Outside the EU, customs clearance required
Freight transport to the United Kingdom
Since Brexit, the UK is a customs border rather than a long drive. The transport is the easy part. What determines whether your shipment arrives on time is whether the declarations were right before the truck reached the Channel.
The United Kingdom left the EU customs union and single market, which changed this lane fundamentally. A shipment that once travelled on a CMR and an invoice now needs an export declaration on the EU side, an import declaration on the UK side, a commodity code, a customs value, and in many cases a statement of origin to claim the zero duty rate under the trade agreement.
None of that is difficult, but all of it is unforgiving about timing. Ferry and tunnel operators will not accept a vehicle without the correct references, so a missing document does not cause a delay at the border, it causes a missed crossing. We prepare both sides of the declaration before the truck loads.
Transit is three to four days for a full load to London and the south east, four days to the Midlands and the north. Groupage takes considerably longer, because consolidation and the customs step compound, so for anything with a deadline we will usually recommend a part load moving direct.
Typical transit times
| From | To | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Oradea | London Road, FTL | 3 to 4 days |
| Oradea | Birmingham Road, FTL | 4 days |
| Oradea | Manchester Road, FTL | 4 days |
| Oradea | Glasgow Road, groupage | 7 to 9 days |
Indicative times, assuming normal traffic conditions and complete documentation.
How we ship to United Kingdom
Road Freight
Full and part truck loads across Europe with frequent, scheduled departures.
Customs Clearance
Import, export and transit declarations with tariff classification and duty planning.
Groupage
Shared truck and container space from one pallet up, on scheduled departures.
Air Freight
Scheduled, express and charter air cargo with door to door handling at both ends.
Where we deliver most often
- London and the south east
- The Midlands, including Birmingham and Coventry
- Manchester and the north west
- Leeds and Yorkshire
- Bristol and the south west
- Scotland, via Glasgow and Edinburgh
Customs and documentation
Every shipment needs an EU export declaration and a UK import declaration. You will need an EORI number on both sides, correct commodity codes, and a customs value. Import VAT is due in the UK, usually accounted for by the importer through postponed VAT accounting rather than paid at the border.
The EU and UK trade agreement allows zero duty on goods that qualify as originating, but the claim is not automatic. It requires a statement on origin from the exporter and, critically, the goods have to actually meet the origin rules. Goods merely shipped from Romania but manufactured elsewhere do not qualify, and claiming otherwise is an expensive mistake to have to correct later.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need before shipping to the UK?
An EORI number, a commercial invoice showing commodity codes, values, incoterms and country of origin, and a packing list. If you want to claim zero duty under the trade agreement you also need a statement on origin, and you need to be genuinely entitled to make it. We check all of this before the vehicle loads.
Who pays the import duty and VAT?
That depends on the incoterm. Under DDP you pay it as the seller, under DAP the buyer does. It is worth deciding this deliberately rather than by default, because a UK customer who receives an unexpected duty bill remembers it. We will explain the practical difference before you commit to terms.
How much longer does the customs step add?
If the documents are ready, effectively nothing, because the declarations are filed while the truck is still driving. If they are not ready, it adds as long as it takes, plus a missed ferry booking. The delay on this lane is almost always administrative, not physical.
Tell us what you need to move.
Send the supplier city or port of loading, the volume and weight, and the date the goods are ready. We will come back with a landed cost and a realistic transit time, usually within one working day.