What a T1 document is, when your vehicle shipment needs one, and how we issue, monitor and discharge T1 documents in-house — no waiting on a third-party broker.
A T1 document allows non-EU goods to move within the EU before duties and taxes are paid — required whenever a vehicle hasn't yet cleared into free circulation.
It lets you move a vehicle from the port of entry to its final EU destination without clearing customs at the border.
Required when the vehicle arrives at one EU port but clears customs at a different inland location.
| Status | Meaning | Can You Sell/Use the Vehicle? |
|---|---|---|
| T1 (in transit) | Duties & VAT not yet paid | No — must clear first |
| Free circulation (T2) | Duties & VAT paid, fully cleared | Yes — fully released |
No waiting on a third-party broker — our own customs team issues, monitors and discharges your T1 from start to finish.
We open the T1 at the port of entry, tied to your shipment's documentation.
We track the T1 through transit, keeping it valid until the vehicle reaches its final destination.
We close the T1 with the relevant customs office once clearance into free circulation is complete.
Letting the T1 expireA T1 has a validity window — missing it triggers penalties and re-opens the whole process.
Mismatched documentationDiscrepancies between the T1 and the commercial invoice are a common cause of border holds.
Skipping discharge confirmationIf the T1 isn't formally discharged, the guarantee remains tied up and can flag future shipments.
Tell us about your route and we'll confirm whether a T1 is needed and handle it end-to-end.
It allows non-EU goods, including vehicles, to move within the EU before duties and taxes are paid — typically from the port of entry to an inland customs office for clearance.
No — only when the vehicle needs to move to a different location for customs clearance after arrival. If clearance happens at the port of entry, a T1 isn't required.
Validity is set when the T1 is opened, typically a matter of days depending on the route — we track this for every shipment to avoid expiry penalties.