Coming back, the borders are crossed in reverse. We choose the route with the paperwork in mind and tell you which one when we quote.
The route at a glance
| Route | London and Milan, either direction |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Van, by road |
| Crossing | The Channel, then France and the Alps, staying in the EU or passing through Switzerland |
| Customs position | Going out: UK export, EU import. Coming back: EU export, UK import. Transit too if the route crosses Switzerland. |
| What is included | Collection, the drive, delivery and handover, with customs paperwork handled as part of the job. Pieces are normally wrapped by you; we can wrap them at an extra cost. |
The journey
The drive to Milan is the longest of the four routes, across France and over or through the Alps. The passes and tunnels between France and Italy keep the whole journey inside the EU; the routes through Switzerland are a different customs case, described below.
Milan draws work from London for its furniture and design trade, its galleries and its collectors, and for the fairs that set the city’s calendar. Design pieces are often large and heavy, and the delivery is usually up a courtyard staircase or into a shared lift, so the measurements of the building matter as much as those of the piece.
Tell us if the date is fixed by a fair, an opening or a showroom launch. Design studios, dealers and galleries sending work for a Milan date usually have a delivery slot set by the venue; the plan works back from it, with the paperwork settled before anything is loaded.
Paperwork for this route
Into Italy: one EU import
A consignment from Great Britain to Italy is a UK export and an EU import. On a route through France, the goods can be cleared into the EU on arrival from the Channel and then drive on into Italy with no further declaration, or travel under customs transit and be cleared in Italy. Which one applies is agreed before collection. The importer in Italy needs an EU EORI number for a business import.
Through Switzerland: transit
If the route crosses Switzerland, the goods leave the EU at the Swiss border and enter it again at the Italian one. Travelling under the Common Transit procedure suspends duty and import VAT across the Swiss section, so nothing is paid twice, but the movement has to be opened and closed properly at each end.
Fairs and temporary moves
Design and art pieces shown at a Milan fair and coming home can travel under an ATA Carnet or temporary admission. If a piece may be sold at the fair, say so: a sale turns a temporary move into an export.
Export licences, both ways
Some works need a UK export licence from Arts Council England before they leave Great Britain. For the return, certain cultural goods leaving the EU need an EU export licence, issued in this case by the Italian authorities, and national rules can add requirements. Some cultural goods entering the EU now need an import licence or importer statement.
Protected materials
Antiques and vintage design can include ivory, tortoiseshell or protected tropical woods. These can need CITES permits from both the UK and Italy before they travel.
Questions about London and Milan
Do you drive through Switzerland to reach Milan?
It depends on the job. A route through Switzerland adds a non-EU section, so it needs transit paperwork. We tell you the route when we quote.
Can you carry large furniture or design pieces?
Send the dimensions and weight, a photograph, and the access details at both ends. Large pieces are planned around the narrowest point on the route through each building.
Can you bring a work from Milan back to the UK?
Yes. Certain cultural goods need an EU export licence to leave Italy, so check whether yours is affected before the return is booked.