Surcharges for Exceptional Activities

DHL Express is committed to providing customers with the best delivery service, which is why we are continuing to offer coverage to more parts of the world than any other company.

In order to maintain a consistently high level of service, DHL Express levies under given conditions a surcharge for exceptional activities. DHL Express regularly evaluates the level of these surcharges to reflect the changing costs associated with offering exceptional activities, and we strive to ensure these surcharges remain fair for our customers.

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the delivery destination location is remote. Remote is defined as islands and highlands; or a post code/zip code that is difficult to serve; or a suburb/town that is distant, inaccessible or infrequently served.

Check for Remote LocationsCheck for Remote Locations

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the pickup location is remote and the transport charges are being billed to the account holder at destination or in a third country. Remote is defined as islands and highlands; or a post code/zip code that is difficult to serve; or a suburb/town that is distant, inaccessible or infrequently served.

Check for Remote LocationsCheck for Remote Locations

DHL Express is certified in certain classes of Dangerous Goods in accordance with IATA and ADR regulations. The handling and transportation of Dangerous Goods is not possible between all origins and destinations.

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the handling and transportation of shipments involves substances and commodities that are in Excepted Quantities (EQ) in compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. These shipments contain very small amounts of slightly dangerous products and the gross weight of such shipments cannot exceed 1 kg per piece and are accepted from approved Shippers only.

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the ground handling and transportation of shipments involves substances and commodities that are in Limited Quantities (LQ) in compliance with ADR regulations and which are restricted from air transportation. Such dangerous goods are restricted to no more than 30kg per piece and are accepted from approved Shippers only.

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the handling and transportation of shipments involves substances and commodities classified as fully regulated in accordance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Such dangerous goods are restricted to single piece shipments that weigh no more than 30kg and are accepted from approved Shippers only.

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the handling and transportation of shipments involves Dry Ice UN1845 used as a freezing agent for non-dangerous goods such as diagnostic specimens. Such contents are accepted from approved Shippers only.

A surcharge may apply per shipment when the handling and transportation of shipments involves Lithium Ion or Lithium Metal batteries compliant with the appropriate IATA Packing Instructions 965 to 970, Section II. DHL Express will not accept any shipment containing lithium batteries that are known or suspected of being defective or damaged.

The correct shipment labeling applies when the handling and transportation of shipments involves Biological Substances Category B (UN3373) packed in compliance with IATA Packing Instruction 650. Such contents are accepted from approved Shippers only that are sending DHL MEDICAL EXPRESS shipments.

A surcharge is applied when the handling and transportation of shipments involves consumer goods such as perfumes, aftershaves, aerosols, nail varnish and prescription medicines, Such contents are also Dangerous Goods and are most often sent in small quantities to private individuals. All must be properly labeled.

A surcharge is applied when any piece in a shipment has a scale weight in excess of 70kg.

A surcharge is applied when any piece has a single dimension in excess of 120cm, or when any pallet has a base dimension in excess of 120cm.

A surcharge is applied when any pallet in a shipment cannot be stacked, either on request of the Shipper or by nature of the shape, content or packaging of the goods on the pallet.

A surcharge is applied per shipment when the destination address provided by the Shipper is incomplete, outdated or incorrect and DHL is subsequently unable to deliver the shipment. DHL searches and determines the correct address to complete the delivery.

The following surcharges are payable on international shipments: