Safe and lawful transport
This policy identifies goods that must not be booked through Dropdsh and items that require advance written approval, specialist packaging, documentation, equipment or an appropriately qualified provider.
The list is not exhaustive. You remain responsible for checking whether an item can lawfully and safely be transported by road in the relevant UK jurisdiction.
Before you book
- Never send illegal drugs, prohibited weapons, explosives, stolen or counterfeit goods, people or undisclosed dangerous goods.
- Declare batteries, chemicals, aerosols, fuel, medicines, alcohol, tobacco, plants, animals, waste and other regulated goods before booking.
- Use accurate weights, dimensions, photographs and item descriptions.
- Do not assume a vehicle being available means the driver is licensed, trained or equipped for restricted goods.
1. Items that must not be sent
- illegal or controlled drugs supplied or possessed without lawful authority;
- prohibited firearms, ammunition, explosives, offensive weapons, stun devices, incapacitant sprays or weapon components whose possession or transport is unlawful;
- stolen goods, counterfeit goods, illicit cash or property obtained through crime;
- indecent or unlawful material, including material depicting child sexual abuse;
- human remains, body parts, biological specimens or infectious material without an approved specialist arrangement;
- live people concealed or carried as cargo, or any item connected with trafficking or exploitation;
- live animals unless Dropdsh has expressly approved a lawful, welfare-compliant specialist service;
- goods whose possession, sale, import, export or transport is illegal in the pickup, transit or delivery location;
- anything intended to injure a person, damage property, evade law enforcement or interfere with transport safety; and
- any item Dropdsh or the assigned provider reasonably believes cannot be transported lawfully or safely.
2. Dangerous and hazardous goods
Dangerous goods are substances or articles capable of creating a transport risk, including explosives, gases, flammable liquids or solids, oxidising substances, toxic or infectious substances, radioactive material, corrosives and miscellaneous dangerous goods such as certain lithium batteries.
Do not book dangerous goods through an ordinary Dropdsh service. Transport may require classification, UN-approved packaging, labels, transport documents, load segregation, vehicle equipment, trained drivers and compliance with ADR and UK carriage rules. Small-load or limited-quantity exemptions are technical legal rules and must not be assumed.
Examples requiring prior review include loose or damaged batteries, power banks, aerosols, fuel, gas cylinders, fireworks, solvents, paints, pesticides, acids, chemicals, dry ice, clinical samples and contaminated waste.
3. Restricted goods requiring advance approval
The following may be accepted only where lawful and expressly approved before confirmation:
- alcohol, tobacco, nicotine or age-restricted products;
- prescription medicines, pharmacy products and temperature-controlled healthcare items;
- knives, tools, lawful firearms or ammunition and other controlled articles;
- food, plants, seeds, agricultural products and animal-derived products;
- waste, used oils, scrap batteries or material requiring a waste-carrier registration;
- cash, negotiable instruments, precious metals, jewellery, gemstones or irreplaceable documents;
- high-value art, antiques, collectibles or fragile scientific equipment;
- personal data, confidential records or keys requiring enhanced security; and
- goods subject to licences, customs, sanctions, import/export controls or chain-of-custody rules.
4. Goods unsuitable for the selected service
An item can be refused even if lawful where it exceeds the declared weight, volume or vehicle capacity; cannot be safely lifted or secured; is inadequately packaged; is leaking, contaminated, unstable, perishable without suitable control, or likely to damage other property.
Fragile and high-value items are not automatically prohibited, but must be declared accurately. The selected cover level may not cover inherent fragility, inadequate packaging, excluded goods or value above the contractual limit.
5. Sender declaration and packaging duties
By confirming a booking or manifest, you declare that the delivery contains no illegal, dangerous, prohibited or undisclosed restricted goods. You must identify every item accurately, including quantity, weight, dimensions, value, condition and any relevant hazard.
Packaging must be suitable for normal collection, road movement, stacking where applicable, weather and hand delivery. Liquids must be sealed and contained; sharp edges protected; moving parts secured; and labels or legal marks kept visible. The sender must provide safety data, licences and handling instructions where required.
6. Vehicle Movement and Recovery
Remove unlawful, dangerous or undisclosed goods from a vehicle before handover. Tell us about fuel type, battery condition, leaks, collision damage, modifications, load, keys, immobilisers, tyre or steering damage and whether the vehicle rolls, steers and brakes.
Electric and hybrid vehicles contain high-voltage batteries. A damaged, leaking, smoking, overheated or fire-affected vehicle requires specialist assessment and must not be presented as an ordinary movement. Recovery providers may refuse a vehicle or require different equipment.
7. Verification, refusal and disclosure
We and the assigned provider may ask questions, request photographs or documents, inspect external packaging where lawful and reasonably necessary, or refuse collection. We do not undertake routine searches and acceptance does not confirm that an item is lawful.
We may disclose information and hand goods to police, regulators, emergency services or another lawful authority where required or reasonably necessary for safety or crime prevention.
8. What happens after a breach
A prohibited or misdeclared booking may be refused, cancelled, isolated, returned, safely disposed of or reported. The account may be suspended. You may be responsible for reasonable inspection, storage, specialist handling, return, disposal, clean-up, regulatory and third-party costs caused by the breach.
Cover can be unavailable for prohibited or materially misdeclared goods. Nothing in this policy excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.