Eurotunnel crossing with van
Discussion
Hello all, can you help please? Has anyone used Euro tunnel with their own van filled with their own stuff to take to their own holiday home in Europe? Do I need extra paperwork? Is it a customs nightmare? Is it exporting/ importing if it's your own private items, not for resale? Thx
bigdry said:
Hello all, can you help please? Has anyone used Euro tunnel with their own van filled with their own stuff to take to their own holiday home in Europe? Do I need extra paperwork? Is it a customs nightmare? Is it exporting/ importing if it's your own private items, not for resale? Thx
I helped some folks bring a van load of their own goods, furniture mainly, back from France last month. We had no customs paperwork, were asked what we were doing at Calais and got waved straight through with nobody even opening the van doors. Had to collect my parents 'stuff' from their place in France that they sold during Covid... so, I couldn't get there for around 18months.
Post Brexit... I did call HMRC to seek clarification and got differing responses. First was 'must declare, provide proof, etc. and then pay vat/customs'... so I made another call a day later and got the 'what value is it', I enquired if he knew the value of a 75yr old woman's underwear... he didn't reply :-)
Joking aside, it was basically clothes, cutlery/crockery, books, etc. nothing of any value as such. HMRC (2nd call) did say that if it was over £135 then you would have to declare.
However, he agreed with my that if I was in any doubt then when I returned I should head over to 'goods to declare', explain the situation and, his words, 'to be honest I can't see it being an issue', I suggested to him that it might make more sense to go through 'nothing to declare' and only explain the situation if stopped at customs... he said he obviously couldn't suggest that option... but it was apparent that he agreed.
(there is no obvious goods to declare at Calais... I did look and worked on the basis that they must be at the UK end... but (both ways) once you are through it is a case of drive off and you are on open roads)
First trip was in October, with my van (no signwriting), leaving UK at Eurotunnel, checked in (all uploaded online), through to passport control and then 'please park up over there'.
Van was empty going out, but they still x-rayed it, then told to carry on.
Coming back... check in, passport and then told to park up over there... x-ray van and park (whilst they check the x-ray), then released via the barrier. The van was FULL, but other than verbal questions, there was no 'please open up the van'.
Trip Part Deux... a couple of weeks ago...
Rolled up to UK end, checked in, passport control and then stopped by customs... 'do you know what I am going to ask' came the question, I replied the van is empty but it wont be when I return tomorrow... he didn't bother to open up the doors and just waved me on. No x-ray this time.
At the French end... check in, passport control and then told to park over by security, 'what is inside and open the back doors', half a van load of second hand personal effects, looked in and waved me on. No x-ray this time.
So, two trips UK/France and at no point did anyone question (in any detail) the contents, there was no request for paperwork even when the van was rammed full.
Obviously it could vary each time and they 'could' stop you and ask for paperwork...
I was collecting a third parties personal effects, so, if anything, it would be harder to explain than taking/returning with your own stuff... but I guess it just comes down to the individual at security/border/customs control...
Post Brexit... I did call HMRC to seek clarification and got differing responses. First was 'must declare, provide proof, etc. and then pay vat/customs'... so I made another call a day later and got the 'what value is it', I enquired if he knew the value of a 75yr old woman's underwear... he didn't reply :-)
Joking aside, it was basically clothes, cutlery/crockery, books, etc. nothing of any value as such. HMRC (2nd call) did say that if it was over £135 then you would have to declare.
However, he agreed with my that if I was in any doubt then when I returned I should head over to 'goods to declare', explain the situation and, his words, 'to be honest I can't see it being an issue', I suggested to him that it might make more sense to go through 'nothing to declare' and only explain the situation if stopped at customs... he said he obviously couldn't suggest that option... but it was apparent that he agreed.
(there is no obvious goods to declare at Calais... I did look and worked on the basis that they must be at the UK end... but (both ways) once you are through it is a case of drive off and you are on open roads)
First trip was in October, with my van (no signwriting), leaving UK at Eurotunnel, checked in (all uploaded online), through to passport control and then 'please park up over there'.
Van was empty going out, but they still x-rayed it, then told to carry on.
Coming back... check in, passport and then told to park up over there... x-ray van and park (whilst they check the x-ray), then released via the barrier. The van was FULL, but other than verbal questions, there was no 'please open up the van'.
Trip Part Deux... a couple of weeks ago...
Rolled up to UK end, checked in, passport control and then stopped by customs... 'do you know what I am going to ask' came the question, I replied the van is empty but it wont be when I return tomorrow... he didn't bother to open up the doors and just waved me on. No x-ray this time.
At the French end... check in, passport control and then told to park over by security, 'what is inside and open the back doors', half a van load of second hand personal effects, looked in and waved me on. No x-ray this time.
So, two trips UK/France and at no point did anyone question (in any detail) the contents, there was no request for paperwork even when the van was rammed full.
Obviously it could vary each time and they 'could' stop you and ask for paperwork...
I was collecting a third parties personal effects, so, if anything, it would be harder to explain than taking/returning with your own stuff... but I guess it just comes down to the individual at security/border/customs control...
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