Need help? Your FAQs for international shipping answered

As soon as possible. Don’t leave it until the last minute as that’s how mistakes are made. A couple of weeks is usually enough time.

There are various ways. The website has most of the information you will need. For example, you can use the instant freight calculator on our home page to obtain an approximate price for your shipment. Enter the information requested and see the prices for the various services instantly appear.

Alternatively you can visit the individual country page which shows all current rates and services to each destination served. If you require more specific information you can complete the quotation request form and we will be happy to respond to your enquiry as soon as possible. If you require further assistance then you can email mail@tudorfreight.com or call on 0333 1234 747.

The easiest way is to complete the online booking form with your preferred collection date. We will respond by email with confirmation that your date is available or offer a different date if we are fully booked. You may also make a booking over the phone by calling 0333 1234 747.

In most cases a client will arrange customs clearance and collection from the destination airport because it is much cheaper than a door to door service.

Yes! We offer a large range of packing materials including boxes, bubblewrap, polychips and tape. You can view our full range of packing materials and place an order by visiting our packing materials order page. 

Yes. Strong cardboard boxes, suitcases or sports bags are all OK to use. They should be capable of protecting the contents throughout the duration of the journey. If you are uncertain please email mail@tudorfeight.com for advice.

No. We do not offer insurance for your luggage. There are specialist insurance companies who will be happy to assist with such a request.

Wherever possible you should pack all of your goods before arranging the collection. We can, in special circumstances, arrange for specific items to be packed either by ourselves or by our professional packing partners. The cost for special packing requests can be quite expensive and you are advised to email mail@tudorfreight.com in advance before making any bookings if you have unpacked items.

There are extremely strict rules which regulate what you can and cannot send as freight and they fall mainly into the following 3 categories.

1. Dangerous goods: Many items which seem harmless are regarded as "dangerous goods" when being shipped by cargo. It is against the law to send these items in your packages if they are not declared on the shippers inventory.
   
   If you do have "dangerous goods" to send they must be packed and handled correctly. Dangerous goods are more expensive to send than general freight. The most common types of dangerous goods which a client may have are perfumes, aftershaves, aerosols, used car parts, shock absorbers. It is the customer's responsibility to ensure these items are not shipped alongside normal personal effects without being brought to our attention. A list containing examples of dangerous goods can be found by visiting our dangerous or hazardous goods page.
   
   


2. Valuable cargo: We do not accept valuable cargo. This includes cash, traveller's cheques, stamp collections, deeds, tickets, jewellery, watches or similar highly valuable items.
   
   


3. Waste materials. There are strict anti-dumping laws which prevent the shipping of scrap metal and used tyres etc.

Please email mail@tudorfreight.com if you have any specific questions.

There are many types of items which are regarded as dangerous/hazardous and these include common types of household or personal items which you may think are safe. 

Dangerous goods include articles and substances which are flammable, corrosive, toxic, oxidizing, explosive, radioactive, infectious, compressed gases, dangerous when wet, spontaneously combustible, self-reactive, organic peroxides and regulated material. The list below shows some examples:

Aerosols, batteries, perfume, paints, fuel and/or fuel tanks, explosives, corrosives, firearms and ammunition, radioactive material, pressurised cylinders and/or similar type of containers or weapons of any description.

For further information about Dangerous / Hazardous goods please click here. There are also new rules and regulations regarding the shipment of lithium batteries. Click here for further details.

It is your legal responsibility to ensure that your luggage does not include any of these items.

You can send small amounts of non-perishable foodstuffs in your luggage provided they are packed safely. Fresh or frozen food products should never be sent in your luggage.

However, it is possible that there will be restrictions on what you are allowed to import into the country of destinations. You should always check with the relevant officials at the Embassy/High Commission of the country of destination to ensure that you comply with local rules and restrictions. This is your responsibility.

We recommend that you don’t pack more than 30 kilos per package to ensure that it isn’t too heavy and that our drivers are able to collect them safely. This is not possible for larger items such as a washing machine or fridge etc. Special arrangements must be made if you have heavier/larger items to ship. Please email mail@tudorfreight.com if you wish to send larger items.

Yes! We offer an excess baggage home collection service throughout most of mainland Great Britain. We collect using our own fleet of vehicles from several cities but do sometimes use a third party collection partner. Full details will be explained to you at the time of booking. Further information is available on our freight collection page.

We offer a door to door excess baggage service by air freight to several countries. We also offer a door to door (kerbside) service to some European countries. 

Visit the country page for your destination to see if a door to door service is available for your shipment.

It is the quickest service we can offer for transporting your excess baggage and in many cases it is actually cheaper than sea freight.  Air freight is also generally regarded as a safer mode of transport.

The size of the packages can influence the cost regardless of which method of transportation is being used.

If you are sending your goods by air freight then in most cases you will be charged according to the weight of your packages. However, in some circumstances the airline will charge you according to the size/volume of your packages rather than the weight. Please use our volumetric calculator to check the volumetric weight of your shipment. 

If the driver is a Tudor employee he will weigh and measure the packages in front of you and calculate the cost immediately.

If the collection is being handled by our haulage partner then they will not weigh and measure the packages or calculate the cost. We will receive the packages into our warehouse on the next working day. At this stage we will calculate the cost and contact you directly. View our collection page to see if it is a Tudor employee who collects from your area.

Without exception all packages should be marked with the name and address of the consignee (recipient) at the destination. All suitcases/holdalls should have the appropriate luggage labels attached.

Yes. All items of luggage should be locked before we collect them from your address in the UK.

Yes, we charge just £3.00 per package/luggage to wrap them in black plastic. This strengthens, disguises and waterproofs your shipment.

We have the right to open and examine the contents of any package which we accept for transportation. Most packages are x-rayed at least twice before they are allowed onto any aircraft. If items are discovered which are not declared on the paperwork and which should not be inside the packages then we may open those packages and remove and destroy the offending items.

Yes. All packages travelling via air freight are x-rayed from different angles using the latest technology by trained aviation security staff. Any items which should not be inside the packages will be identified and you could be liable for prosecution under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act. Your goods can also be seized and destroyed.

Wherever possible your luggage should be on the ground floor awaiting the driver's arrival.

Once we have collected your packages and have weighed and measured them we will be able to advise the final cost for your shipment.  

You can make payment using the methods noted below;

- Tudor Web Portal

- Cash

- Bank Transfer

We do not accept credit/debit card payments over the telephone. 

In all cases we will require a shipper’s inventory form to be completed in full. Some countries may also require other documents to be completed. These extra documents are shown on each individual country’s page on our website under the "Country Specific Requirements".

No. We require payment in full before we despatch any shipments from the UK.

Yes, we offer a free storage period up to a maximum of four weeks from the collection date. After the free period expires we charge a weekly storage fee depending on the size of your consignment. We do not wish to store consignments for longer than four weeks so please arrange your collection and travel dates with this in mind.

Some countries insist that only the owner of the personal effects can clear customs at the destination. See the Country Specific Requirements on the relevant destination page to see if this applies to your shipment. It is usually more straightforward if the shipper and the consignee (recipient) is the same person. To avoid complications and additional costs we would advise that clients should seek advice on this issue from the relevant Embassy or customs officials in the appropriate country.

No, it does not necessarily have to be the actual shipper who is present. However, we will require full contact details of the person who will be at the loading point on the day of collection.

You should collect your luggage at the destination as soon as it is possible after the shipment arrives. Airports will usually charge storage fees after only 24/48 hours. Ports usually allow a little more time before they begin to charge storage fees but it is wise to check with the shipping line as soon as the consignment arrives. Always contact the destination agent using the details we have provided to ensure the shipment has arrived before travelling to the airport/port.

This depends on the method of transportation and where in the World you are sending your luggage to. As a general guideline most air freight shipments take approximately 5-7 days. Sea freight shipments can take 4-12 weeks depending on the final destination and European road freight services will usually take approximately 7-10 days. Specific transit and tracking information is provided to you once your shipment has been booked with the airline, shipping line or European trailer operator.

All air freight shipments have an online tracking facility so you can keep up to date with the latest information available to us. We also provide specific transport and contact information for all sea and road freight shipments.

If you have sent your shipment to the nearest airport/port/depot you will have to collect your shipment when it arrives. We provide all clients with destination contact information before the shipment leaves the UK.

If you are sending your shipment to the nearest airport, port or depot then there will be charges to be paid on collection at the destination. Typically these costs may include fees for documentation, handling, quarantine, duties/taxes (if applicable) and other related costs.  These charges will need to be paid in full before you are allowed to collect your packages. They are not our charges and we have no control over them nor financial interest in them.

If you are travelling to the destination yourself you should provide the travel information on the shipper’s inventory. We will then endeavour to have the shipment arrive within a couple of days of your own arrival. This helps you to avoid destination storage charges at the destination airport.

If you have not paid for a door to door service then you will have to arrange customs clearance before you can collect it. This is usually a relatively straightforward procedure if your shipment contains only your own used personal effects. Shipments which contain new items, gifts or items for sale are likely to attract duties and taxes. If you are unsure you should check with the local customs department at the country of destination for advice.

You should always check all packages and contents to ensure they are in good order and condition before signing for your goods. Once you have signed documentation to say your goods were received in good order and condition then all chances of holding the carrier responsible and making a claim is lost.

We do not arrange the shipping of luggage to the UK from other countries. However, if you require assistance with customs clearance of your luggage once it arrives in the UK then our import department may be able to assist you. Contact them at imports@tudorfreight.com 

No. We are a freight company rather than a furniture removal company. Our service is mainly for people with boxes, suitcases, holdalls etc.

We occasionally accept furniture if it is flat packed, and electrical items which are in their original boxes with inner protection, but it is your responsibility to ensure they are suitably packed for transportation as cargo.

If your shipment represents a commercial transaction rather than a personal export rates and conditions do not apply to you. Please visit our quote page for businesses.

We accept some car/vehicle parts for transportation in certain circumstances. We do not accept any parts which contain any liquids or oils etc. Used vehicle parts are more likely to fit into this category.  All parts should be cleaned and drip free.

We do not accept used engines for transportation. Items which may be regarded as “dangerous goods” such as shock-absorbers will always require the Manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) before we can confirm whether they are acceptable for overseas transportation. 

There are many different types of batteries, some of which are hazardous to send as air cargo; and some of which are not.

Normal household batteries such as AA are generally "dry cell" batteries and are non-hazardous for freight purposes. However, they must be insulated during transportation to ensure they do not short-circuit or activate electrical devices.

Lithium ion batteries are subject to further restrictions as shown below and you must declare all items which contain them when you complete the shipper's inventory.

There must be no more than two lithium ion batteries per package and these must be contained in equipment i.e. they must be inside and part of the electronic device which they power. There must be no spare or loose batteries whatsoever inside the packages.

The following list contains examples of the type of devices which could contain these batteries;

Digital Cameras, video cameras, mobile phones, PDA's, iPod's, iPad's, Notebook PC's, Portable DVD Players, MP3 Music Players, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable (PSP), electronic dictionaries, playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Digital books, Kindles.

A failure to follow this advice could lead to prosecution and the confiscation of your goods. Please ensure you adhere to these regulations. For the official IATA rules and regulations surrounding this matter, please click here.

MSDS stands for "Material Safety Data Sheet".

Manufacturers of items which contain hazardous/dangerous goods usually provide the above document which explains to shipping companies the nature of the hazard of their goods, how they should be packed and what documentation is required.

If we suspect that a package contains dangerous/hazardous goods we may ask for a copy of the MSDS to ensure we can comply with the shipping regulations. If you are unable to provide the relevant MSDS then we may be unable to ship your goods.

It is possible to legally declare and send many types of these goods. We will usually require a copy of the Manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which explains the technical specification and restrictions of the goods themselves. Special documentation and packing provisions may be required and our usual rates do not apply to any of these goods. For further details regarding the shipment of dangerous/hazardous goods, please email mail@tudorfreight.com.

No. We do not accept live animals for transportation. There are specialist shipping companies who will be able to assist you with this type of shipment.

When you send packages by air freight they are subjected to stringent security checks. All packages are x-rayed from two different angles by trained aviation security experts to ensure they are safe to load onto the flight. Occasionally a small number of packages fail the x-ray test. This is primarily if they contain items which are too dense for the x-ray machine to see through or if they contain items which the security staff decide require further examination. If a package fails this x-ray test it is sent for "secondary screening".  This involves a physical examination of the contents with a swab taken which is tested for explosive traces.

Unfortunately, when cargo is sent for "secondary screening" there is a further charge by the airline to cover the cost. This cost is usually approx £95.00  It is impossible to know in advance if an item will pass or fail the x-ray test but we will notify you as soon as possible if this applies to your shipment. Some items fail the secondary screening test. These packages are not allowed to travel by air freight under any circumstances.

When sending by road freight or using our door to door by air service, the delivery company will not deliver to your front door. They usually provide a kerbside delivery. This means that they will drive to the nearest access point possible to the intended address and you will be required to collect from there. If your shipment contains a pallet then you will be required to take the individual packages from the pallet into your home. You will not receive any assistance from the driver.

Get an instant quote now using the quote form at the top of this page, or if you would like to discuss your specific shipping requirements contact our friendly team today at mail@tudorfreight.com or call 0333 1234 747.

Yes. We do not ship luggage from any other country.