Sourcing vehicle rooftop tents from China
Vehicle rooftop tents from China carry a flat 12% UK duty under the relevant heading 6306 tent lines. Consumer tents sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Specify roof-rack compatibility, mounting hardware and ladder support before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources vehicle rooftop tents.
UK duty on rooftop tents
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6306 covers tents, tarpaulins, awnings, sunblinds, sails and camping goods. The tent lines relevant to textile vehicle rooftop tents carry 12% duty for goods from China. The table also includes separate vehicle awnings as accessories, rather than alternative codes for complete tents.
The selected lines record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls. The tent lines have a suspension at 0.00 %, restricted to tents for setting up field hospitals, including temporary canopies. Ordinary recreational rooftop tents do not meet that description.
Give your broker the fabric composition, shell and base construction, photographs and packing list to confirm the commodity code, including how separately supplied accessories should be declared. For the wider heading, see camping tunnel tents.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle rooftop tents of synthetic fibres | 6306 22 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Vehicle rooftop tents of other textile materials | 6306 29 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Separate vehicle awnings of synthetic fibres | 6306 12 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Separate vehicle awnings of other textile materials | 6306 19 00 00 | 12% | None |
Specify the roof interface and deployed support
Specify hard-shell or folding construction, closed dimensions, deployed sleeping area and total fitted weight. Identify compatible roof bars, bar spacing, mounting-channel geometry, clamp engagement and fasteners. Distinguish the vehicle and rack limits during driving from the support needed when parked and occupied. Ask for evidence supporting the supplier's compatibility and loading claims.
Agree ladder attachment, foot grip, hinge protection, travel latches and opening assistance. Specify fabric composition, coating, seam sealing, ventilation, insect mesh and mattress removal for drying. Textile labels must show fibre content. Consumer tents supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.
Approve fitting and use instructions against a physical sample. Include proposed checks for clamp tightening, latch closure and ladder placement. The Highway Code requires vehicle loads to be secured and not to project dangerously. Agree rain and opening-cycle checks, and review pinch points and accidental closing before approving bulk production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 12 synthetic-fibre vehicle rooftop tents under 6306 22 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 12% is £1,176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,976, so it is £2,195.20. Import taxes total £3,371.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Mounting: weigh the complete kit, measure channels and clamps, trial-fit the agreed roof bars and compare supplied fasteners with the approved sample.
Opening and support: repeatedly deploy and close the tent; check hinges, opening assistance, ladder retention, platform support and travel-latch engagement.
Weather protection: check coating, seam tape, shell seals, drainage and mesh; use the agreed rain trial to distinguish leakage from condensation.
Labels and arrival condition: compare fibre labels and instructions with approved artwork; check shell cracks, bent rails, missing hardware and damp mattresses through the inspection process.
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What goes wrong
A tent can open correctly on the factory floor yet fit poorly on the buyer's roof bars. Clamps may bottom out before gripping, mounting bolts may foul the vehicle roof, or the ladder may fail to support the deployed platform. Approve the complete mounting arrangement, rather than the fabric tent alone.
Seam tape can lift at folds, shell seals can leave gaps and wet packing can lead to mattress mould. A trapped fabric edge can also prevent full latch engagement. Inspect after repeated opening and closing, then check rain performance and drying access against the retained sample.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on rooftop tents from China?
The relevant heading 6306 tent lines carry 12% duty for goods from China. The recorded field-hospital suspension does not cover ordinary recreational rooftop tents.
Will a Chinese rooftop tent fit any roof rack?
Do not assume universal fit. Confirm bar geometry, spacing, clamp engagement and fitted weight against the intended vehicle and rack, then trial-fit the complete kit.
Do rooftop tents need fibre-content labels?
Textile labels must show fibre content. Agree the composition wording with the factory and check it against the supplied tent fabric.
What should I check on arrival?
Check shell damage, bent mounting rails, missing fasteners, latch engagement, ladder retention, seam sealing and mattress dryness. Trial-fit representative tents to the agreed roof bars.