Sourcing caravan roof air conditioners from China
Caravan rooftop air conditioners from China carry 2% UK duty across the selected lines. For Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker whether your annual HFC imports require registration and quota authorisations. Confirm the refrigerant and equipment classification before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources caravan rooftop air conditioners.
UK duty and refrigerant controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the selected lines under heading 8415 carry 2% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, or tariff suspension, is recorded. The heading covers air-conditioning machines with a motor-driven fan and elements that change temperature and humidity. The table gives candidate lines for caravan rooftop units, subject to confirmation of their construction and intended use.
The selected lines carry an import control on fluorinated greenhouse gases and a restriction on entry into free circulation concerning ozone-depleting substances. New equipment must not use ozone-depleting substances, apart from recycled halons for critical uses. Imported F-gas equipment must be correctly labelled. Give the broker the refrigerant identity, charge and model documents, and confirm the declaration requirements attached to the chosen line before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the installation drawings, refrigerating circuit and refrigerant charge. Explain whether the application is a towed caravan or a motorhome, and whether heating uses a reversing valve or an electric heater. For the wider product family, see rooftop packaged air conditioners.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-contained air conditioners, pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 10 10 10 | 2% | None |
| Self-contained air conditioners, other | 8415 10 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Other reversible heat-pump air conditioners, pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 81 00 91 | 2% | None |
| Other reversible heat-pump air conditioners, other refrigerant status | 8415 81 00 99 | 2% | None |
| Other air conditioners with a refrigerating unit, pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 82 00 91 | 2% | None |
| Other air conditioners with a refrigerating unit, other refrigerant status | 8415 82 00 99 | 2% | None |
Specify the roof opening and electrical supply
Specify the roof opening, roof thickness range, mounting frame, gasket, ceiling air distributor and clearances around rooflights and solar panels. Agree the installed weight and mounting loads with the vehicle installer. Request drawings of the complete assembly, including condensate drainage and cable entry, rather than approving the external casing alone.
State the available electrical supply, running current and compressor starting current. Ask for cooling performance at agreed ambient conditions, sleeping-area noise measurements and heating performance where offered. Distinguish reverse-cycle heating from an electric heater. Include replacement gaskets, filters, fan motors, controllers and remotes in the parts plan.
For Great Britain, check the finished mains-powered model's electrical safety evidence, CE or UKCA marking and declaration of conformity. Instructions must be clear, legible and in easily understandable English. Electrical and electronic equipment liable to generate electromagnetic disturbance falls within the electromagnetic compatibility rules, subject to exceptions; request evidence for the complete unit through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 40 self-contained caravan rooftop air conditioners pre-charged with HFCs; illustrative order, subject to classification confirmation under 8415 10 10 10, invoiced at £28,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 2% is £640. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,640, so it is £6,528. Import taxes total £7,168; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £640 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Roof fit: trial-fit the mounting frame and ceiling distributor to a representative roof section. Check gasket seating, fasteners, cable protection and drainage during an agreed water test.
Operation: run cooling, fan speeds and any heating mode. Record starting current, running current, airflow, temperature change, vibration and noise against the approved sample and agreed test conditions.
Refrigerant and documents: match the refrigerant, charge and model identification across the nameplate, factory records and supporting documents. Check leak-test records, electrical safety records, markings and the English installation manual.
Arrival condition: check the roof casing, coil fins, mounting frame and ceiling trim for transit damage. Recheck operation after unpacking and record findings through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A casing can fit the roof opening while the clamp frame or ceiling distributor does not suit the roof thickness. Uneven gasket compression, blocked drainage or poorly protected cable entries can cause leaks. Compressor starting current can exceed the agreed supply capability, while vibration can become intrusive inside the caravan. Test the complete installed assembly before approving production.
A refrigerant substitution can change both the tariff line and the compliance position. Check the applicable F-gas product bans against the actual equipment design, and calculate annual HFC imports across all shipments. Confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker whether imported pre-charged air-conditioning equipment needs a declaration confirming quota coverage. Resolve these points before dispatch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on caravan rooftop air conditioners from China?
The selected heading 8415 lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, or suspension, is recorded in the supplied tariff snapshot.
Do I need F-gas quota for caravan air conditioners?
For Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker whether your annual HFC imports require registration and quota authorisations, and whether pre-charged air-conditioning equipment needs a declaration of conformity confirming quota coverage.
Which measurements should I send the Chinese factory?
Send the roof opening, roof thickness, mounting arrangement, clearances and ceiling distributor layout. Specify the electrical supply, acceptable starting current, cooling test conditions and noise acceptance criteria.
Can I use the same commodity code for every rooftop model?
Confirm each design separately. Self-contained construction, a reversing valve and HFC pre-charging affect the candidate line. Give your broker the intended vehicle application, drawings and refrigerant details.