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Exporting Automotive Parts from the UK to EU

Cost-effective exports from the UK and across the Globe

The UK and EU markets and supply chains for automotive and automotive parts are highly intertwined.

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Exporting Automotive Parts from UK to EU

Every day, over 1000 trucks carrying £35 million worth of automotive parts enter the UK from the continent. And each day, these automotive parts are transformed into 6,400 cars and 10,500 engines, most of which are exported back to EU customers. Before Brexit, freight vehicles exporting automotive parts from the UK to the EU did not need to undergo checks at customs. Great Britain permanently exited the European Union, but the two regions agreed to a Trade and Cooperation Agreement to avoid severe damage to their trade connections. The TCA came into effect on 1 January 2021, and with it, new export processes and checks. If you are a company exporting automotive parts from the UK to the EU in 2021, here is what you need to do.

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Previous EU simplifications allowed businesses to export using EORI numbers from any EU country. However, under the TCA, traders exporting from England, Scotland or Wales will need to get a GB EORI number. Companies exporting from Northern Ireland, however, can keep operating with EU numbers.

To get a new EORI number, you need to contact HMRC and provide them with the following details:

  • Your Unique Taxpayer Reference Number,
  • Your Government Gateway User ID and password,
  • Your Standard Industrial Classification Code,
  • Your National Insurance Number, and
  • VAT number if you are VAT registered.

If you export your automotive parts through Northern Ireland or directly from Northern Ireland, you will need to get an EORI number starting with XI. This is because you will need an XI EORI number to make declarations in NI. You must obtain a GB EORI number before applying to get an XI EORI number. Once you have your GB EORI number, contact HMRC and provide them with:

  • Your VAT number – an XI VAT number or one issued by an EU country,
  • Proof that you are a permanent business establishment in Northern Ireland.
REQUIREMENTS

Export Requirements

Get The Classification Codes for Your Export

Commodity codes will tell you how much duty and VAT to pay for your automotive parts and whether you require a special licence. The Heading 8703 under chapter 87 covers commodity codes for exporting cars. Use code:

  • 8703 23 19 00 to export cars using spark-ignition petrol engines,
  • 8703 32 19 00 to export cars using compression-ignition diesel engines, and
  • 8703 80 10 00 to export cars powered by an electric motor only.

Car parts fall under chapters 84, 85 and 87, with the majority falling under chapter 87. Export car parts such as service parts, brakes and engine parts using the codes:

  • 8421 23 00 90 for fuel filters,
  • 8511 20 00 90 for dynamos,
  • 8708 30 91 20 for brake pads,
  • 8708 80 20 10 for shock absorbers,
  • 8708 10 10 10 for bumpers.

Bicycles and motorbikes fall under chapter 87. For example, use the code:

  • 8712003010 to export bicycles consigned from Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka or Tunisia.
  • 8712003020 to export bicycles consigned from Cambodia, Pakistan or the Philippines.
  • 8712007010 to export bicycles designed for children e.g. unicycles.
  • 8711400000 to export motorbikes with 800cc like the 2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XRx.
  • 8711500000 to export motorbikes with 1000cc like the Ducati Multistrada 950.
  • 8711900000 to export motorbikes powered by an electric motor such as the Harley Davidson LiveWire.

Get Someone to Deal with Customs and Transport the Goods

Under the regulations of the TCA, you will need to fill in an export declaration for your automotive parts. If you wish to make declarations yourself, you can choose to make a:

  • full declaration or
  • simplified declaration, if you are authorised to do so

You’ll need:

  • access to the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system, and
  • software that can submit declarations.

It’s best to let someone make the declaration on your behalf, such as a customs agent or specialist freight forwarding company, to avoid complications with customs. Road freight couriers operating between the UK and Europe often have HMRC authorisation to act as direct or direct representatives, so consider asking your courier for assistance.

We are friendly, easy to work with, honest and we do not charge the earth.

Here at Barrington Freight, we are proud to be experts in providing specialist freight forwarding services to Europe and across the globe. We use express vehicles for our road freight service to deliver your cargo in just 24 hours. When you choose next day delivery, we deploy a two-person team to help minimise the possibility of any disruptions or delays along the way. You can visit us at the Bowden Terminal in Basildon, Essex, but our express services are still available if you live further afield. Contact us today for a quote!

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Lauren
25 September 2026
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Have been using Barrington for over a year now. Exceptional service from the team (Joshua and Lee), always super quick to respond, secure bookings and collect from us. Never worry about a shipment when working with them. Thank you!
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Christina Hansen
23 September 2026
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Barrington Freight handled our first import from China and made a complicated job feel simple. Simon Poole guided us through the customs paperwork, postponed VAT and commodity codes patiently, answering a great many questions from someone importing for the first time. Our delivery address is a narrow street with no forklift, and he arranged a smaller vehicle with a tail-lift so the crates could be offloaded by hand without difficulty. The shipment cleared ahead of schedule and, once we'd paid, delivery was arranged for the very next day with a time window confirmed in advance. Excellent communication throughout and genuinely helpful. Highly recommended.
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Sam McGowan
17 August 2026
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Fantastic Service. Lee organised a last minute pickup from Sweden back to England. The shipment was under Carnet. Very good professional service at a competitive rate! I will be using them again.
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Louise Ponsford
13 August 2026
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Excellent service from start to finish. Simon at Barrington Freight handled our crate of mechanical machine parts from the UK to Canada with exceptional care, keeping us informed throughout. His Canadian agent also arranged customs clearance, making the entire process straightforward and stress-free. Highly recommended.
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Proydohi
6 August 2026
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I would like to thank the entire Barrington Freight team for their professional work and assistance in organizing the shipment of my cargo to the UK. I will definitely use their services again. Highly recommended.
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Mike Yeo
23 July 2026
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The team at Barrington Freight were brilliant, leading us through the minefield that is exports to the EU. Nothing was too much trouble and we received immediate answers to all our many questions. We will definitely use them again and recomend them to anyone.
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Courtney Freeman
22 June 2026
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We had a fantastic experience importing our goods from Florida and honestly couldn’t fault the service. The quote was quick and easy, booking was straightforward and everything was handled smoothly from start to finish. As this was our first import we needed a bit of guidance along the way but Simon was brilliant. He took care of everything, kept us updated throughout and was always on hand to answer our questions. What seemed like a complicated process was made incredibly simple and stress free. The customer service was excellent, communication was spot on and our shipment arrived without any issues. We wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable freight forwarder. Thanks again for making our first import such a positive experience!
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Katie r Smith
18 June 2026
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Simon looked after our air freight import from China and provided an excellent service throughout. The shipment arrived safely and quicker than expected, with clear communication at every stage. We were very pleased with the experience and will definitely use Simon and his team at Barrington Freight again in the future.
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Phil Holloway
18 June 2026
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We needed to get a shipment out to the USA quickly and Simon made the whole process far easier than we expected. Communication was straightforward, we were kept updated throughout, and everything arrived on time without any issues. It's refreshing to deal with someone who knows exactly what they're doing and gets things done. We'd happily use Simon again for future air freight shipments.
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James Roberts
15 June 2026
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Matt really looked after us and made our shipment completely stress free, I will be using the services of Barrington Freight for all my overseas shipments from now on. Thanks Matt, great service
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General Enquiries
23 April 2026
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We have had consistently excellent service from Barrington Freight. Our main contact, Joshua Armstrong, is always incredibly helpful and reliable. He goes above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly. Communication is clear and prompt and any issues are handled quickly and efficiently. It's reassuring to know that everything is in safe hands from start to finish. I would highly recommend Barrington Freight to anyone looking for dependable and professional logistics partner.
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George Dunster
10 April 2026
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We had a time-critical air freight shipment coming in from China to the UK and Simon was a huge help in getting it over the line. Right before arrival, an issue came up due to a mistake from the airline, which could have turned into a real headache. Simon picked it up straight away, dealt with it quickly and managed to sort everything without any extra costs on our side. Really solid support throughout and easy to deal with, especially given the urgency. Another great job by Barrington Freight - we’ll definitely be using them again!
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Euphoric Bedding
1 April 2026
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Good service during a turbulent global shipping period. Special thanks goes to Lee for his efficiency and proactive updates and for rescheduling a delivery in less than 24hrs when the haulage company didn’t read their own paperwork and sent a lorry without the requested tail lift. Highly recommended.
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The Greens
5 March 2026
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Great communication, competitive and efficient delivery
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Shannon Sharp
4 March 2026
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We’ve worked with Barringtons for the past two years, and the service has been excellent throughout. Every shipment has been handled with great care and real personal attention. A special thanks to Simon, who has been outstanding—always professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!
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Barrington Freight Ltd,
Bowden House,
Luckyn Lane, Basildon,
Essex SS14 3AX