault Cessy – Ludovic Noirot noirot@groupedg8.fr – 700 EUR / month Leasing

Carjet Geneva Airport
Location de Voitures en Genève à des Prix Tout Inclus, Location de Voitures en Genève en Toute Tranquillité, Location de Voitures en Genève Sans Frais de Dernière Minute! (carjet.com) – 950 euros / month

BUYING A CAR IN FRANCE
NEVER SEND ANY MONEY TO BUY A CAR FROM ABROAD WITHOUT SEEING THE CAR- be very careful !!

French insurances do not give insurances to new drivers (less than 5 years) who have too powerful cars, please check this point before buying.

To find a second hand car you can check on the CERN Marketplace

Please visit the following websites: La Centrale – Voiture occasion – Annonces auto Paruvendu.fr or Leboncoin for France or in garages.

Please visit the following website: GHI – Le Journal indépendant des Genevois for Geneva or in Garages, Roc in Vernier has many second hands cars.

Procedure

– The seller will have to provide you with a recent “controle technique” if the car is more than 4 years old. You will have to sign in 3 copies the selling certificate : 15776*02 – Certificat de cession d’un véhicule d’occasion – Service-Public.fr

– The seller must also provide a non pursuit proof for the car : Demande de certificat de situation administrative
– Immatriculation of the car, you can go to Feu Vert in Ferney Voltaire and they will request a new “Carte grise” against 30 euros, you have to bring the sale certificate + proof of your address (rental contract) and your passport.

– If you buy a car with green places from someone at CERN, here is the procedure :

Green plates | Admin e-guide (cern.ch)

REGISTRATION CARDS

To get the new registration card for a car with French plates, you can do it at garage “Feu vert” in Ferney and for 25 euros they will request it for you.

DRIVING LICENCES
With a “carte de Légitimation” you can keep your foreign driving licence during all your mission, France is no longer exchanging foreign driving licences for CERN users :

https://international-relations.web.cern.ch/stakeholder-relations/hoststates/vehicles/foreign-driving-licences-france

BUYING A CAR IN SWITZELAND

After buying a car, you will have to go to the Véhicules et conducteurs | ge.ch for a check and for the new car registration card.

CAR INSURANCES

To get a good quotation for a car insurance in France and in Switzerland you MUST bring an insurance record from your previous company to show at least 2 years of insurance. You will have to show the registration card with all details of the car to get an offer.

In Geneva, you can get car insurances quotations at : www.comparis.ch

You can also contact Loic Niclasse <loic@assurance-genevoise.ch> working for several companies, to get the best quotation for any insurance, house, car …

For France, you have several options, you can contact :

Maif, gestionsocietaire@maif.fr they have good rates,

Assurance SAINT GENIS POUILLY MAIRIE – Agence MMA : g.brys@mma.fr

Agence d’assurance Agence Groupama De St Genis Pouilly (01630) – Groupama

AXA Saint-Genis-Pouilly – Eirl Terrien Benoit – Agence Assurance (01630)

Assurance Saint genis pouilly – Richard BARTHOMEUF | Allianz

Aréas Assurances | Assurance des particuliers et des professionnels (areas.fr) : ofelia@assurances-pibouleau.com

I can also make phone calls for you if need to get quotations both in Geneva and in France.

BANKS

GENEVA
US and Canadian citizens can only open a bank account at UBS if they live in Switzerland for long term (more than 6 months) and have gone to the OCP, ‘Office Cantonal de la Population’ to declare themselves.

UBS can open a special account for a flat security deposit. If you have a problem please contact : Mr Mangia +41 022 783 21 87.

UBS Bank Office – Banque UBS (Meyrin CH)

Phone: +41-22-783 21 88

Fax: +41-22-783 21 69

Location: 500

Working Days 08:30-16:30; Self-service: Daily 00:00-24:00

Postfinance requires US citizens to live in Switzerland, but not Canadians, who can live in France and open an account (10 CHF fee / month). They don’t provide the special account for a flat security deposit.

Post Office Meyrin (Switzerland)

Phone: 72798

Location: 63

Working Days 09:00-12:30, 13:30-16:30

FRANCE

You can contact Credit Agricole at CERN in Prevessin or in St Genis and Ferney,

Banque Credit Agricole (Prévessin FR)

Phone: 77072

Location: 866

Tue & Thu/ Mar & Jeu: 9:00 – 12:00 & 14:15 – 17:00. Wed & Fri/ Mer & Ven: 9:00-12:00 and 13:30-17:00

You can also open an account with LCL, in St Genis Pouilly or in Ferney Voltaire. The bank has special rates with no taxes for incoming dollars and a special cheap offer for students.

Le Crédit Lyonnais (Saint Genis FR)

Location : 1 place de la Fontaine, 01630 Saint genis Pouilly

Tuesday to Friday 8:30 – 12:00 & 13:30 – 18:00 Saturday : 8:45-12:00

I can help you make an appointment in order to open a bank account in France, just come to see me.

For Geneva you must go to the UBS bank at CERN or the post office to make an appointment.