New Safety Regulations Issued for Camper Gas Tanks and Swiss Highway Tolls
Recent updates outline mandatory standards for filling LPG bottles at public stations in Germany and clarify toll requirements for travelers crossing Switzerland with trailers.
Campers utilizing gas tank bottles in Germany now face clear regulations regarding public refueling. Under updated technical rules, filling these containers with autogas at public stations is officially permitted, provided the installation complies with current safety standards.
The updated directive eliminates a previous regulatory gray area by officially permitting public refueling when systems follow the G 607 guidelines. This standard requires a sealed connection within the bottle compartment and mandates that the tank bottle remains removable without the use of tools, such as with star-grip screws and a plug-in coupling.
Installations completed prior to June 2026 must undergo professional inspection to ensure compliance with current rules, as grandfather clauses do not apply. Furthermore, refueling must take place exclusively via an exterior filling connection on the vehicle to safeguard occupants against minor gas leaks that can occur during the process.
To ensure maximum safety during operations, the G 607 guidelines mandate that filling lines must not run through the living space of the vehicle, and a safety coupling must be positioned between the tank bottle and the connection point. Systems must also feature an 80-percent filling stop to accommodate thermal gas expansion alongside a safety valve designed to react to excessive pressure.
For travelers heading across international borders, distinct rules govern highway usage. In Switzerland, the annual highway vignette remains priced at 40 francs, with drivers able to choose between a traditional adhesive sticker and a digital e-vignette through the official portal of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security.
Both the sticker and the digital version carry a fixed validity period spanning 14 months, running from December 1 of the preceding year through January 31 of the following year. Drivers caught utilizing toll roads without a valid vignette face a fine of 200 francs in addition to the cost of purchasing the mandatory sticker.
Trailers and caravans generally require their own separate vignette when utilizing toll-required national roads, meaning an automobile towing a small caravan typically needs two separate passes. Motor vehicles and trailers exceeding 3.5 metric units are subject to a flat heavy vehicle fee instead of the standard vignette.