Motor vehicle theft

File a complaint for theft of a car, motorcycle or scooter in Switzerland

You were about to take your car or scooter… but it was no longer there. No trace. No noise, no alarm : just a void, and a rising sense of anxiety. Motor vehicle theft is a shock. You do not only lose an object: you lose a means of transport, a work tool…

Start my complaint
5-10 min to complete the form
29 CHF one-time payment
No travel to a police station
No account no password needed

You were about to take your car or scooter… but it was no longer there. No trace. No noise, no alarm : just a void, and a rising sense of anxiety. Motor vehicle theft is a shock. You do not only lose an object: you lose a means of transport, a work tool, sometimes even a landmark of daily life.

Whether on a public road, in a car park or in a private garage, these thefts can happen anywhere, often without a witness. And yet many hesitate to react : for lack of time, of energy, or because they think “it will not change anything”.

The shock of the empty space

In the morning, on the street

You come downstairs: the space is empty. No alarm, no broken glass in sight : only the missing vehicle.

Underground or building car park

A box, a basement, a visitor. Theft in a “closed” place is reported like any other.

Scooter or motorcycle at the entrance

A motor two-wheeler, often gone in minutes. Leasing or company car: you can still file.

Why file a complaint for vehicle theft?

A stolen vehicle is not just a material loss. It is often a direct obstacle to daily life: no longer a way to get to work, drop off the children, or move about freely. And in some cases it is also an indispensable professional tool.

Filing a complaint is the first step to have what you have suffered officially recognised. It allows you in particular:

  • to start a procedure with your insurer, often essential if you hope for a refund or assistance,
  • to alert the authorities, who can include your case in a series of similar thefts,
  • to help identify organised networks or locate stolen vehicles.
  • if your car has disappeared from where it was parked, whether a street, an underground car park or a private garage;
  • if your scooter or motorcycle has been stolen, with or without signs of a break-in;
  • if you are the owner of the vehicle or the authorised user (e.g. leasing contract, company car);
  • if the theft was committed without direct violence (that is, without assault or physical threat at the time of the events).

Have these to hand, if you can

  • Make, model, colour, number plate
  • Last parking place, date and time window
  • Leasing, company vehicle, or owner
  • Number of keys, insurer if you know it
  • Photo, registration paper or contract : useful, not required to start

Start my complaint

A stolen vehicle turns the day upside down. Reporting it is the first step, including for insurance.

How does it work?

1

Complete

I complete my complaint form online, calmly, at my own pace. I describe what happened and add the relevant information.

2

Print

Once finished, I receive the form by e-mail. I download it and print it so that I can sign it.

3

Send

I sign the document and send it by post to the competent authority, whose address appears on the form.

Our role, plainly

We guide you through a structured form. We do not replace the police: you print, sign and send the document to the authority indicated.

Processing the complaint remains the exclusive responsibility of the cantonal authorities.

Other situations

Pickpocketing

Theft (simple theft, pickpocketing or theft by trick)

Learn more

File a complaint now.

Have you been the victim of a theft or of damage? Do not leave the matter unresolved.

In a few minutes you can describe what happened and start a simple process without travelling. Your statement matters : for you, for others, and so that the facts are taken into account.

Start now : we guide you step by step.

Start my complaint

Frequently asked questions

My vehicle has disappeared: how do I know it has really been stolen?
If your vehicle is no longer where you parked it and it has not been moved by a third party (tow truck, a relative), it is important to treat theft as a serious hypothesis. Do not wait to act. You can file a complaint as soon as you notice it is missing.
Can I use ma-plainte.ch to report a vehicle theft?
Yes. You can use ma-plainte.ch to report the theft of any motor vehicle: car, motorcycle, scooter, van, etc. As long as you are the person concerned (owner or authorised user), your complaint is admissible.
What should I prepare to complete my complaint?
Ideally, have to hand:
  • The make, model and colour of the vehicle,
  • The registration number,
  • The date and place of the suspected theft,
  • An official document if possible (registration document, leasing contract…).
If you do not have all the documents, you can still complete the form as best you can.
Is my complaint actually forwarded to the police?
Yes. Once your complaint is completed, printed, signed and sent by post to the address indicated, it is forwarded to the competent authority of your canton. It is processed like any other complaint filed in person.
Is it valid if my vehicle was stolen in a car park or a private garage?
Yes. Regardless of the place (public road, building car park, locked garage), you can file a complaint as soon as the theft is established. Mention the circumstances in the form.
Can I file a complaint if the vehicle belongs to my company?
If you are the person authorised to use it or to represent the company (for example, a manager or employee), you can complete a complaint in the company’s name. Specify this in the form.
What happens if I find my vehicle after filing a complaint?
It is important to inform the police as soon as possible if you recover your vehicle. The complaint remains valid, but the authorities will be able to update the status of the case.
Does this service work in every canton?
Yes. ma-plainte.ch is available throughout Switzerland. When the form is generated, the address of the competent authority is indicated to you automatically.
How much does the service cost?
The ma-plainte.ch service costs 29 CHF. This price includes:
  • Access to the online form,
    • Generation of the document ready to be signed,
  • Assistance if needed.
Do I then have to go to a police station?
No. With ma-plainte.ch, you do not need to travel. Once the document is signed, you simply send it by post. Everything is done from home.

Valid in every canton

Canton of Zurich Canton of Bern Canton of Lucerne Canton of Uri Canton of Schwyz Canton of Obwalden Canton of Nidwalden Canton of Glarus Canton of Zug Canton of Fribourg Canton of Solothurn Canton of Basel-Stadt Canton of Basel-Landschaft Canton of Schaffhausen Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden Canton of St. Gallen Canton of Graubünden Canton of Aargau Canton of Thurgau Canton of Ticino Canton of Vaud Canton of Valais Canton of Neuchâtel Canton of Geneva Canton of Jura