Importing a caravan into Switzerland
Only import VAT applies, nothing else
The caravan is the cheapest vehicle type to import. Article 2 of the Automobilsteuergesetz, the Swiss automobile tax act, lists exhaustively what counts as an “automobile”: tariff headings 8702 up to 1,600 kg, 8703, and 8704 up to 1,600 kg. Trailers fall under 8716 and are not covered. The CO2 rules do not apply either, because a trailer has no engine of its own. What remains is the 8.1 % import VAT on the customs value, plus the cost of transport, customs declaration, inspection and registration.
The charges at a glance
| Charge | Caravan |
|---|---|
| Customs tariff heading | 8716 |
| Import duty | CHF 0.00 (since 1 January 2024) |
| Automobile tax 4 % | no — not listed in the Automobilsteuergesetz |
| Import VAT 8.1 % | yes |
| CO2 penalty | no |
| Vehicle inspection (MFK) | yes |
Basis: BAZG Directive 68 “Automobilsteuer” of the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, version of 1 July 2026, section 1.1 on Article 2 of the automobile tax act. The duty rate of CHF 0.00 follows from the abolition of industrial tariffs on 1 January 2024.
What to watch for
A trailer also has to be inspected and registered in Switzerland and gets its own number plate. Before you buy, check the permitted towing capacity of your towing vehicle and the combined weight of car and trailer — the finest caravan is useless if you cannot legally tow it with your car. On older trailers, look at the brakes, the overrun braking device and the condition of the floor.
Process and costs
The process is no different from a passenger car: you choose the vehicle, we obtain the documents, handle the export in the country of origin, collect it, clear customs at the Thayngen customs office and accompany you through inspection and registration. You work out the final price in the import calculator — with vehicle type, country of origin and every charge, without signing up.
The country you import from does not change the Swiss charges, but it does change the VAT refund in the country of origin: from 17 % in Luxembourg to 25 % in Sweden — and nothing at all in Norway.