Guidance

Check how to move goods through ports that use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service

Find out what you need to do to get goods through customs if you’re using a UK port which uses the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
8 December 2020
Last updated
29 December 2021 — See all updates

You will not be able to move goods through ports using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service without a goods movement reference and you may face delays at the port.

The Goods Vehicle Movement Service brings together multiple declaration reference numbers into a single goods movement reference. This is to speed up the clearance of goods through customs.

When you’ll need a goods movement reference

You may need to create a goods movement reference for journeys of goods through locations using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service from:

  • the EU (not including Ireland) to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) — a goods movement reference is required for all movements
  • Ireland to Great Britain — a goods movement reference is only required if you’re moving goods under the Common Transit Convention using a Transit Accompanying Document
  • Great Britain to the EU — a goods movement reference is required for all movements
  • Great Britain to Northern Ireland — a goods movement reference is required for all movements
  • Northern Ireland to Great Britain — a goods movement reference is required for movements in the following circumstances:
    • Common Transit Convention movements
    • Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) and Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnet movements
    • EU (Ireland) export declarations for indirect exports from Ireland to Great Britain through a Northern Ireland port
    • movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain under a customs special procedure or on a list of goods where specific international processes apply

If your movement type is not listed, you do not need to create a goods movement reference even if travelling through a port using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

How to move your goods

To move your goods, you’ll need to:

  1. Find out which ports use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

  2. Register for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

  3. Get a goods movement reference.

If you’re a trader sending goods

Before the goods arrive at the departure port, you must give the haulier your movement reference numbers from any:

  • safety and security declarations
  • import or export declarations
  • Transport Internationaux Routiers (TIR)
  • Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnets

Alternatively, you must give the haulier your Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) if you’re approved to make an entry in your own records and declare goods in this way.

If your goods are travelling under the Common Transit Convention, you must give the haulier the relevant movement reference numbers to be included in the goods movement reference.

A single vehicle may be carrying more than one transit movement. You must give the haulier a Transit Accompanying Document for each movement and a movement reference number for each safety and security declaration.

If you’re a haulier

You must enter references for all the goods contained in the vehicle, trailer or container. You must follow instructions to find out if you need to get your goods checked by customs on arrival, or if you’re able to continue your journey.

If your business has been hired by someone to move goods, you can register for an application platform interface (API).

If you’re a carrier

If you’re transporting a vehicle for a haulier, you must:

  1. Check if the port where the goods are arriving is using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

  2. Get access to the carrier application platform interface (API).

  3. Check if a goods movement reference is valid.

If you’re a postal operator

If you’re a postal operator (or an Extra-Territorial Office of Exchange) and goods you move include postal items moved under Universal Postal Union rules, you must tell the haulier to select the ‘Postal Declaration’ option when creating their goods movement reference. This applies to goods with CN37, CN38 and CN41 movement documents, and CN22 and CN23 item declaration forms.

Published 8 December 2020
Last updated 29 December 2021 + show all updates

  1. The requirements to get a goods movement reference from 1 January 2022 have been updated. This is because of changes to the goods vehicle movement service and the decision to temporarily extend staged customs controls for goods moving from Ireland and Northern Ireland (where applicable) to Great Britain.

  2. From 1 January 2022, haulier's will need to check if they need to report for an inspection if they are arriving a the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead. Guidance on how to do this has been added.

  3. More information about when you need a goods movement reference has been added.

  4. Information about when you need a goods reference number and what to do if you're a trader sending goods that are travelling under Common Transit Convention has been updated.

  5. Information about if you're a haulier using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service has been updated.

  6. First published.

Contents

Part of Transport goods out of the UK by road: step by step

  1. Step 1 Apply for operator licences and permits

    1. Check if you need a vehicle operator licence
    2. Apply for a vehicle operator licence

    You'll need other licences and permits, depending on the countries you're driving to or through.

    1. Check which licences and permits you need

  2. Step 2 Register and get approval for your vehicle

    You may need to register your trailer to drive through or to the EU if it weighs over 750kg.

    1. Register your trailer to take it abroad

    You’ll need to get specialist vehicle approvals to transport any of the following:

  3. Step 3 Make sure your driver is eligible to drive abroad

    1. Check your driver has the documents they need to drive abroad

    The driver must carry these documents with them.

    1. Check if a country you are travelling to or through requires a coronavirus (COVID-19) test

  4. Step 4 Check the rules for the goods you're carrying

    1. Find out what you need to do if you're exporting your own goods

    There are rules for transporting certain goods. Your driver may need to follow set routes or stop at specific check points. Check the rules for:

    1. Find out what you need to apply for if you’re moving goods temporarily out of the UK

    If you're transporting goods outside the EU they must have been cleared by customs (given ‘permission to progress’). The exporter can tell you if this has happened.

  5. Step 5 Make sure your driver has the right export documents

    Your driver will need copies of:

    • any export licences
    • the road consignment note (‘CMR note’)
    • the Movement Reference Number (MRN) from the export declaration - if you're moving goods out of the EU
    • the MRN and the Local Reference Number (LRN) - if you're moving goods under the Common Transit convention (CTC)
    • the ATA Carnet document - if you're moving goods out of the EU temporarily
    • the TiR Carnet document - if you’re moving goods in a sealed load compartment with a seal number

    The exporter should be able to give all of these to you.

    You'll also need to have a customs seal approval certificate for the vehicle if you’re moving goods in a sealed load compartment. You'll get this when your vehicle passes the TiR test.

    You may need to use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to move goods through some ports.

    1. You are currently viewing: Check how to move goods through ports that use the GVMS

  6. Step 6 Find out what vehicle documents your driver needs to carry

    1. Check what HGV and trailer documents your driver must carry
    2. Check what driving documents your driver must carry

  7. Step 7 Check you are ready for the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead

    You may need to attend an inland border facility if you're leaving from the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead.

    1. Check whether you need to attend an inland border facility

  8. Step 8 Check local road rules

    1. Check the road rules for European countries on the AA website
    2. Check travel advice for countries outside Europe

    When you have your documents, insurance and any extra equipment you need, you can transport goods abroad.