"Exporting Military Vehicles Without A Licence…Goods Impounded, Company Directors Face 5 Year Prison Sentence…!"

This is what happens (and has happened recently) if you export military vehicles out of the UK without a UK export licence, whether the export is temporary or permanent.
RME International explain....

Importation of military armoured and tracked vehicles into the UK requires UK Government permission.

Failure to comply to the bureaucratic UK legislation may result in a five year prison sentence, and (just in case you were wondering) ignorance is no defence, it IS a criminal offence – fact!

These are questions we regularly get asked:

If I am buying from an E.U. Member State, I don’t need an Export Licence… Do I?

YES… You need an export Licence from the supplying country, and authority to transport/ship from all Member States your goods are to pass through. If a single serial number digit is incorrect on any document your goods could be seized. Remember, if your goods are stopped the Border Control/Police/Customs have no sense of humour. Although, what you have might be a toy to you. To customs it’s a weapon, until proven otherwise.

“What I am buying is already deactivated, so no problem…”

WRONG… Deactivation law varies between countries. If your vehicle, be it tank, armoured unit or weapon (whether you have deactivation papers from supplier or not!) as soon it lands at a U.K. port, whatever it is, will immediately come under U.K. Law. Unless you are a section 5 authorized carrier or you have a U.K. deactivation certificate (impossible), you are technically in possession of an active weapon and liable to a minimum of five years imprisonment.

Are you planning on transporting a military item across Europe back to the U.K. Do I need papers to move through another country?

Each country on mainland Europe has there own rules regarding transit permissions.
Firstly, you will need an export license from the exporting country of origin, without this you will be breaking the law if you attempt to leave the country with it. You will most certainly be arrested and your goods impounded – you will be lucky if you see them again. You will be imprisoned under an “act now, ask questions later” system.

Assuming you have obtained an export license, you then require transit permissions (usually issued in the form of State issued stamped licenses) from each of the countries you plan to travel through. If you fail to obtain these, your goods will be impounded and you will be imprisoned, perhaps temporarily, it will depend on the nature of the goods you are transporting.

“I am U.S. Firearms licence holder, I don’t need any licences”

WRONG… It makes no difference, you still need export/transit licences. The only, difference is it may help with the U.K. Export licence application procedure if your licence details are required.

“I am only a private person selling my Willys Jeep to the U.S., I am not a business so I don’t need any licences!”

WRONG! It does not matter who you are, whether private, charity or business, a seventy year old Jeep or the latest air defence system. You will still need to comply with UK Government export legislation, without exception.

“I am taking my Jeep to France. Surely I don’t need any licences? I am coming back again”.

Once again, it makes no difference, you still need a temporary UK export licence, and perhaps also transit licences.

“I am shipping direct via boat. I don’t need to worry… Do I ?”

Most freight services do not go direct, if the load is stopped and you don’t have correct papers your goods will be seized under the laws of that country. You could be liable to international prosecution.

“I don’t need to worry, I am paying a transport company to bring my goods back…I won’t be with the goods if they get seized”

No, but the carrier will. In these circumstances the transport driver will be imprisoned and fined. Guess who’s doorstep these charges will end up at?

“I don’t own the goods, it’s owned by somebody else. This won’t affect me”?

WRONG… It does not matter who owns the goods/vehicle, although they will also be in trouble, you will be to blame. In fact just pointing an enquiry by telephone to somebody else even in another country is illegal.

There is a recurring pattern here, do you see it?

We at RME (International) Ltd have a dedicated department to deal with all import and export paperwork. We continually import and export military vehicles worldwide, it is an integral part of our day to day activity.
We provide a service to meet the needs of each individual customer, whichever country they are exporting from or, wherever they are importing to. We also have international lawyers in various countries who can help release you and your goods.

We have the experience to minimize possible seizures and imprisonment.

We can even provide a door to door logistics solution, including all export, transit and importation requirements. RME (International) Ltd is also ‘Section 5’ certified.

For more information please contact RME (International) Ltd on 01354 661999, Fax 01354 661200 or info@rme-Ltd.eu

RME (International) Ltd is a U.K. registered company, DUNS and NATO NCAGE registered, as well as a Section 5 Firearms Licence holder.
Standard Individual Export Licences from £249 + VAT

Temporary Licences, Section 5, Storage, Preparation.

FULL MILITARY SHIPPING LOGISTICS - DOOR TO DOOR