Moving home to France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium or Poland is a big step. Moving by road keeps it simple: your belongings are loaded once at your old home and unloaded at your new one, with no airports or shipping containers in between. Here is how to plan it.
1. Start planning early
For an international move, start planning around six to eight weeks ahead. That gives you time to sort out paperwork, declutter and book a collection window that suits you.
- Declutter first. Everything you take adds to the load, so sell or donate what you no longer need.
- Write an inventory. A simple list of what is going, box by box, makes packing easier and is often needed for customs.
- Be flexible on dates. A pickup window of a few days either side, rather than one fixed date, usually makes international moves easier to schedule.
2. Choose the right vehicle size
The size of your load is the biggest factor in the cost of your move. As a rough guide:
| Vehicle | Typical load |
|---|---|
| Small van | A few boxes or single items |
| Medium van | Studio or one-bedroom flat |
| Luton van | Two to three-bedroom home |
| 7.5 tonne lorry | Three bedrooms or more, or a large move |
Not sure which you need? Tell us what you are moving in our moving cost form and we will advise.
3. Prepare your paperwork
Since the UK left the EU, household goods moving between Great Britain and Europe go through customs. The exact documents depend on the country you are moving to, but you should expect to need:
- A valid passport or ID for the person moving
- Proof of your new address abroad, such as a rental contract or purchase deed
- A detailed inventory of your belongings
- Any relief forms your destination country uses for personal belongings when you move your home there
Many countries offer relief from import duty and VAT on personal belongings when you move your main home, but each country has its own forms and conditions. Check with the customs authority of your destination country, or ask us, before you move.
We handle UK and Europe import and export declarations, so we can take care of the customs side for you. See our customs clearance page for details.
4. Pack and label for the road
- Use strong double-wall boxes and keep heavy items in small boxes.
- Label every box with the room it belongs in and a number that matches your inventory.
- Wrap furniture and protect corners. Our packing service can do this for you.
- Keep passports, documents, medicines, jewellery and valuables with you, not in the vehicle.
5. Moving day and delivery
On collection day the driver loads your belongings. Standard loading and unloading by the driver is included, and you can ask for extra helpers for larger moves. Your move is tracked from collection to delivery, and at the other end the recipient signs for the goods and we take a photo at handover as proof of delivery.
Quick checklist
- Book your move six to eight weeks ahead
- Write an inventory as you pack
- Check your destination country's customs rules
- Keep documents and valuables with you
- Choose a pickup window, not one fixed day
