Descartes Customs Compliance Solutions
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 Northen 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.
Goods Vehicle Movement Service FAQ
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.
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.
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 Northern Ireland ports. If a port uses GVMS, a valid GVMS is mandatory before boarding.
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. Ports in Northern Ireland using GVMS include Belfast, Larne, and Warrenpoint.
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.
Insights & Resources for UK Customs
Stay informed with expert blogs and practical content covering customs & regulatory solutions for the UK market.
