Importing a motorhome into Switzerland
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In short: Importing a motorhome into Switzerland means 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT. There is no CO₂ penalty — motorhomes count as special-purpose vehicles. Above a gross weight of 3,500 kg the automobile tax no longer applies, but the vehicle becomes liable for the heavy vehicle charge instead.
No CO₂ levy — that is where the money sits on a motorhome
Motorhomes are vehicles with a special purpose and are not covered by the CO₂ emission rules; registration does not require a CO₂ certificate either. That is real money: a motorhome on a van base regularly emits between 180 and 250 g/km. If it were a passenger car, a young vehicle would quickly run up several thousand francs in penalties. On a motorhome it is zero.
The automobile tax, by contrast, is very much due. FOCBS Directive 68 lists motorhomes explicitly among the passenger cars of tariff numbers 8703.1000–9060. A web search occasionally claims the opposite; checked against the primary source, that claim is wrong.
The charges at a glance
| Charge | Motorhome |
|---|---|
| Customs tariff number | 8703 |
| Import duty | CHF 0.00 (since 1 January 2024) |
| Automobile tax 4 % | yes, except above 3,500 kg gross weight |
| Import VAT 8.1 % | yes |
| CO₂ levy | no |
| MFK (Swiss roadworthiness test) | yes |
Basis: FOCBS directive 68, version of 1 July 2026, lists motorhomes among the passenger cars of tariff numbers 8703.1000–9060 and, in section 3.7.2.4, exempts vehicles subject to the heavy vehicle charge. The exemption from the CO₂ penalty rests on the SFOE fact sheet on enforcing the CO₂ emission rules for new vehicles.
What does it cost to import a motorhome worth CHF 60,000?
The charges come to CHF 7,454.40 on a motorhome of up to 3,500 kg gross weight worth CHF 60,000 including transport to the border: CHF 2,400 automobile tax and CHF 5,054.40 import VAT on CHF 62,400. No CO₂ penalty is added. Above 3,500 kg the automobile tax falls away, leaving CHF 4,860 import VAT plus the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge.
What should I check when importing a motorhome?
The decisive line is the gross weight of 3,500 kg. Below it you drive on a category B licence, there is no flat heavy vehicle charge, and the automobile tax is owed. Above it all three points flip: you need category C1, the vehicle becomes liable to the heavy vehicle charge (Schwerverkehrsabgabe), which exempts it from the automobile tax.
Check the registered gross weight before you buy, it is stated in the vehicle documents. Weight classes, driving licence and charges are covered in detail in the guide importing a motorhome into Switzerland.
Customs clearance and registration
A motorhome is cleared at the Thayngen customs office like a passenger car, with inspection report 13.20 A and the Stammnummer as the result. At the inspection in your canton of residence the habitation body is examined as well as the chassis, above all the gas system.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CO₂ penalty apply to a motorhome?
No. Motorhomes are special-purpose vehicles and fall outside the CO₂ emission rules. Registration does not call for a CO₂ certificate either. A passenger car with the same emissions would quickly cost you several thousand francs.
Do I pay automobile tax on a motorhome?
Yes, 4 %. FOCBS Directive 68 explicitly lists motorhomes among the passenger cars under tariff numbers 8703.1000–9060. There is one exception, and it only applies above a gross weight of 3,500 kg: then the vehicle falls under the heavy vehicle charge and is exempt from automobile tax.
What changes above a gross weight of 3,500 kg?
Three things at once: you need a category C1 driving licence instead of B, the vehicle becomes subject to the flat-rate heavy vehicle charge, and the automobile tax falls away. Check the registered gross weight before you buy.
Does an imported motorhome need a Swiss roadworthiness test?
As a rule, yes. Since 2026 only M1 vehicles registered abroad for at most one year and driven at most 2,000 km are registered without an inspection; whether a young motorhome qualifies, we clarify with the road traffic office beforehand. Pay particular attention to the gas system and its inspection — with motorhomes that is the most common reason for a failure.
Is import duty payable when importing a motorhome?
No. With the abolition of industrial tariffs, the Swiss duty rate has stood at CHF 0.00 since 1 January 2024 — regardless of the country of origin and with no proof of origin required. The customs declaration itself remains mandatory.
Sources and legal basis
The statements on this page rest on the following official publications. The wording of the enactments in force is always decisive.
- FOCBS – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
- FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes on a vehicle import
- Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51) (German text)
- Federal Act on Value Added Tax (VAT Act, SR 641.20)
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Import by country of origin
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Import by vehicle type
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