Parcel forwarding from France to the UK after Brexit
The Channel got wider in 2021. French shops that used to ship to London like they shipped to Lille quietly dropped the UK from their checkout, and the marketplaces never had it. Here's what changed, how to get around it — and why a full box is the way to cross.
Before Brexit, ordering from a French site to a UK address was no different from ordering to a French one. Same shipping options, same price, no paperwork. That world ended on 1 January 2021, and a lot of French shops responded the simplest way they could: by removing the United Kingdom from the list.
This guide explains what actually changed, how a parcel across the Channel is priced today, and why a full box is the way to cross.
What Brexit actually changed for your parcels
- A customs declaration on every parcel. A shipment to the UK now needs a description of the contents and a declared value. For a business it's a process to set up; for a private seller on Vinted or Leboncoin, it's a reason to tick "France only" and move on.
- Import VAT. Goods entering the UK are subject to UK VAT on arrival, and to duty in some cases. Who collects it, and how, depends on the seller and the value — which is one more thing many French shops didn't want to work out.
- A different shipping grid. A parcel to the UK is priced as an export now, not as a European delivery. A shop that had set flat "EU shipping" fees found the UK no longer fit.
None of it is insurmountable. It just needs someone on the French side willing to handle it — and that's the job.
Two ways to get a parcel to you
You order yourself. On French sites that still accept a UK card, you enter your FrenchShopper address at checkout. To the shop, you're a French customer: French shipping, French price, no export paperwork on their side. The parcel lands at our warehouse, and we handle the crossing.
We buy for you. On Vinted, Leboncoin, and any seller who only ships within France or rejects your card, you send us the link. We check, quote, and once you've paid, we buy with our own French account and card. The details are here.
How the shipping price is built
Our price covers transport, packaging and insurance, and it depends on the weight and size of the box. Carriers charge on the higher of actual and volumetric weight, so a big half-empty box is billed as if it were full. You see every offer, with its price and delivery time, before you pay.
What makes the UK particular: the Channel is short, and the price of crossing it is mostly a fixed cost — the declaration, the handling, the handover. Adding weight to the box adds little to the bill. That fixed cost is what you spread by putting more in the box, which is why consolidation pays off fastest here. Estimate your parcel from its real weight.
The delivery times we see
On our measurements, FedEx Regional Economy shows delivery six days after handover, customs clearance included. Faster options exist at a higher price, and each one shows its own time before you pay.
What HMRC collects
A parcel from France is now an import. HMRC assesses import VAT on the declared value of the goods, and duty on top where the goods and value call for it. The carrier pays this on your behalf, collects it at delivery, and adds a handling fee of its own. Thresholds and the way VAT is collected have changed since 2021 and may change again: check HMRC's current guidance before a large order.
One point worth knowing for secondhand: a purchase from a private seller on Vinted or Leboncoin carries no French VAT at the origin. You are not taxed twice — but you should budget for the UK side.
What we do, and what we don't
- We fill in the customs declaration with the real value of your items, from your invoices. That's what avoids a hold at the border, and what makes the insurance pay out if anything goes wrong.
- We never under-declare, even on request.
- UK VAT, duty and handling fees are never in our price. They depend on the UK, not on us — and can only be known on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Is UK import VAT included in your price?
No — it can't be. HMRC assesses import VAT, and duty where it applies, on the declared value when the parcel arrives, and the carrier collects it at delivery with a handling fee. Our price covers transport, packaging and insurance, never UK taxes.
Why did so many French shops stop shipping to the UK?
Since Brexit, a parcel to the UK needs a customs declaration and is subject to import VAT, which changed the paperwork and the cost of every shipment. Many shops chose to drop the UK rather than handle that — and private sellers on Vinted or Leboncoin never handled it at all.
How long does a parcel from France to the UK take?
On our measurements, about six business days from handover to the carrier to delivery, customs clearance included. The exact time for each offer is shown before you pay.
Can I combine Vinted finds with an order from a French brand?
Yes, and it's the best use of the service: items we buy for you and orders you have delivered to your French address wait together in our warehouse, free for 45 days, and cross the Channel in a single box.
