My lorry is held at the border: what should I do first?

First, call us

Call or WhatsApp +44 7871 554951, any time of day or night. Tell us:

• The vehicle registration and the trailer number.
• The route, and where the lorry is now.
• The GMR.
• What the port, Border Force or the inspection site is asking for.
• The paperwork you have, even if it is incomplete.

You do not need to be a customer already. Before we can act for a new customer we set up an account and agree how we represent you, and we walk you through both.

Why lorries get held

• The GMR is missing, not valid, or missing a reference, so the lorry cannot check in.
• The goods were picked for a customs inspection. The driver is told to report to an inspection site, which for Dover and Eurotunnel is the Sevington inland border facility.
• Animal or plant products were called for a check at the Sevington border control post, which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These need the right IPAFFS notification and health documents.
• The ENS or the import declaration was not made in time, or the details do not match.

What the driver should do

• Put the GMR into HMRC's ‘Check if you need to report for an inspection’ service and follow the instruction.
• If told to attend, go to the site named with all the paperwork for the load. Failing to follow HMRC instructions can mean a penalty of up to £2,500.
• Keep the phone on, so we can reach the driver while we work on it.

Stop it happening again

Most holds trace back to something missing before the crossing. When we take over an account, we check past declarations and tell you what was missing, so the next lorry goes straight through.

Checked against HMRC guidance on GOV.UK in November 2026: What to do when attending an inland border facility, Sevington border control post, Get a goods movement reference. Rules change, so talk to us before you rely on this for a movement.