Sending parcels abroad after the transition period.

Did everyone forget about Brexit because of a shift in priorities over the last few months? The clock is still ticking down!

Although we have now left the EU we are in a transition period, where for everyday life purposes everything broadly remains the same. You can send and receive parcels to the EU in exactly the same way as we have done for many years. By this New Year’s Eve it won’t just be the end of another year, it will be the end of what we have regarded as normal for so long. Depending whether a deal or agreement has been made, that will determine how parcels move around Europe, to and from the UK. In this article, we will take a closer look at what could happen.

What happens if there is a deal?

Like with many aspects of our relationship with the EU, if there is a deal then it would make life much easier and that will include for sending and receiving parcels. Currently there are generally no customs declarations when sending to the EU, this could change, but a deal could mean that this is very flexible and loose. Customs duties and VAT in these situations will have to be decided as part of negotiations, but again, if a compromise can be reached, it is likely that something resembling reasonable could be achieved. Delivery times will likely to be increased as could the cost of service to reflect this. The less restrictions that are applied (and the closer to what we regard as ‘normal’ now) the less of an impact this will have.

What happens if there is not a deal?

This is actually the easiest thing to predict what will happen. There will definitely be changes and these have the scope to be quite complex, far reaching and have real impact.

It would be almost certain that you would have to provide a customs declaration for whenever you send a parcel to the EU. As such, the parcel would then be eligible for customs and any other related duties which would apply to it. You will need to declare what you are sending, and the requirement to give information about the contents of your parcel is likely to be far more detailed. You would also need to be prepared for the fact that your goods are at greater likelihood of being subject to inspections and checks. Delivery times would almost certainly increase, and with all the extra steps it is likely that many carriers will need to put up their rates because they simply wouldn’t be able to absorb the extra cost.

Whatever happens, our European delivery arm here at Rock Solid Deliveries is now planning for the future and the amount of change that could happen. We believe that by doing so, we can be armed with a greater chance of adapting to change quicker, thus providing the smoothest transition to new rules for our customers.

In the mean time, if you are looking for European delivery, or our same day courier service, please contact us today to discuss your requirements.