Access to the database and registering as a vehicle keeper

Registered vehicle keepers who have a Vehicle Keeper Marking (VKM) receive access to the Swiss National Vehicle Register, with the opportunity to amend particular data concerning their own rolling stock. For example, it is the vehicle keeper’s responsibility to allocate vehicles to an owner, or to an Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM).

Assigning a VKM

The Vehicle Keeper Marking (VKM) is a code consisting of two to five capital letters. The VKM code is issued jointly by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF).

If a vehicle keeper whose headquarters is in Switzerland does not have a VKM code, they can apply for one to the Federal Office of Transport, in writing using a completed and signed application form, or electronically using a scanned PDF file. Before transmitting an application, the future vehicle keeper should check the List of VKMs to see whether the desired code is still available. The FOT then checks the details it receives and forwards them to OTIF.

A vehicle keeper whose headquarters is outside Switzerland will have to contact the responsible authority in that respective country to receive a VKM code.

Foreign vehicle keepers with a VKM

If a vehicle keeper whose headquarters is outside Switzerland has already been issued with a VKM by ERA and OTIF, registration as a keeper in the Swiss NVR requires the following information:

VKM code
Complete address of company headquarters
Surname, first name, telephone number and email address of designated contact person

This application should be sent by email to the Federal Office of Transport.

After registering as a vehicle keeper in the Swiss NVR, the contact person designated in the application will receive information from the FOT by email on how to access the database. Registration in the NVR as a vehicle keeper is free of charge.