Buying an electric camper van abroad

1. Does the charging plug fit?

This is the most important question and the most common reason an import makes no sense. A camper from the US, Japan or China has a different plug from European chargers. Adapters exist for slow (AC) charging, hardly any for fast (DC) charging, and without fast charging an electric camper is of little use on a trip.

Simplified overview of common standards. Individual vehicles differ; the spec sheet is what counts.

2. Registration: type approval or individual approval

If the camper has EU type approval with a certificate of conformity (CoC), it can be registered in any EU country. With conversions this is not a given: larger converters use multi-stage type approval, small workshops often get each van approved individually, which at first applies only in the converter’s country. Ask for a CoC for the motor caravan body type before you buy.

Vehicles without EU type approval (typically from the US, Japan, China, Korea, and often conversions from the UK) need individual approval. Lights, mirrors, speedometer and charging hardware often have to be modified. That costs time and money and is not always possible.

Special case: the United Kingdom

Many electric campers are converted in the UK, with right-hand drive. Since Brexit, a British approval is not automatically valid in the EU. In short: with an EU certificate of conformity for the finished motor caravan, registration in an EU country is a formality. Without it, an individual approval is needed (in Germany under § 21 StVZO at a testing body such as TÜV or DEKRA), with an assessment of the conversion, weight and lighting. Add import VAT, possibly duty, and headlight conversion.

The reverse applies to buyers in the UK: left-hand-drive vans from the EU may be driven, and registration requires a GB approval or an individual approval.

3. Tax and duty

• Within the EU: new vehicles (up to six months or 6,000 km) are usually bought net; you pay VAT in your own country and must declare the purchase to your tax office.
• From the UK to the EU (and back): import VAT always applies. Duty can be waived if the vehicle meets the trade agreement’s rules of origin, which the seller has to prove.
• From the US, Japan, Korea or China: import VAT always applies. The EU has free trade agreements with Japan and South Korea, so with proof of origin duty may be waived. The EU levies additional countervailing duties on electric cars from China; whether they apply to a camper depends on the vehicle category.
• Switzerland: Switzerland is not part of the EU customs union. Buying in Switzerland and importing into the EU (or the reverse) involves import VAT and customs formalities; Swiss vehicles usually have an EU-compliant approval, but get this confirmed.

4. Left- or right-hand drive

Converters in the UK, Ireland, Japan and Australia build right-hand-drive vans. That is legal in the EU, but the headlights must be adjusted and overtaking on rural roads is harder. Our listings show the steering side per country where published.

5. Warranty and service

The base vehicle’s maker covers drivetrain and battery, usually through its dealer network across the continent. The converter covers the conversion (furniture, pop-top, leisure electrics), often only at its own workshop. Check beforehand who repairs the conversion and whether the converter’s work affects the vehicle warranty.

Common questions

This page is general guidance, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by country and change; the registration office, customs and tax authorities have the final word.