Shipping personal effects from the USA to the UK can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and knowledge of the process, it can be a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Whether you are relocating, sending gifts or returning home, let this be your guide – from packing to delivery.
You can ship almost anything you want in a shipping container. But only personal effects – things you’ve actually been using in your life – can enter the UK without duties or taxes. Five boxes filled with household linens? Fine. A few pantry items? No problem.
But be careful about quantities. Sure, it’s been eight months since you bought those two cases of your favorite household cleanser at Costco. It’s a great product, and you want plenty on hand to keep your new home clean. To Customs, though, it looks like you’re bringing in supplies for a janitorial business – a commercial import. Officials might let a couple of bottles slide, but you’ll pay duty on the rest.
In the UK, duties also apply to alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, commercial vehicles and non-portable instruments, regardless of quantity. New limits and duty rate changes happen frequently, based on the UK government budget. You can check the HMRC’s rates and allowances page here.
Jewelry and other small, high-value items can travel in a container, but why take the chance? Keep them close and safe in your carry-on bag when you fly. If you own firearms, you need a special license to bring them into the UK.
Some items — such as hazardous materials, products using lithium/ion batteries, or firearms — are tightly regulated under both USA export law and carrier safety rules. It’s best to discuss these types of goods with your freight forwarder before including them in your shipment.
Door to door, shipping personal goods from the USA to the UK takes about three to four weeks, depending on where you’re starting from and where you’re going.
Transit time is driven by distance to the port on each end and the routing used. In the US, freight may move by truck only or a combination of truck and rail. “Ocean freight is going to be the cheapest off the East Coast, then a little bit higher off the Gulf Coast and the most expensive out of the West Coast,” said Andrew Rozek, president of freight forwarder I.C.E. Transport of New Jersey.
On the UK side, port choice and local delivery conditions matter. Streets are tighter, access can be difficult, and parking restrictions are strictly enforced, which can add time to the final delivery.
To avoid paying duties on your personal belongings, you'll need to apply for what’s called transfer of residence (ToR1) relief when shipping personal effects from the USA to the UK.
In recent years, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK equivalent of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the USA, has made the ToR application and notification process completely electronic, except in limited circumstances.
If you’re successful in getting ToR relief, you’ll get an email giving you a unique reference number. You can claim relief on as many shipments as you want, as long as you satisfy all of these criteria:
You can use your ToR approval for multiple consignments, as long as all goods show up within 12 months of your arrival in the UK and otherwise meet ToR conditions. The HMRC requires documented proof of prior residency (via bank statement, utility bill, mortgage statement or rental agreement) as part of the ToR application process.
As for proof that household goods were used 6 months prior to your move to the UK, HMRC does not require receipts for every individual item. Instead, they look for reasonable evidence that your goods were owned and used by you for at least the past 6 months. This is typically shown by dated proof of purchase for higher-value items (invoices/receipts for things like furniture, appliances, electronics, bicycles, etc.) or online order confirmations or credit card statements with merchant and date.
ToR approval should be obtained before goods arrive in the UK, otherwise delays and storage can occur. You should apply and obtain your ToR reference number before shipping, or before the goods arrives in the UK.
Before you start the ToR form, you’ll need to write a packing list of all the items you’re bringing into the UK.
Don’t worry about listing individual items in a group, such as the names of each book or each piece of clothing. You can estimate numbers such as kitchen items, for example:
You can provide your list as a typed electronic document, a spreadsheet, or a photo of a handwritten document.
The original costs of items, current values, or brands, is not required. In addition to your packing list, you’ll need to provide proof of your UK address and former USA address.
One thing worth noting: HMRC rules on ToR1, duties and value-added tax (VAT) are subject to change. Look for the latest guidance on GOV.UK or check with your freight forwarder before shipping, especially if you have high‑value, new, or borderline commercial items.
When shipping household goods overseas, your shipping company will make an appointment to bring a container to your home. Your cheapest option is to keep the container for two or three hours before a truck driver takes it away. But if you need more time, you can pay to keep it for an extra hour or two, or even for a couple of days.
Before you make these arrangements, check with your local municipality for any regulations that might prohibit trucks of a certain size from entering your street. In a dense urban area, you might need a permit, especially if you plan to keep the container overnight.
To keep loading time to a minimum, it’s best to pack everything you plan to move and seal it up before the container arrives. Stage as much as you can near the front door or in the garage so you can carry everything out easily and fast.
You – not the shipping company, not the truck driver – are responsible for loading the container. Line up enough helpers to get the job done. As you load, note on your list where in the container you put each item. That way, if Customs wants to inspect certain boxes, you can find them quickly.
Unlike a moving van, a shipping container doesn’t come with a ramp. If you use dollies or hand carts to roll items onto the container, you’ll need to build or rent your own ramp.
Use ratcheting straps to keep items from sliding around and breaking in transit. Wrap the straps around the hooks installed along the container’s floor and roof. Some creative shippers erect a wooden structure with a plywood floor inside the container, to create a second level for safer loading and securing.
Despite your precautions, there’s always some risk of damage during a move. Ask your insurance company about coverage to protect your property.
When your container is ready, the driver shuts the door, puts a seal on the container, records the seal number and then hauls the container to a rail terminal or directly to the seaport.
Check out this handy checklist on the steps involved in shipping personal items overseas.
When shipping personal effects from the USA to the UK, here is some advice on what to do once the container hits the UK. After your container clears Customs, your shipping company will have it trucked to your new location, where you are responsible for unloading.
Once again, it’s important to check local regulations before you bring a shipping container to your new home, especially in urban areas like London. The same goes for regulations that might keep your trucker from parking a container on the street.
In cities like London, you should also check for Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) or congestion charges and local parking and permit rules for heavy vehicles, as these can add cost or restrict where and when a container can be dropped off.
Unlike other international moves, it’s less common to ship your car to the UK, unless you’re comfortable maneuvering it on the opposite side of the road.
If you do need to ship a car overseas – or a motorcycle, pleasure craft or other personal vehicle – you have to complete these steps (or you can pay an importer or shipping company to do them for you):
Post Brexit, rules for non-UK or non-EU vehicles can be stricter. You need to confirm any new requirements that might affect USA vehicles. This can include things like headlamp beam patterns, turn signal indicators, rear fog lights, and emissions limits. Standards and specifications for importing vehicles from the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) can be found here.
For some carriers, certain limits apply to transporting electric vehicles. Ocean line CMA CGM, for example, has banned shipment of electric and hybrid vehicles older than seven years. The carrier also requires:
Carriers in general frequently update their rules for transporting EV and hybrid vehicles. Your freight forwarder can confirm the current policy of each ocean line.
Moving possessions across the ocean is a complex enterprise, and working with an expert can offer peace of mind. The key is to work with a company like I.C.E. Transport that has been managing door-to-door, international moves for decades. You’ll be assigned your personal moving specialist, who will prepare necessary all shipping documentation and manage all details of the move until your belongings safely arrive. Like having your own personal concierge for the move.
A freight forwarder, like I.C. E., with strong experience shipping personal effects from the USA to the UK will guide you through every step of the process, and help you avoid mistakes that could cost time and money.
To learn more and start planning, contact the international moving experts at I.C.E. Transport.