International courier service
Within Europe we drive your goods ourselves. Further afield, we arrange the shipment through partner carriers and air networks, with our own driver making the urgent UK collection and delivering to the airport or hub. Every international job is quoted individually.
- Urgent UK collection by our driver
- Partner air and express networks
- Quoted case by case
Two different services under one booking
We want to be clear about how our international work is split, because it affects timings, responsibility and price.
To Europe by road, it is entirely our own service. A dedicated van and driver collect from your premises and deliver directly to the address in Europe. Our European courier page explains how that works, including Channel crossings and customs.
Beyond Europe, we arrange the shipment on request through partner carriers using air freight and international express networks. Our own driver handles the urgent part in the UK: collecting from you at short notice in a dedicated vehicle and delivering straight to the airport or the carrier's hub, so the shipment makes the earliest suitable departure. From there, the partner carries it to the destination and completes delivery.
We quote each shipment individually, because the route, the carrier options and the customs position differ every time.
When this makes sense
An international courier booking makes sense when goods must leave the UK sooner than a scheduled network collection allows. Our driver collects the same day in a dedicated vehicle and takes the consignment to the partner carrier's airport or hub in time for the next suitable departure.
A typical example: an engineering firm in Coventry needs a replacement control board at a customer's site overseas, and the board is ready at 2.00 pm. Our urgent courier collection gets it to the hub in time for the next available service, rather than waiting until the following day. Samples for an overseas trade buyer and signed originals that must reach another country work the same way.
If your goods are fragile or valuable, tell us at the outset. We can collect with a suitable vehicle and handling, as on our fragile and high-value courier service, and check what packaging the onward carrier requires.
Documentation for international shipments
Paperwork is where most international shipments are won or lost. Have these ready before collection:
- Commercial invoice with a clear description of each item, quantity, unit value, total value, currency, country of origin and the reason for export (sale, repair, sample, return).
- Commodity codes for each product line, so the goods can be classified correctly.
- Sender and recipient details, including the recipient's phone number and, where required by the destination, their tax or importer ID.
- Your EORI number for commercial exports from Great Britain.
- Any licences or certificates your goods need, such as an export licence for controlled items or health certificates for regulated products.
An export declaration is needed for commercial goods leaving the UK. It is normally lodged by the carrier or a customs agent using the information on your invoice, so the accuracy of that invoice matters. A vague description such as "parts" or "samples" is a common reason for a hold.
Prohibited and restricted items
Every carrier and every destination country has its own list. Goods that are often restricted or prohibited by air include batteries and devices containing them, aerosols, perfumes, alcohol, some foods, medicines, and anything classed as dangerous goods. Dangerous goods are outside our service in any case. Some destinations also restrict items that are unremarkable in the UK. Describe the goods fully when you ask for a quote so we can check before anything is collected.
Duties and taxes: who pays?
Import duty and taxes are charged by the destination country, not by us or the carrier, and someone must pay them before the goods are released. The Incoterm you agree with your recipient decides who:
| Term | Meaning | Who pays import charges |
|---|---|---|
| DAP | Delivered at place | the recipient |
| DDP | Delivered duty paid | you, the sender |
DAP is common for business shipments where the recipient is used to importing. DDP suits deliveries where you don't want your customer to face a bill on arrival, but it means you pay charges you may not know exactly in advance. Whichever you choose, tell us when you book so the shipment is set up correctly.
What affects transit time
Transit time depends mainly on the departures available from the UK to the destination and on customs clearance there, which rests heavily on your documentation. Because these change from one shipment to the next, we confirm timings for each job rather than publishing transit times by country. The factors are:
- the flights or network departures available from the UK to the destination;
- customs clearance in the destination country, which depends heavily on documentation;
- local weekends and public holidays at the destination;
- how far the delivery address is from the arrival airport or hub;
- the time your goods are ready, and whether that meets the next departure cut-off;
- the size and nature of the goods, including any restricted contents.
We give you an estimate with the quote, based on the options available at the time.
Getting a quote
Send us the collection postcode, the full destination address, a description of the goods, the number of pieces with dimensions and weights, the value, the ready time and when the goods need to arrive. Our guide to what information a courier needs for a quote covers the details that make a quote accurate. For medical or temperature-sensitive goods, see our medical and pharmaceutical courier page first and mention the requirements in your enquiry.
Request an international quote and we will come back with the options.
FAQ
Common questions
Do you fly the goods yourselves?
No. Beyond Europe, the international leg is carried by partner carriers on their air freight or express networks. Our part is the UK side: an urgent collection by our own driver in a dedicated vehicle, delivery straight to the airport or hub, and keeping you informed. We tell you plainly who is responsible for each stage when we quote.
How long will an international shipment take?
It depends on the destination, the available flights or network departures, customs clearance at both ends, local weekends and public holidays, and how remote the delivery address is. We give you an estimate with each quote based on the options available at the time, rather than a fixed transit time for every country.
What does DAP or DDP mean on my quote?
They are Incoterms, the internationally recognised terms that set out who pays for what. Under DAP (delivered at place), the shipment is delivered to the address and the recipient pays any import duty and taxes. Under DDP (delivered duty paid), you as the sender pay those charges. Agree the Incoterm with your recipient before shipping to avoid goods being held.
Can you send goods that contain lithium batteries?
Possibly, but not always. Batteries, and devices containing them, are restricted by air and need specific packing, labelling and declarations. Some types cannot travel by air at all. Tell us exactly what the item is and the battery type when you ask for a quote, and we will check whether the carrier can accept it.
Why is my international quote based on a weight higher than the actual weight?
Air freight is usually charged on chargeable weight, which is the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight worked out from the dimensions. A light but bulky box can therefore cost more than its weight suggests. Accurate measurements at the quote stage avoid surprises on the final invoice.
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