Almost nobody sends a prohibited item deliberately. They send a birthday present containing a bottle of perfume, or a phone with a spare battery tucked beside it, and find out the rules exist when the parcel is pulled out of the network.
The restrictions are not arbitrary. Parcels travel stacked in vans and aircraft holds, and a leaking solvent or a shorted battery in that environment is a fire in a confined space. This page explains what cannot travel, what can travel with care, and what happens if the rules are missed.
Restrictions vary by service and destination, and they change. Air services are stricter than road, and international shipments add the destination country's own import rules. If you are unsure about a specific item, ask us before you book — it takes a minute and saves a parcel. The definitive list for our services is on the services page.
Never accepted
These cannot travel on any Fleet Express service.
Explosives, flammables and pressurised goods
- Fireworks, flares, party poppers, ammunition, black powder
- Petrol, paraffin, lighter fuel, camping gas, gas canisters and cylinders
- Aerosols of all kinds — deodorant, spray paint, dry shampoo, air freshener
- Lighters and refills, matches
- Solvents, thinners, acetone, and most paints and varnishes
Weapons
- Firearms and their component parts, including replicas, deactivated and antique
- Air weapons, crossbows, stun devices, CS or pepper spray
- Knives and bladed articles offered for sale outside our approved business channels
Living things and human remains
- Live animals, insects, fish and birds
- Human or animal remains, ashes, and body parts
- Biological, clinical and medical waste
Cash, bullion and bearer items
- Banknotes, coins in circulation, bullion, precious metals and loose gemstones
- Bearer bonds, travellers cheques, uncrossed cheques, lottery tickets, stamps for sale
Illegal and controlled goods
- Controlled drugs and psychoactive substances
- Prescription medicines without the required documentation and a licensed sender
- Counterfeit goods and items that infringe trade marks or copyright
- Indecent or obscene material, and material prohibited by UK law
Perishables and hazardous chemicals
- Fresh food, meat, fish, dairy and anything requiring refrigeration
- Corrosives, acids, oxidisers, pesticides, mercury and asbestos
- Radioactive material and infectious substances
The everyday items that surprise people
This is where most parcels actually go wrong. Every one of these looks harmless in a shopping basket:
| Item | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Perfume, aftershave | Not accepted | Alcohol-based flammable liquid |
| Nail varnish and remover | Not accepted | Flammable solvent |
| Deodorant, dry shampoo, hairspray | Not accepted | Pressurised aerosol |
| Vapes and e-cigarettes | Restricted | Lithium battery plus nicotine liquid |
| Loose or spare lithium batteries | Not accepted | Short-circuit and fire risk |
| Power banks | Restricted | High-capacity lithium cells |
| Laptops, phones, cordless tools | Accepted with care | Battery installed, device off and protected |
| Alcoholic drinks | Restricted | Duty rules and breakage risk |
| Paint, varnish, adhesives | Usually not accepted | Flammable or corrosive |
| Car parts with residual fuel or oil | Not accepted | Contamination and fire risk |
| Airbags, seatbelt pretensioners | Not accepted | Classed as explosive articles |
| Fridges and air conditioners | Not accepted | Pressurised refrigerant gas |
| Seeds, plants, soil | Restricted | Biosecurity rules, especially cross-border |
Restricted: allowed, but on conditions
These can travel if packed and declared correctly.
Devices with lithium batteries installed
Phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and cordless tools are fine when the battery is fitted in the device, the device is switched fully off and protected against accidental activation, and terminals cannot short against anything metal. Send loose batteries separately through a dangerous goods specialist, never in a standard parcel. Damaged, swollen or recalled batteries cannot travel at all.
Fragile and high-value goods
Glass, ceramics, screens and artwork travel routinely but need double boxing — see the packaging guide. Standard cover is £100 per parcel; anything worth more must be declared at booking for higher cover, or it is not covered for its full value.
Liquids that are not hazardous
Non-flammable liquids such as shampoo or sauces can travel when sealed, bagged, packed upright in purpose-made packaging and marked This Way Up.
Tobacco and alcohol
Restricted, with duty and licensing implications. Confirm with us first and never send them internationally without checking the destination country's rules.
Going abroad? Two rulebooks apply
An international parcel must satisfy UK export rules and the destination country's import rules, and the second set is often stricter and less intuitive. Meat and dairy into the EU, seeds into Australia, and anything resembling a weapon almost anywhere are common failures.
You also need an accurate customs declaration. "Gift" is not a description, and undervaluing goods to reduce duty is a customs offence rather than a tactic. Our international shipping and customs guide covers the paperwork, and GOV.UK is the authority on current UK export rules.
What happens if you send something prohibited
If a prohibited item is found in the network:
- The parcel is removed from the network immediately.
- Depending on the item it is returned to sender, safely disposed of, or handed to the authorities.
- Insurance does not apply — including to the rest of the parcel's contents.
- You may be liable for costs if the item causes damage, contamination or a clean-up.
- For illegal goods, the matter is reported to the police or Border Force.
There is no penalty for asking first. There is a real one for guessing.
Before you seal the box
- Is anything in here pressurised, flammable, or alcohol-based?
- Are there any batteries — installed, loose or spare?
- Would this need a hazard label in a shop?
- Is anything perishable, living, or previously alive?
- Is it going abroad, and is it legal to import there?
- Is anything worth more than £100 and undeclared?
Any yes that is not covered above is worth a two-minute check with us on 0800 079 3859.
Frequently asked questions
The items we are asked about most are below; our FAQ page covers insurance and claims in more detail.
Ready to send something straightforward?
Get an instant price from the Fleet Express quote tool, or ask us about a specific item if you are not certain. We would much rather answer a question than intercept a parcel.
