VerifiedGet matched with vetted international mover We match you with only accredited partner for your route: fewer calls, less stress, and a clearer quote.
In short: Part-load (groupage) shares ferry space between several customers, so you pay for the space you use. It is matched to one FIDI-certified partner mover, free.
It suits one or two rooms. Customs is handled on Form C&E 1076, with Transfer of Residence relief where you qualify.
Groupage means your goods share a van with other people's loads going to Ireland. You pay for the cubic metres your load takes up, not the whole vehicle. It is the standard way to move a studio, a one-bed or two-bed flat, or a partial houseful without paying the full cost of a dedicated van.
Ireland suits groupage better than most European routes for one reason: the Irish Sea crossings are short and run often. Holyhead to Dublin Port takes about 3 hours 15 minutes and sails several times a day on Irish Ferries and Stena Line. Pembroke and Fishguard to Rosslare take 3.5 to 4 hours. A short, frequent crossing keeps consolidation time low and transit predictable.
How the process works: your goods are collected from your UK address and taken to a consolidation depot. There they are loaded alongside other Ireland-bound goods until the vehicle is full. The van then drives to the Welsh port, crosses, and delivers to each Irish address in turn. From collection to delivery, a typical groupage move takes one to three weeks.
The trade-off is timing. A part load needs a flexible date. If you need to be in Ireland on a fixed day with your belongings, a dedicated van is the right call. If you can wait two to three weeks, groupage is usually the best value on this route.
Part load pricing is based on cubic metres (CBM). You pay for the space your load uses, not the full van. The more volume you have, the lower the CBM rate tends to be. Access at both ends and the Irish delivery area also affect the final price.
A sofa, bed or a few packed boxes
From about £300 to £900
Shared van space. Price varies with item size and Irish delivery area.
Approx 10 to 20 CBM on a shared van
From about £1,200 to £2,000
Transit 1 to 3 weeks. Good value with a flexible date.
Approx 20 to 35 CBM on a shared van
From about £2,000 to £3,000
Most common part load size on the Ireland route.
35+ CBM — borderline dedicated van territory
Compare part load vs dedicated
At this volume, ask the mover to quote both options. A dedicated van may be only slightly more.
Rural Irish deliveries with narrow lanes or long driveways typically add £150 to £400. Stairs without a lift and tight access add crew time at both ends. Give an Eircode and full access notes when you enquire. The more detail you include upfront, the more accurate the quote will be.
Insurance is worth confirming before you book. Most movers include basic transit cover. For antiques, high-value or sentimental pieces, check the cover level and ask about declared-value insurance. A condition report, noting any existing marks or damage before collection, protects both you and the mover if a question arises after delivery. Ask for one on any piece that matters.
A few things to check before furniture is collected. Can large items be taken apart? A wardrobe that dismantles into three panels is much easier to move than one that does not. Does the piece fit through the doors and stairwells at the UK address? And at the Irish address? Georgian flats in central Dublin are a common challenge. The hallways are narrow. The stairs are steep. There is usually no lift. Measure the piece against the stairwell before collection day. Surprises on the day cost money. Medieval street access in Galway and Kilkenny can also limit what vehicle size reaches the door. Tell the mover about these things when you enquire, not after the van is booked.
A part load works best when you give the mover enough information to consolidate efficiently. Three things make the biggest difference.
The Republic of Ireland uses the euro (EUR). If you are moving from the UK, you are moving from sterling into a euro economy. That affects deposits, any charges you pay at the Irish end, and your day-to-day spending after you arrive.
International Removals Companies works with currency exchange partners. We do not provide currency exchange ourselves, but if you need to convert sterling to euro for your move, we can connect you with a partner who can help. This is entirely separate from the removals service and carries no obligation.
Northern Ireland uses the pound, not the euro. If you are moving to Northern Ireland rather than the Republic, currency exchange is not relevant to your move.
The main ferry from the UK to Ireland is Holyhead to Dublin Port, run by Irish Ferries and Stena Line. The crossing takes about 3 hours 15 minutes. For customs, Transfer of Residence relief on Form C&E 1076 removes import duty and the 23% Irish VAT on used belongings if you qualify. The Common Travel Area covers people, not goods. Your belongings still go through the customs process even though you can travel freely between the UK and Ireland.
After arriving in Ireland, you will need a PPS number. PPS stands for Personal Public Service number. You use it for Revenue, banking, employment and most official matters. Apply at your local Intreo centre when you arrive.
Have the Eircode for your Irish address ready too. An Eircode is the Irish postcode. It is a seven-character code, unique to each address. Rural townland addresses have no street number. The Eircode is how the mover finds your door. Georgian flats in central Dublin have narrow stairs and no lifts. Medieval town-centre streets in Galway and Kilkenny can be too tight for a large van. Give access notes when you enquire.
We do not send your enquiry to a list of firms. We connect you with one suitable FIDI-certified partner mover for your specific route. They check your move and confirm the price. You are not committed to anything.
FIDI FAIM is the main quality standard for international removal companies. Partner movers are audited by Ernst and Young every three years. The audit covers more than 200 quality checks. For a move with customs paperwork, that standard matters.
Groupage means your goods share a removal van with other people's loads heading to Ireland. You pay for the cubic metres your load takes up, not for the whole van. Because you are sharing the cost with others, it is usually cheaper than a dedicated vehicle. The Irish Sea crossings are short and run often, so groupage is well suited to the Ireland route.
A part load move to Ireland typically takes one to three weeks from collection to delivery. The van needs to fill up with other loads before it sails, which creates the delay compared to a dedicated vehicle. If your date is flexible by two or three weeks, groupage is usually the most cost-effective option.
A part load of a few rooms typically runs from about 1,200 to 3,000 pounds, depending on the volume, the Irish delivery area and the access at both ends. A single item or small load on a shared run can start from about 300 to 900 pounds. The firm price is based on the cubic metres your load occupies and is confirmed by the mover after they see your inventory.
A part load shares the vehicle with other people's goods. A dedicated van is yours alone from collection to delivery. Part loads cost less but take longer, typically one to three weeks. A dedicated van to Dublin is often one to two days but costs significantly more. For smaller moves with a flexible date, part load is usually the better value.
Part load pricing is based on cubic metres, sometimes called CBM or cubic footage. The mover measures or estimates your load and quotes per cubic metre of van space. The more volume you have, the lower the rate per CBM tends to be. Always give an accurate inventory so the quote reflects your actual load.
Yes. Groupage goods crossing from Great Britain into the Republic of Ireland are EU imports, the same as any other move. Transfer of Residence relief on Form C&E 1076 removes import duty and the 23% Irish VAT on used personal belongings if you qualify. The mover handles the commercial customs documents for the consolidated load.
No. Once loaded into a shared vehicle, your goods travel with the rest of the load. You cannot access them until delivery. If you think you might need something before the move completes, keep it with you or use a separate storage option. Make sure everything is packed and labelled clearly before collection.
Rural and far-west Irish addresses add road time at the Irish end of the groupage run. Always provide the Eircode for the exact delivery location. A seven-character code unique to each address, the Eircode is how the mover finds your door in a townland with no street number. Rural deliveries may add a small surcharge to the part load price.
International Removals Companies is not a removal company. We are a free matching service operated by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD (company 07425576). You send one enquiry and we connect you with one FIDI-certified partner mover who handles part loads and groupage on the UK to Ireland route. Free, no obligation.
This guide is written and maintained by Darren Benjamin, founder of International Removals Companies (DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, Companies House 07425576). Darren has worked in international removals and logistics for over 20 years and has been a director of a UK removals company since 2013.
Partner movers hold FIDI FAIM Certified, BAR Overseas, IAM, EUROMOVERS and FEDEMAC accreditations. Only FIDI FAIM is an audited certification, checked by Ernst and Young.
Read genuine customer reviews on Google.
Send your item list, the UK collection address, the Irish delivery address with Eircode, access notes, a date range and any customs documents you have. One FIDI-certified partner mover confirms the part load price and transit time.
Get a Free Part Load QuoteFree. One FIDI-certified partner mover. DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, operating since 2010.
International Removals Companies connects removals to Ireland enquiries with one suitable vetted partner mover. Partner movers hold FIDI FAIM, BAR Overseas, IAM, EUROMOVERS and FEDEMAC accreditations where confirmed. Working Member of AGM Group since 2010.
Prices, transit times, insurance cover and customs paperwork must be confirmed by the partner mover before booking.