UPS brokerage fees are charges levied by UPS to cover customs clearance, duties, taxes and their own fees when shipping items internationally to Canada and Mexico.
Why does UPS charge brokerage fees?
Since UPS uses ground transportation for deliveries to Canada and Mexico, they manually clear shipments through customs in those countries. The brokerage fees help pay for this additional handling.
What’s included in UPS brokerage fees?
UPS brokerage fees include customs entry preparation charges, bond fees to account for any tax/duty collection, and UPS’ own brokerage charges.
Can I avoid paying UPS brokerage fees?
Yes, there are several tips covered in this article that allow you to legally avoid UPS brokerage fees, like using alternate carriers, splitting shipments, or selecting brokerage-inclusive services.
Does UPS charge brokerage fees for all international shipping?
No, UPS only charges brokerage fees for shipments from the US to Canada and Mexico which require manual customs clearance.
What's the easiest way to avoid UPS brokerage fees?
The easiest approach is to use a different shipping carrier like DHL or USPS that doesn’t charge brokerage fees at all on international shipments to Canada/Mexico.
Can I estimate how much the brokerage fees will be?Yes, UPS provides a brokerage fee estimator on their website so you can calculate expected costs based on shipment specifics like value, weight, origin/destination.
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