US Customs Examination Types: VACIS, CET, Tailgate, and Intensive

VACIS exam (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System)

VACIS is a non-intrusive X-ray scan of the container, performed while it is on a truck or chassis. No cargo is unloaded. No boxes are opened. The scanner produces an image of the container contents, which a CBP officer reviews. If the image is clean, the container is released.

Timeline: 1 to 3 business days at most ports.

Cost to the importer: typically $300 to $500 in exam fees plus any additional drayage if the container must be repositioned to the scanning location. Some terminals include scanning as part of port fees; others bill separately.

VACIS is the most common exam type. It is frequently triggered by new importers, new supplier relationships, or shipments from certain HTS codes that CBP profiles.

CET (Customs Exam at Terminal)

In a CET, the container remains at the terminal but is physically opened. CBP officers or a third-party inspection company appointed by CBP reviews the cargo inside the container, comparing it against the manifest, packing list, and commercial invoice. Boxes may be opened for spot inspection.

Timeline: 3 to 7 business days.

Cost to the importer: $700 to $1,500 or more, including exam fees, terminal storage during the hold, and labor. If boxes are opened and not repacked cleanly, there may also be repackaging costs.

What triggers CET over VACIS: an image anomaly on a prior VACIS scan, document discrepancies, commodity risk flags, or random selection.

Tailgate exam

A tailgate exam is performed at the door of the container. CBP opens the rear doors and inspects the cargo that is visible without unloading. Inspectors may check carton counts, verify seals, and inspect accessible boxes at the back of the container.

Timeline: 1 to 3 business days.

Cost to the importer: $300 to $700. Storage fees during the hold apply.

Tailgate exams are less common than VACIS but more targeted. They are often used when CBP has a specific concern about what a shipment contains but does not yet have grounds to order a full unload.

Intensive exam (devanning exam)

An intensive exam is the most disruptive. The entire container is unloaded at a CBP-approved examination facility (CEF), not at the standard terminal. Every carton is physically inspected, often at the HTS-code level. CBP may retain samples for lab testing.

Timeline: 5 to 15 business days. If CBP retains samples for lab testing, timelines can extend to 30 days or more.

Cost to the importer: $2,000 to $5,000 or more, including drayage to the CEF, unloading labor, exam fees, CEF storage, reloading labor, and drayage back. This does not include any penalties if violations are found.

Intensive exams are triggered by: specific intelligence, prior violations by the importer or supplier, high-risk commodity codes (wood products requiring fumigation, agricultural products, controlled substances adjacency), or positive VACIS anomalies requiring physical verification.

Who pays for customs examinations

The importer pays. CBP does not charge for the examination itself, but the importer bears all associated costs: terminal storage during the hold, drayage, labor, CEF fees, and any third-party inspection costs.

These costs are not typically covered by standard cargo insurance. Some freight forwarders offer examination cost insurance as an add-on product worth considering if you import frequently or in high-risk commodity categories.

What to do when you receive an exam notice

• Confirm with your customs broker which exam type has been assigned.
• Verify that your commercial invoice, packing list, and ISF match the actual cargo exactly. Discrepancies during an exam can escalate the type and trigger penalties.
• Do not pressure CBP for a release date. Exams run on CBP's schedule.
• If the shipment is time-sensitive, note this to your broker -- in some cases (perishables, trade show deadlines) CBP will expedite, but documentation is required.
• If CBP finds a violation (misdescribed goods, undervalued cargo, prohibited items), respond immediately through your broker. The penalty for negligent misstatement is typically 20% of the unpaid duties.

How to reduce exam frequency

New importers and new supplier relationships are profiled. Exam frequency typically decreases after 6 to 12 months of clean import history with consistent suppliers.

Practices that reduce targeting: accurate and detailed commercial invoices without vague descriptions, consistent HTS codes across shipments, ISF filed on time and accurately, and a stable roster of suppliers.

C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) certification reduces exam frequency significantly. Certification is available to importers, carriers, and brokers who meet CBP's security criteria. The application process takes 6 to 12 months.