Cantonal vehicle tax
Vehicle tax in the canton of Bern
What a vehicle costs each year in Bern – under the tariff in force, with its source.
- Tax base
- Total weight
The tariff applied here has been in force since 2020.
Not every vehicle pays by the same formula
Bern does not necessarily tax all five vehicle kinds on the same basis. What follows is the tariff in force, not a conversion from the car one.
| Vehicle kind | Tax base | Tariff in force since |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Total weight | 2020 |
| Motorcycle | Total weight | 2013 |
| Motorhome | Total weight | 2013 |
| Trailer | Total weight | 2013 |
| Lorry | Total weight | 2013 |
Why every canton computes differently
Vehicle tax is a cantonal matter, and the cantons do not even agree on what to tax. Nine different bases are in use: displacement, gross weight, power, CO₂ and combinations of those. On top come eco bonuses and surcharges, special rules for electric and veteran vehicles, and reforms still working their way through. For the same car, the gap between the cheapest and the dearest cantons therefore runs to multiples.
The canton’s official tariff: svsa.sid.be.ch/.../fahrzeugsteuer.html (verified 2026-07-27); weight model, 2022 CO2 reform rejected; backfill horizon 2020 (assumed stable)
An estimate. Only the canton’s own assessment is binding.