Customs Clearance |
Secure Transportation Ltd are a transport / logistics and installation company that hold a Standard International Operators Licence for our fleet of vans and trucks, and in order to move our clients goods around the World by road sea and air we have our own customs agent who when authorised can act on our client's behalf and make the necessary customs entries both here in the UK and other countries around the World to enable goods to move across borders in a compliant manner, and where necessary the correct duties and taxes to be paid.
STL have been operating in Europe by road for the last 28 years providing transport and logistics services for a diverse range of clients including but not limited to the Datacentre / IT industry and Corporate Events sectors.
On the 31 Jan 2020 when the UK left the European Union under the Brexit withdrawal agreement, moving client's equipment by road or air into and out of mainland Europe including the Republic of Ireland became a complicated process but one which we now successfully do every week with the help of our customs agent. What was once a very easy process of jumping in a van, travelling down to Eurotunnel, and then delivering to anywhere in Europe at a moments notice is not such a straight forward process now, especially as customs formalities take time and European customs offices generally close at 4pm most days and are also shut all weekend.
If a client decides to use Secure Transportation's services we immediately bring our customs agent in to the conversation to advise on the next course of action. We have learnt some useful information throughout the process which may further help you make an informed decision when deciding who you wish to partner with to move your goods around the World.
If you do then this makes the process a lot easier and cheaper as your business entities will be able to act as the EOR (Exporter of Record) and IOR (Importer of Record). If you do not have either or both of these business entities then subject to which country you require, our customs agent may be able to provide an EOR or IOR service. Typically this can cost anywhere between 10-15% of the value of the goods.
From our perspective as the transport company there is a lot of other paperwork that needs to be done in a specific order before we can even get access to the port or Eurotunnel terminal to board a ferry or train to get to Europe or The Republic of Ireland or vice versa. Without a "Port Pass" we will simply be turned away.
In order to get a port pass we will need:
This all takes time so if a movement of goods is urgent, then all these things need to be done in a quick and timely manner otherwise it will hold up the process.
Legal Requirements for Hauliers in Europe
Q. What is a Standard International Operators Licence.
A. This licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people's goods, both in the UK and on international journeys. After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community.
Secure Transportation Ltd have a Standard International Goods Vehicle Operators Licence for 3 HGV's and 12 light goods vehicles with 4 UK Licences for the Community.
As of the 21st May 2022 it is a legal requirement for all transport companies and couriers who need to use vans, car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes, to transport goods for hire or reward in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, to have a standard international goods vehicle operator licence.
The rules apply to you if you use:
You do not need a goods vehicle operator licence if any of these apply:
- In order to do this our customs agent will require a POA (Power of Attorney) to be signed by a company official.
STL have been operating in Europe by road for the last 28 years providing transport and logistics services for a diverse range of clients including but not limited to the Datacentre / IT industry and Corporate Events sectors.
On the 31 Jan 2020 when the UK left the European Union under the Brexit withdrawal agreement, moving client's equipment by road or air into and out of mainland Europe including the Republic of Ireland became a complicated process but one which we now successfully do every week with the help of our customs agent. What was once a very easy process of jumping in a van, travelling down to Eurotunnel, and then delivering to anywhere in Europe at a moments notice is not such a straight forward process now, especially as customs formalities take time and European customs offices generally close at 4pm most days and are also shut all weekend.
If a client decides to use Secure Transportation's services we immediately bring our customs agent in to the conversation to advise on the next course of action. We have learnt some useful information throughout the process which may further help you make an informed decision when deciding who you wish to partner with to move your goods around the World.
- Do you have a legal business entity in both the countries you are exporting the goods from and importing them to?
If you do then this makes the process a lot easier and cheaper as your business entities will be able to act as the EOR (Exporter of Record) and IOR (Importer of Record). If you do not have either or both of these business entities then subject to which country you require, our customs agent may be able to provide an EOR or IOR service. Typically this can cost anywhere between 10-15% of the value of the goods.
- Do you have a business entity in France?
- If the answer to this is YES, then this makes transporting goods by road easier, as there is a possiblity the goods can be pre cleared in France under one of the EU Vat regimes and then they can be delivered directly anywhere in the EU. The benefit of this is, that as the transport company we can load in the UK, board a train or ferry and provided customs in France do not wish to inspect the goods we can then drive straight to the destination and unload.
- If the answer is NO then the goods will usually have to travel under a T1 transit document which is what is used for crossing boarders without import charges within the EU. The downside of this is that as the transport company we have to collect the T1 document from the customs office at the point of departure in the UK, travel to the customs office at the destination and present the goods for clearance. This can take anything from an hour to the whole day. This all adds time and extra cost to the job since Brexit.
From our perspective as the transport company there is a lot of other paperwork that needs to be done in a specific order before we can even get access to the port or Eurotunnel terminal to board a ferry or train to get to Europe or The Republic of Ireland or vice versa. Without a "Port Pass" we will simply be turned away.
In order to get a port pass we will need:
- A GMR (Goods Movement Reference).
- The GMR is generated when the customs entries are completed.
- In order to complete the customs entries a commercial invoice needs to be produced along with all the other requirements of our customs agent.
This all takes time so if a movement of goods is urgent, then all these things need to be done in a quick and timely manner otherwise it will hold up the process.
- To ship the goods a CI (Commercial Invoice) will be required. A template can be downloaded here
Legal Requirements for Hauliers in Europe
- Make sure whoever you decide to transport your goods throughout Europe and The Republic of Ireland has a Standard International Operators Licence. This is now a requirement by law in the EU, even if a van is being used.
Q. What is a Standard International Operators Licence.
A. This licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people's goods, both in the UK and on international journeys. After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community.
Secure Transportation Ltd have a Standard International Goods Vehicle Operators Licence for 3 HGV's and 12 light goods vehicles with 4 UK Licences for the Community.
As of the 21st May 2022 it is a legal requirement for all transport companies and couriers who need to use vans, car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes, to transport goods for hire or reward in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, to have a standard international goods vehicle operator licence.
The rules apply to you if you use:
- vans with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) over 2,500kg (2.5 tonnes) and up to and including 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes)
- vans towing a trailer with a gross train weight (GTW) over 2.5 tonnes and up to and including 3.5 tonnes
- cars towing a trailer with a GTW over 2.5 tonnes and up to and including 3.5 tonnes
You do not need a goods vehicle operator licence if any of these apply:
- you only use your vehicles in the UK
- you are transporting goods not for ‘hire or reward’
