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Germany is a day’s drive from the Channel, and before 2021 moving there was little different from moving across the UK. Since the UK left the EU, your belongings cross a customs border. They can still enter Germany free of duty, but only with the right declaration and the right supporting documents, and one of those documents is something you can only get once you have arrived.
This page explains how that works, what the move costs and how long it takes.
Your move starts with a survey by one of our removal specialists. From there, a dedicated move manager is your primary contact throughout: they receive the full survey file, give you the customs form and show you how to complete it, tell you which documents to gather and by when, and coordinate with our German partner, who clears your belongings and delivers them to your door.
You will not need to explain your move twice. How we work sets out who does what.
Moves to Germany travel by road. You can share a vehicle or have one to yourself.
| Home size | Part load (shared vehicle) | Dedicated vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom flat | £2,500 to £3,000 | £3,500 to £4,500 |
| 2-bedroom flat | £3,500 to £4,500 | £5,000 to £6,500 |
| 3-bedroom house | £5,000 to £7,000 | £7,000 to £9,000 or more |
A part load, also called groupage, means your belongings travel with other households’ and you pay for the space you use. It costs less and takes a little longer, because the vehicle makes more than one stop.
Timing. Road transit from the UK to Germany takes 7 to 14 days. Add one to three days for customs clearance at the German end. Most moves take two to three weeks from packing day to delivery.
These are guide prices. Your own figure depends on volume, access at both addresses and the distance involved, which is why every quote starts with a pre-move survey. The full Germany guide covers costs in more detail.
Your belongings can still be duty-free. German customs treats the household goods of someone moving their main home to Germany as transfer of residence goods (Übersiedlungsgut). They enter free of duty and import VAT if you have owned and used them for at least six months and they are for your own continued use.
Form 0350. This is the German customs declaration for household removals. Your move manager gives you the form and guidance on completing it before your collection date. Alongside it you will need proof that you have been living in the UK (a P60, council tax bills covering the past 12 months, bank statements), a full inventory, which our crew produces on packing day, and proof of your new address in Germany.
What is not covered. New items bought for the move fall outside the relief and can be charged German import VAT and duty. List them separately so the rest of your home is not held up.
Everyone who moves to Germany must register their address at the local registration office within 14 days of arriving. You are given a confirmation of registration, the Anmeldebestätigung, on the day.
German customs asks for that confirmation when your belongings are cleared. So the order matters: arrive, register, then take delivery. We recommend planning your removal so that your belongings arrive one to two weeks after you have registered. Your move manager will set the collection date in the UK to make that work, and can arrange storage if your dates move.
Fine to bring under the relief: used furniture, clothing, books, kitchenware, personal electronics and other household belongings you have owned for six months or more.
Declare separately: anything new, and alcohol or tobacco beyond reasonable personal quantities. These may attract duty and tax.
Ask first: firearms and weapons, plants, and anything you are unsure about. Raise it with your move manager before it goes in a box. The Germany guide lists restricted and prohibited items.
A comprehensive range of services is available to you for removals to Germany, ensuring your belongings are protected and your move is as calm and simple as possible.
Our expert team uses high-quality packing materials and techniques to carefully wrap your belongings for international transit. Trust us to ensure everything arrives safely in Germany with our packing services.
We handle full household moves or single pieces of furniture, including disassembly, protective wrapping, and secure transport to your new home in Germany. Have peace of mind that everything arrives exactly as expected.
We take special care with any fragile or high-value items such as antiques, artwork, or electronics. We offer custom crating and enhanced protection for peace of mind with removals from the UK to Germany.
From your UK home to your new address in Germany, we manage the entire move with reliable door-to-door delivery. Wherever your new life takes you, you can trust our transport network for timely and secure delivery.
Our team will guide you through the customs process, assisting with essential paperwork. We’ll ensure your shipment meets all requirements for entry into Germany so that you can avoid any delays or issues.
Get extra flexibility with your move with our secure short and long-term storage options in both the UK and Germany. Tell us your needs and we’ll accommodate your preferred timeline.
If you are moving abroad it couldn’t be simpler. Your move with Gerson Moving Services is as easy as these 4 simple steps;
Get A Move
Quote
Packing &
Collection
Sea, Air or Road
Transport
Delivery and
Unpacking
We deliver throughout Germany, to the major cities and to smaller towns and rural addresses. Many German city streets need a parking permit for a removal vehicle, arranged in advance; your surveyor will ask about access at your new address so this is booked in time.
Gerson Moving Services is a member of the British Association of Removers, with the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee protecting money you pay in advance. We are IAM accredited, hold FIDI FAIM, the international quality standard for removal companies, and are part of the AGM Group. Disputes can be referred to the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman.
Real feedback from people who chose our international moving company.
“Retired to a small town near Freiburg. Honestly, the paperwork had me worried, but our contact talked me through every form on the phone. No complaints at all.”
“We moved the family out to Hamburg last summer and it all went to plan. The team were friendly, kept us updated, and everything turned up when they said.”
“After sixteen years in Cardiff I’ve moved back to Munich. My main concern was nearly 800 records, and they came off the van still in the order I’d sorted them.”
Road transit takes 7 to 14 days, and customs clearance adds one to three days. Most moves take two to three weeks from packing day to delivery.
As a guide, a one-bedroom flat costs £2,500 to £3,000 as a part load and a three-bedroom house £5,000 to £7,000; a dedicated vehicle costs more. A survey gives you an exact figure for your home.
Not on used household goods you have owned and used for at least six months, provided you are moving your main home to Germany and Form 0350 is supported by the right documents. New items can be charged import VAT and duty.
It is the German customs declaration for household goods being imported as part of a move. Your move manager gives it to you with guidance before collection, and our German partner presents it at clearance.
German customs asks for your confirmation of address registration, which you can only obtain after you arrive. Timing delivery for one to two weeks after registration avoids your belongings waiting at the border.
Yes. Your move manager is your primary contact throughout and will be in touch at collection, at each customs stage and when delivery is booked.
Tell us where you are moving from, where to, and when you expect to arrive. A move manager will come back to you with your customs position, a realistic timeline and the next step.
