What is the job of a Custom Broker?

There are different services for Custom Brokers:

Custom Brokers for:

1. HouseHold Goods & Personal Effects
2. Auto Transports such as - Cars, Motorcycles, Trucks, etc.
3. Marine - Boats, Jet Ski's, Etc.
4. Commercial Goods

Find an explanation by definitions at Wikipedia

Most need for customs brokers are businesses who deal with import or export shipping services, when a shipment handled by a business the business will require a custom broker to clear the goods our of port, it can be a Sea Port or Air Port for Export & Import goods. The Custom Broker will provide the documentation needed and the Tariff of the item if duties are applied.

For Business a custom Broker its a way of saving time to clear shipment at port and providing all the necessary documentation for clearance imports & exports goods.

For the Household Goods community each professional company should have an import department and a licensed custom broker to provide the following services to expedite clearance with efficiency & all the required documentation.

There are custom brokers who specialize in various services as the custom broker is open to many fields of operation such as listed above. there's special custom brokers that specialize in Automobiles, and Motorcycles, then Households Goods, and vise versa.

Therefore is always good to check in advance with your shipping company if there custom broker specialize in the requested field of services in order to avoid any miss understanding, delays, storage & demurrage charges, unexpected duties, etc.

For example:
An Household Goods international movers, specialize in Importing & Exporting HHG (House Hold Goods), but the same custom broker will not necessarily specialize with Importing or exporting product of food etc. therefore when you have a commercial or personal shipment make sure checking with your shipping company do they specialize in the following services.

Who Does Not Need a Custom Broker?

A client who is shipping his own Personal Effects shipment from one point to another in most cases will not require a custom broker, that questions said WHY?

A personal client who ones his goods doesn't need a broker to clear his goods for him, if he is the original owner of the shipment, he will require to provide the Ocean/ House Bill of Lading, Photo copy of Passport, his address of destination, and a declared value of his goods. with the following info any client who shipped his own shipment of P/E overseas can pick up his shipment at Port with out using the services of a custom broker.

Where can a Custom Broker help?

A Custom Broker can help when your importing cars, boats, jet ski's, etc. into your destination country. at this stage a custom broker will provide you with the best of service to clear and pay the duties if needed. that's where the custom broker services come in handy.

Prior Shipping your goods overseas Always check with your destination country of there regulation and what are the items your entitled to import into the country. even sow you have selected an custom broker, it does not mean you can import goods which are not allowed at your destination. Therefore always check for customs regulation.

Commercial Goods - will need a specific commercial custom broker to identify the commodity of import and will provide a correct guides and tax value, taxes, duties and percentage prior and following the process of clearance of your shipment. the better your broker will know in advance the easier & smother your clearance will take place.