Posting or Shipping an airbag in the UK

[Alhambra King]

Anyone shipped one? I bought a leather wheel and bag from a guy in cornwall but he rang me today to say my courier refused it on collection as its classed as hazardous

None of the couriers will accept it online so not sure what to do now?

[insanitybeard]

There must be some couriers out there who will transport them, when you purchase e.g a replacement airbag via a dealer's parts department it has to be transported to them from the central warehouse somehow! However, they will have special agreements in place with the transportation companies. Chances are, if you can find a carrier prepared to transport it for you, you'll have to pay a premium price.

[Mirez]

You need a hazmat licence to ship airbags and as a sender, you'll need to sort a shed load of paperwork. In short, I dont think you'll find any courier that will collect from a residental address.

Plenty of people do just put them in the post with no declaration but if things go wrong (and there are a few stories of them exploding in xray machines) the sender is liable for all damages and compensation claims. Airbags contain Sodium Azide (NaN3) which isn't just explosive but also highly poisonous. If it gets damaged it can leak or, in more extreme circumstances it absorbs water vapour which makes it Hydrozoic Acid (HN3) which is a horrible, horrible substance.

I only ever do cash on collection for airbags as its not worth sending them, plenty of home 'experts' online will tell you to post it as there is no way it will go off... I'd ask them to explain the ones that have then

[TommyT]

Where in Cornwall? I am heading up to Leeds for Christmas tomorrow and happy to bring it with me if I can get it before I go!