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Freight Forwarding United Kingdom – Transports Germany ↔ UK incl. Customs

Transports to the United Kingdom run as a direct transport via the Eurotunnel or the Calais–Dover ferry and reach London in 2–4 working days (approx. 1,150 km). Since Brexit the UK has been a non-EU country – Speed Logistics handles the full customs clearance (GVMS).

Aerial view of an industrial plant

Since Brexit the United Kingdom has been a non-EU country – every transport from Germany to England, Scotland or Wales needs complete customs clearance. This is exactly where Speed Logistics comes in: we run direct traffic via the Eurotunnel or the Calais–Dover ferry and handle the export declaration, UK import declaration and the border filing in the British GVMS system. Your shipment reaches London, Birmingham, Manchester or Glasgow usually in 2–4 working days – door-to-door, without you having to deal with formalities.

You receive a fixed-price quote within a few hours including all customs services, and a dedicated contact in the 24/7 dispatch team. We drive with the right vehicle, from a van (3.5 t) for express parts to a 40-tonne articulated truck for full loads – on request with premium handling for sensitive and high-value goods.

Scope of services for UK transports

  • Full truckloads (FTL) as a direct transport without transhipment to England and Scotland
  • Part and additional loads (LTL) with firmly committed loading and delivery dates
  • Express direct transports by van, e.g. for production stoppages at British automotive plants
  • Imports from the UK – return loads and procurement transports including German import handling

Customs clearance since Brexit

For every UK shipment we prepare the electronic export declaration in Germany and the import declaration with British customs (HMRC). Your British consignee – or, for a DDP delivery, our partner solution – needs a GB EORI number for this. Before the Channel crossing we file the shipment in the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), so the truck rolls through the border control at Calais and Dover without a stop. The basis is the commercial invoice and packing list with clean tariff classification; for goods of EU origin we use the preferential rule of the trade agreement, so that in many cases no British duty arises.

Process: from enquiry to delivery in the UK

You send us the shipment data, we check the customs documents and submit a fixed-price quote. After pick-up the vehicle drives directly to the Channel; with correctly prepared papers the border clearance is a mere formality. Delivery is made with advance notice against proof of receipt – including at ramps with fixed time slots, as is customary in British trade.

Target areas and industries in the United Kingdom

We deliver throughout the United Kingdom: in the greater London area and southern England usually on the second working day; in the Midlands around Birmingham – the centre of the British automotive and supplier industry – as well as in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool on the second to third day; in Scotland up to Glasgow and Edinburgh in three to four working days. Besides automotive deliveries we regularly run machinery and plant components, trade goods for distribution centres and sensitive pharmaceutical and medical-technology shipments with premium handling. We also dispatch return loads from the UK to Germany including complete import handling – paired traffic noticeably lowers your freight costs per run.

Why Speed Logistics for the United Kingdom?

Transport and Brexit customs from one hand, calculable fixed prices without hidden border costs, and a dispatch team that realises short-notice pick-ups too. Whether regular scheduled traffic to Birmingham or the urgent spare-part delivery to Manchester overnight to the Channel – enquire about your UK lane without obligation.

Frequently asked questions: Freight Forwarding United Kingdom

How long does a transport from Germany to the United Kingdom take?

Direct transports reach London and southern England usually in 2–3 working days, and central and northern England as well as Scotland in 3–4 working days. Decisive is a smooth border clearance at the Channel – with fully prepared customs papers and GVMS filing, the truck passes Calais–Dover without a notable stop.

Which customs papers do I need for UK shipments since Brexit?

Required are the commercial invoice and packing list with commodity code and value, the electronic export declaration in Germany, and the import declaration with British customs HMRC. Speed Logistics prepares both declarations and handles the border filing in GVMS – you provide only the goods data. For EU preferential origin we add the origin declaration on the invoice.

What is GVMS and why is it important?

The Goods Vehicle Movement Service is the British border system for accompanied freight: all customs declarations of a truck load are bundled into one Goods Movement Reference before the Channel crossing. Without a valid GVMS filing the vehicle may not check in. We complete the filing for every run before the truck reaches the port.

Does my British customer need an EORI number?

Yes, a GB EORI number is needed for the import into the United Kingdom – usually that of your consignee as importer. If you deliver DDP, that is cleared and taxed, we organise the import handling via our partner solution. We clarify the allocation of roles before the first shipment.

Is British duty payable on UK deliveries?

For goods with proven EU preferential origin, the trade agreement between the EU and the UK provides for duty exemption – the origin declaration on the commercial invoice is sufficient in most cases. Without preferential proof, the regular British customs tariff applies. We check before shipping whether your goods meet the origin rules.

Are express direct transports to London possible?

Yes. By van direct transport with two drivers and the customs filing completed in advance, urgent shipments reach London typically within 24–36 hours of pick-up in Germany. Our dispatch team is reachable round the clock and can often start express runs the same day.

What should I pay particular attention to when transporting to the United Kingdom?

Since Brexit, full customs clearance is mandatory – the most common delays arise from incomplete GVMS references or incorrect export declarations that block access to the Eurotunnel or the ferry. The Channel crossing requires pre-booked slots. For EU preferential origin, the correct proof lowers the import duties.

Why has transport to the UK become more involved since Brexit?

Before Brexit, traffic ran as EU internal traffic without border formalities; since the withdrawal the UK has been a non-EU country, which is why export, GVMS filing and import clearance are needed. Without clean papers, stops at the Channel border threaten. Speed Logistics handles the complete process and books the crossing slots in advance.

Request freight forwarding united kingdom

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.