Compare Removals To Germany From UK
Compare & Save up to 70% off the Cost of Removals to Germany
As the 4th most popular British Expat location, Germany is a fantastic place to relocate. Moving to Germany requires careful planning, consideration and a reliable international removal company. This can be made simple with the help of our comparison service.
Compare My Move can match you with up to 6 international removal companies so you can compare the costs and save up to 70% on your removals to Germany. With great health care, free education and the annual Oktoberfest, it’s easy to see why 120,000 Brits have made the move.
Choosing a company to carry out your European move is of the utmost importance. We aim to find you the very best deal with our directory of verified and experienced movers.
We only work with trusted, qualified and fully insured movers to ensure you and your belongings are protected throughout the entire process. Use our simple form below to receive competitive quotes.
Which Shipping Option Do You Need?
Before relocating to Germany, you need to look into the shipping options available. There are four different options to choose from, depending on your budget and preferences.
Germany is an easily accessible country, making shipping furniture overseas fairly simple to complete. Here are the choices available:
- Sea Freight
- Road Freight
- Air Freight
- Part-Load
A lot of people choose to use a combination of these services depending on their personal requirements.
Sea Freight
Sea freight is a fairly cost-effective method of transporting goods, especially when compared to air freight. Due to its short distance from the UK, it takes on average up to 5 days for goods to be delivered.
While Germany is home to 74 ports in total, the two major shipping ports are located in Bremen and Hamburg in the north of the country. These are both convenient locations, making shipping via sea freight a viable option to consider for larger moves.
If you need to ship large, and bulky goods, sea freight is the best option to consider as you’re charged based on the size of the container chosen, rather than the weight.
Shipping your belongings will take longer than air freight and road freight, but it has a lower environmental impact. It provides you with the option of shipping your vehicle into the country. You will need to provide the correct documentation for this.
Road Freight
Road Freight is one of the most common methods of moving goods to Germany. The road networks in Germany are extremely efficient, which means your goods will arrive as quickly as possible.
Removal companies will also make use of rail transportation, in particular the Eurotunnel, based on the best and quickest route to your relocation destination.
Road freight is great because it allows you to transport large goods across long distances, and the price is affordable, even for those moving on a budget.
It takes on average around 2 days to ship your household goods to Germany, making this a convenient option to consider. The lengths may vary if there are road delays, or if you have chosen a shared service.
Air Freight
Air freight is an option to consider when shipping goods to Germany. However, it may not be the best solution given the costs involved.
It can cost 12-16 times more than sea freight. While it's the faster removals transportation, it's not too much quicker than road freight.
The useful thing about air freight is that there are a number of airports to choose from in Germany, including Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg. Delivery is fast, and goods will typically arrive in 1-3 days.
The only downside to air freight is that it’s charged based on the weight of the goods. If you’re looking to ship heavier items, road or sea freight is the more cost-effective option.
Part-Load
To ship a smaller amount of goods, using a part-load is the ideal option to consider.
It allows you to share a shipping container with other people. This cuts the cost of shipping for those on a budget. As you’re sharing a container with others, it’s more environmentally friendly.
The only downside to part-load shipping is that it can take slightly longer to arrive in comparison to using a full sea or road freight.This is due to the waiting times involved with removals companies collecting everyone’s goods to ship.
Depending on the location in Germany and the service used, it takes an average of 3-5 days for part-load goods to arrive.
Cost of Shipping Furniture to Germany
The cost of furniture removals to Germany varies depending on aspects such as:
- The number of goods shipped
- The weight of the goods shipped
- The type of shipping used
- Whether the shipping is full or part-load
- The area of Germany you are relocating to
The average costs of shipping goods to Germany via sea freight container are:
| Shipping Size | Cost |
|---|---|
20ft Container | £767 |
40ft Container | £953 |
The cost of shipping via air freight is significantly more as it’s based on the weight of goods, not size. According to Move Hub, shipping a 1-bed flat to Germany from the UK will cost between £2,545 - £2,813.
To ship via road freight, Pallet2Ship state costs start from £210. The cost of part-load varies depending on the location you are shipping to. My Cheap Removals suggest that a 5m3 shipment from London to Berlin will cost £909.
Our International Moving Costs article discusses costs in more detail. You will also need to consider the costs of any additional services used.
What Documentation Do I Need?
Upon arrival in Germany, you are required to present the following documentation:
- Valid passport or ID
- Relevant Visa and permits
- Healthcare insurance
- Signed packing list of items
- UK Certificate of residence
In Germany, you need to provide a self-certificate. This provides details of your household goods for customs authority. It proves you have used the items for more than 6 months at your UK address. It’s a declaration that you won’t sell or rent these items in Germany.
Germany has strict rules surrounding pets. They are required to be vaccinated and microchipped. Evidence of this needs to be presented.
To bring a car into Germany you need to provide proof of purchase and insurance. You will also need to contact your local customs office. Import duties and tax apply.
Covid-19 Restrictions
On 11th June all covid travel restrictions in Germany were lifted. Check the GOV.UK website for the latest travel regulations.
Visas and Permits
You are legally required to apply for a visa if you’re staying in Germany for more than 3 months. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees covers all guidance on German Residency.
Other popular overseas destinations
We also offer international removals to many destinations worldwide. Here are some other popular locations: