Importing a van up to 3.5 t into Switzerland
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In short: When you import a van of up to 3.5 t into Switzerland, the 4 % automobile tax is only due if the kerb weight does not exceed 1,600 kg. Heavier vans are exempt from it. The 8.1 % import VAT is always payable, and the CO₂ penalty can apply to new vehicles.
The 1,600-kilo threshold — the costliest mistake on a van
The Vehicle Tax Act covers goods vehicles of tariff heading 8704 only “with a unit weight of not more than 1,600 kg”. Unit weight (Stückgewicht) means unladen weight. Directive 68 of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security is even clearer in another passage and expressly names, as an example of a vehicle not covered by the tax, “a van with a unit weight of more than 1,600 kg”.
In practice: most vans are not subject to the vehicle tax at all. A Ford Transit, a Sprinter or a Ducato weighs between 1,900 and 2,400 kg empty. Anyone applying a flat 4 % here quotes around CHF 1,100 too much on a vehicle costing EUR 30,000. The reverse holds too: a small high-roof van under 1,600 kg is indeed liable. What counts is the tariff classification and the unladen weight entered in the registration document — we check that before quoting.
The duties at a glance
| Duty | Van up to 3.5 t |
|---|---|
| Customs tariff heading | 8704 |
| Customs duty | CHF 0.00 (since 1 January 2024) |
| Vehicle tax 4 % | only up to 1,600 kg unladen weight |
| Import VAT 8.1 % | yes |
| CO₂ penalty | yes, reference value 153.9 g/km |
| MFK (Swiss roadworthiness test) | yes |
Basis: Art. 2 of the Automobile Tax Act covers tariff number 8704 only “with a unit weight of no more than 1,600 kg”. FOCBS directive 68, version of 1 July 2026, expressly names the heavier van as an example of a vehicle that is not covered.
What does it cost to import a van worth CHF 30,000?
A van with 2,100 kg unladen weight worth CHF 30,000 at the border pays only the 8.1 % import VAT: CHF 2,430. A 1,450 kg high-roof MPV of equal value pays CHF 3,727.20: CHF 1,200 automobile tax plus CHF 2,527.20 import VAT. So the unladen weight accounts for almost CHF 1,300. New vehicles may add the CO₂ penalty.
What should I check when importing a van?
With commercial vehicles, check the entry in the registration document: a vehicle listed as a lorry abroad can be classified differently in Switzerland. Conversions into a motorhome are a separate matter — R-68 treats them as manufacture, and the vehicle then becomes taxable as a motorhome.
Weight limits and driving licence classes for motorhomes are covered in the guide importing a motorhome into Switzerland.
Customs clearance and registration
If a van is registered as a lorry abroad, we check its Swiss classification from the registration document and the COC before the quote is issued. Customs clearance then takes place at the Thayngen customs office. If your company is entered in the Swiss VAT register and uses the van for business, it can deduct the import VAT as input tax.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay automobile tax on a van?
Only if the kerb weight does not exceed 1,600 kg. The Automobile Tax Act covers vehicles under tariff heading 8704 expressly only up to that unit weight, and Directive 68 issued by the Swiss customs authority (FOCBS) cites a heavier van as its example of a vehicle that is not covered. Most of the vans on the market are above that limit.
Does the CO₂ penalty apply to vans as well?
Yes, light commercial vehicles are subject to the CO₂ regulations. Their reference value of 153.9 g/km is considerably higher than the one for passenger cars. For vans we show the penalty as a guide figure and check the individual target value before we issue the quote.
What happens if I have a van converted into a motorhome?
If a vehicle that is not liable to the tax is converted abroad into one that is — a heavy van turned into a motorhome, for instance — R-68 treats this as manufacture. The vehicle is then taxed as a whole when it is imported.
Is customs duty payable when importing a van of up to 3.5 t?
No. Since industrial tariffs were abolished, the Swiss rate of duty has been 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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- Importing a passenger car into Switzerland
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