Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS)

Streamline border movements and keep goods flowing smoothly through UK ports. Descartes e-Customs™ solutions help you manage GVMS records with speed and accuracy.

Manage GVMS movements with confidence

Descartes e-Customs software connects directly to HMRC's GVMS platform, helping you create and manage Goods Movement References (GMRs). It also links CDS import & export declarations and NCTS movements into a single form, helping reduce manual entry, delays and errors.

Strengthen border readiness

• Trusted by UK forwarders, hauliers, and brokers
• Fully integrated with HMRC GVMS and NCTS
• Backed by industry-recognised customs and transit expertise
• Supports all GVMS mandated roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) and Northern Ireland (NI)/Great Britain (GB) movements

Simplify GVMS compliance for UK & EU movements

GVMS is required at designated UK ports to enable pre-lodged customs controls and ensure vehicles can board ferries or shuttles only when all declarations are in place. Descartes helps you stay compliant without slowing down operations.

GVMS for imports & exports

Supports all GVMS mandated movements, including GB to Northern Ireland, GB to EU via GVMS-enabled RoRo ports, Common Transit Convention (CTC) movements, and goods requiring Safety & Security declarations. Create and manage GMRs for accompanied and unaccompanied movements.

Transit & office of transit automation

Descartes integrates with NCTS to associate Transit Movement Reference Numbers (MRNs) with the GMR, enabling automated Office of Transit processing to help reduce delays and manual checks.

Compliance & border control readiness

Stay aligned with HMRC requirements for pre-lodged declarations, ENS/EXS references, accurate MRN association and real-time intervention notifications. Maintain a clean audit trail and help avoid costly non-compliance.

A smarter way to manage Goods Movement References

• Create GMRs in seconds
• Group multiple declarations references into one GMR
• Reuse data and templates to save time
• Receive real-time HMRC status updates
• Scale easily as your volumes grow

Customer Success: Scaling a customs bureau with Descartes customs software

“Managing customs declarations is increasingly complex and manually handling thousands of entries monthly is time-consuming and prone to error. Descartes customs software has allowed us to scale our operations and improve our customer experience.”

Karl Heron,
Head of Bureau Services at Cardinal Global Logistics.

What are the costs of customs software?

Discover the costs of integrating into a customs management software solution. We break down pricing and explain how our solution is structured, helping businesses make informed decisions.

View Pricing

Goods Vehicle Movement Service FAQ

What is GVMS and how does it work?

Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) is an HMRC system that links customs declarations to the vehicle moving the goods. It allows pre-lodged declarations so goods can be cleared while in transit.

Who needs to register for GVMS?

Any trader looking to import or export goods between the UK and other countries should register for GVMS, especially if they plan to use ports that operate with this system. The service aims to save time by allowing shipments with pre-lodged documents to be released immediately, benefiting both traders and customs officials.

To register for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), you need to apply online via the .GOV UK website as soon as possible to avoid delays in your shipments or overall operations. You require your Government Gateway User ID and password to complete the registration or, alternatively, a customs agent can register on your behalf.

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Energy products

These goods require strict monitoring due to fraud risk and duty-suspension rules.

Which ports require GVMS?

GVMS is used at UK roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ports operating the pre-lodgement model. Major GVMS ports include: Dover, Holyhead, Liverpool, Heysham, Eurotunnel, and ports in Northern Ireland. If a port uses GVMS, a valid GVMS is mandatory before boarding.

Do I need GVMS to bring goods into Ireland from the UK?

Yes, traders moving goods between the UK and the Republic of Ireland need to register for GVMS, unless they are using a UK inventory-linked port that does not utilize GVMS. A full list of UK ports using GVMS can be found on the official .GOV website.

Who creates the Goods Movement Reference (GMR)?

The haulier is normally responsible for creating the GMR, but they rely on the exporter, importer, or customs agent to provide the correct Movement Reference Number (MRN).

Without a valid GMR, the vehicle will be refused boarding at GVMS ports.