Customs Exam
A customs exam is an inspection of an import shipment by US Customs and Border Protection or another agency, ranging from a non-intrusive X-ray scan to a full devanning at a centralized examination station.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
Exams can add days to weeks and hundreds or thousands of dollars in drayage, handling, and storage, all paid by the importer. Clean, consistent documents and accurate descriptions reduce, but do not eliminate, the chance of one.
Common questions
- Who pays for a US customs exam?
- The importer pays exam costs, including moving the container to the exam station, labor to unload and reload, and any storage, demurrage, or detention while it is held. CBP does not reimburse these costs even if nothing is wrong.
Cite this entry
"Customs Exam." Fulfillment Lexicon, last reviewed October 16, 2026. https://fulfillment.wiki/glossary/customs-exam/