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🚫 PROHIBITED & RESTRICTED GOODSProhibited & Restricted Items — What We Cannot Carry
Speedy Same Day Courier accepts the vast majority of goods for same day delivery. However, certain items are prohibited outright, others require prior approval, and some are accepted at the Customer's own risk. Please read this page carefully before booking — presenting prohibited goods for carriage may result in the booking being refused without refund and, where applicable, referral to the relevant authorities.
🚫Prohibited — never accepted
⚠️Restricted — prior approval required
⚡Own risk — limited insurance cover
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How this guide works
This page is divided into three categories. Prohibited items cannot be carried under any circumstances — presenting them for carriage may result in refusal, full charge retention and referral to authorities. Restricted items may be carried but require prior agreement, documentation or special handling — call us before booking. Own risk items are accepted but with no or limited insurance cover — you carry the financial risk of loss or damage.
If you are unsure whether your item is prohibited, restricted or accepted, call us on 0330 223 4790 before booking. We would rather answer a question than refuse a driver-side collection.
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Prohibited Items
These items cannot be carried under any circumstances. No exceptions. No prior approval will be granted.
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Illegal & Controlled Substances
Illegal drugs and narcotics — Class A, B and C controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, including but not limited to cannabis, cocaine, heroin, MDMA and amphetamines
Counterfeit goods — goods that infringe any trademark, copyright, patent or other intellectual property right
Stolen goods — any item known or suspected to be stolen property
Any item prohibited by UK law — goods whose manufacture, sale, supply, possession, import or export is prohibited under any UK statute or regulation
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Dangerous, Explosive & Hazardous Materials
Explosives and detonators — including fireworks, gunpowder, blasting caps and any substance classified as Class 1 Dangerous Goods under ADR
Flammable liquids in bulk — petrol, lighter fluid, acetone, paint thinners and other flammable liquids exceeding permitted quantities without ADR compliance and documentation
Compressed gases (bulk) — propane, butane, LPG and other compressed or liquefied gases in non-compliant containers
Radioactive materials — any substance emitting ionising radiation, regardless of activity level, without specific prior written approval and regulatory compliance
Corrosive substances — strong acids, alkalis and other corrosive materials not in approved packaging with appropriate safety data sheets
Toxic substances — pesticides, poisons and substances classified as acutely toxic under CLP Regulation without prior approval and full documentation
Asbestos — in any form, whether friable or bonded, loose or encapsulated
Oxidising agents and organic peroxides — including hydrogen peroxide at concentrations above those permitted for consumer use
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Living Organisms & Biological Material
Live animals — any living animal including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and arachnids, regardless of size or species
Human remains — including ashes, body parts, organs and tissue (other than properly packaged and documented Category B biological substances — see Restricted section)
Category A infectious substances — biological substances capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in humans or animals (UN2814 / UN2900)
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Cash & Financial Instruments
Cash and banknotes — any currency in physical form, whether sterling, foreign currency or cryptocurrency hardware wallets
Uncrossed cheques payable to bearer — negotiable instruments that can be cashed by the holder without endorsement
Lottery tickets and scratch cards — unredeemed lottery or scratch card tickets with a cash or prize value
Bearer bonds and similar instruments — any negotiable financial instrument payable to bearer
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Weapons & Ammunition (Without Licence)
Unlicensed firearms — any firearm, including air weapons, without the Customer holding the appropriate UK firearms or shotgun certificate and the Courier having given prior written approval
Prohibited weapons — items prohibited under the Firearms Act 1968 and subsequent legislation, including automatic weapons, disguised firearms and certain air weapons
Offensive weapons — flick knives, zombie knives, knuckledusters, throwing stars and other items prohibited under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and Prevention of Crime Act 1953
Live ammunition — without appropriate documentation, licences and ADR compliance where applicable
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Other Prohibited Items
Pornographic material — obscene publications and material prohibited under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and Protection of Children Act 1978
Endangered species — animals, plants and products derived therefrom that are subject to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) controls
Drug paraphernalia — items designed or intended for use in the preparation, administration or concealment of controlled drugs
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Restricted Items — Prior Approval Required
These items may be carried but require prior agreement, specific documentation or special handling. Call 0330 223 4790 before booking.
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Pharmaceuticals & Medical Supplies
Prescription medicines and controlled drugs (Schedule 2–5) — require appropriate medical or pharmacy licence documentation and prior written confirmation from the Courier
Category B biological substances — medical samples, diagnostic specimens and patient samples (UN3373) — must be in correct triple packaging compliant with P650 packaging instruction
Syringes and sharps — must be in approved sharps containers, sealed and clearly labelled. Prior agreement required for quantities above individual patient use
Over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in bulk — large commercial quantities require pre-approval
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Batteries & Electronics
Lithium batteries (loose / not installed in equipment) — subject to quantity and watt-hour limits under ADR/IATA. Batteries not installed in devices require prior approval and must be packaged per IATA PI 965/968
Large lithium battery packs — batteries exceeding 100Wh (for Li-ion) require prior approval regardless of whether installed in equipment
Damaged or recalled batteries — any battery that is known to be defective, swollen, leaking or subject to a manufacturer recall is prohibited without exception
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Licensed Firearms & Legal Weapons
Licensed firearms and shotguns — carriage may be arranged where the Customer holds the appropriate UK Firearms Certificate or Shotgun Certificate. Documentation must be presented at collection. Prior written approval from the Courier is mandatory
Legal knives and blades — non-prohibited bladed articles (e.g. kitchen knives, hunting knives, chefs' sets) must be securely sheathed and packaged. Not accepted loose or unpackaged
Deactivated firearms — must be accompanied by current UK deactivation certificate issued after 8 April 2016
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Temperature-Sensitive & Perishable Goods
Refrigerated or frozen goods — Speedy does not operate temperature-controlled vehicles. Chilled or frozen goods may be accepted with appropriate insulated packaging for short transit times — prior agreement required. No liability for temperature-related deterioration
Fresh food and produce — accepted for short-distance same day deliveries only, with appropriate packaging. Transit time must be confirmed as suitable before booking
Dry ice — permitted in limited quantities with prior approval. Must be in ventilated packaging and clearly labelled. ADR requirements apply above 200g per package
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Alcohol & Tobacco
Alcohol — accepted for commercial deliveries where the sender holds an appropriate premises licence. Not accepted for deliveries to unlicensed private addresses where age verification cannot be confirmed. Prior approval required for large quantities
Tobacco products — accepted in commercial quantities for licensed trade customers only. Duty-suspended tobacco requires prior agreement and appropriate documentation
E-cigarettes and vaping products containing nicotine — subject to MHRA regulations. Prior approval required for commercial quantities
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Hazardous Materials (ADR — With Compliance)
Small quantities of flammable liquids — permitted in limited quantities (within ADR limited quantity thresholds) with appropriate packaging, labelling and prior approval
Aerosols — accepted in commercial quantities where packaging and labelling comply with ADR regulations. Prior approval required for palletised loads
Paint and varnish — accepted in sealed, undamaged packaging with appropriate labelling. Large quantities require prior agreement and may require ADR compliance
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Items Accepted at Customer's Own Risk
These items are accepted but with no or limited insurance cover. In the event of loss or damage, the Courier's liability is excluded or significantly limited. The Customer assumes full financial risk.
The following items are accepted for carriage but the Courier's Goods in Transit insurance excludes or limits cover for these categories. The Customer is strongly advised to arrange their own specialist insurance before booking.
Antiques and items of historical significance — items whose value is partly or wholly attributable to age, rarity or provenance. Specialist valuation and insurance strongly recommended
Original artwork and sculptures — paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics and sculptures. Must be properly packaged. No liability for damage arising from inadequate packaging
Jewellery, precious metals and gemstones — accepted up to the standard free £5,000 cover limit. Values exceeding £5,000 must be declared and additional cover arranged before departure
Items of sentimental value — items whose value to the owner is personal rather than financial (family heirlooms, irreplaceable photographs, handmade items). The Courier's liability is limited to the monetary replacement value only — sentimental value cannot be claimed
Fragile items without specialist packaging — glassware, ceramics, mirrors, screens and other fragile items accepted only when packaged to a professional standard. No liability where damage results from standard transit movement
Crossed cheques and non-negotiable financial documents — crossed cheques, share certificates and other non-negotiable financial documents accepted at own risk. Loss is not covered under standard Goods in Transit insurance
Electronic media and data storage — USB drives, hard drives and other storage media containing irreplaceable data. Insurance covers the physical device value only — no liability for loss of data
Passports and identity documents — accepted but with no liability for consequential losses arising from loss or damage (travel disruption, replacement costs beyond document value)
💡 How to protect own-risk items
For items in the own-risk category, we recommend: (1) declaring the full value at booking so we can arrange additional cover; (2) obtaining specialist insurance from your own insurer before shipping; (3) using professional-grade packaging appropriate for the item type. Call 0330 223 4790 to discuss cover options before booking.
✅ Quick Decision Guide — Can I Send This?
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Safe to book online
Documents · Parcels · Boxes · Electronics (installed batteries) · Clothing · Medical records · Legal papers · Retail stock · Machine parts · Office equipment
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Call us first
Pharmaceuticals · Medical samples · Lithium battery packs · Licensed firearms · Alcohol (trade) · Dry ice · Aerosols (bulk) · Fresh food · High-value items
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Do not book
Illegal drugs · Cash · Explosives · Live animals · Human remains · Prohibited weapons · Radioactive materials · Counterfeit goods
Not sure if your item is accepted?
Call us before you book — our team will confirm within seconds whether your item is accepted, restricted or prohibited. We would far rather answer a question than refuse a collection at the driver's arrival.
Lines open Weekdays 08:00-18:00 (Outside Hours Available)
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Unsure? Call us now
We'll confirm in seconds whether your item can be collected
0330 223 479024/7 · No queues · Instant answer
🛡️ Insurance cover
Every booking includes free £5,000 Goods in Transit cover. For higher-value items, declare the full value when booking and we'll arrange additional cover.
Items in the "own risk" category may not be covered — call us to discuss specialist cover options.