Inward Processing Customs

Why Swiss Businesses Are Sending Vehicles and Machines to Germany for Repair — And How to Do It Right

Many Swiss people already know the trick: drive to Constance, Weil am Rhein, Waldshut, or Singen, fill up the car, and head home with a full trunk of groceries bought at German prices. Lower costs, better selection. It just makes sense.

But what if the same logic applied to your vehicle or machine repair?

It does. Swiss companies are increasingly sending vehicles, trucks, and industrial machinery across the border to Germany for repair, conversion, or refurbishment. They benefit from significantly lower material and labor costs, as well as access to specialists and workshop facilities that simply don’t exist in Switzerland. For certain models and niche refurbishments, Germany isn’t just cheaper. It’s the only option.

This cross-border repair process is officially known as inward processing (or aktive Veredelung in German), and when handled correctly, it allows Swiss businesses to avoid double customs duties and import taxes, keeping costs low and operations running smoothly.

But inward processing isn’t without its pitfalls. The customs regulations are precise, the paperwork matters, and mistakes can be costly. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how inward processing works for vehicles and machines, what it costs, how complex the process really is, and where the risks lie.