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Years in international removals
850k+
Verified customer enquiries
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FIDI-accredited partners
Trusted International Moving Network
Accredited Relocation Specialists
Germany is one of Europe's most active international relocation destinations. People searching for a moving company Germany or removal companies Germany have a wide range of accredited options, covering UK to Germany, European routes and intercontinental moves. What follows is not a list of firm names. It is the ten checks that separate a good German route mover from a poor one, drawn from FIDI FAIM and BAR Overseas standards, so you can apply them to any quote you receive.
International Removals Companies is a free enquiry matching service operated by Darren Benjamin since 2010. We match each enquiry with one suitable FIDI-certified removal company based on your origin, German destination city, timeline and volume. Your details are not passed to several firms at once. One contact. One quote.
Prices vary by service type, origin and volume. These are indicative guides only. The matched FIDI-certified removal company gives the confirmed price before you book. The matching service is free.
Road freight, van-based service
Part Load: from approx. £750 to £1,200
Dedicated Van: from approx. £1,400 to £2,800
Container-based sea or air freight
Sea Freight: from approx. £2,800 to £4,500
Air Freight: from approx. £4,200 to £7,000
Container-based sea or air freight
Sea Freight: from approx. £3,200 to £5,200
Air Freight: from approx. £5,500 to £9,000
Typically included: Professional packing, origin collection, international transport, German customs clearance, delivery to your German address and goods-in-transit insurance. Confirm exact inclusions with your matched removal company before booking.
All prices are indicative planning guides only. The matched FIDI-certified removal company confirms the actual price after surveying your goods, origin and German delivery address.
A list of firm names is easy to write and tells you almost nothing about how your move will actually run. These ten checks do. Ask them of any moving company quoting on Germany, including the one we match you with. A good firm answers all ten without hesitating. The answers below tell you what a solid reply sounds like. The companies that carry out our Germany moves are named further down this page.
FIDI FAIM involves more than 200 independent quality checks and an Ernst and Young audit every three years. Certificates are held by named legal entities and can be checked on the FIDI register. A firm that says it is "FIDI approved" or "works with FIDI members" is not the same as a firm that holds the certificate itself.
A good answer: the certificate number, the legal entity it sits under and the year first awarded.
Many UK firms hand the German delivery to a local agent. That is normal and often sensible. What matters is whether they will tell you, whether the agent is named on the paperwork, and who you complain to if the delivery crew damages a wall or refuses an upstairs carry. Vague answers here cause most delivery day arguments.
A good answer: names the destination company, or confirms their own crew, without being pushed.
Since Brexit, UK household goods need Transfer of Residence clearance to enter Germany. Form 03.50 goes to the Zollamt with your inventory. Some firms complete and lodge it for you. Others send you a blank copy and leave you to it. The difference is not always visible in the price, so ask before you compare two quotes.
A good answer: states clearly whether it is included, and what happens if customs query it.
Limited liability cover pays by the kilogram, typically £40 to £60. A 40kg sofa is worth 40kg, not what you paid for it. All-risks cover pays the declared replacement value. Limited liability is often the default on a quote unless you ask for the alternative, which is why two quotes can look similar and protect you very differently.
A good answer: states which level is in the price, and quotes the cost of upgrading.
Usually not. Boxes you pack yourself are commonly covered for total loss only, meaning the whole box going missing, not the contents arriving broken. People pack their own kitchenware to save money and find out at the claim stage. If you are packing anything fragile yourself, this one question can change what you decide to do.
A good answer: explains the PBO exclusion up front rather than leaving it in the small print.
Free storage periods are common on full service moves, often 14 to 30 days. What is less clear is what happens on day 31, whether handling in and out is charged separately, and whether the goods are insured while stored. German customs delays and property completion slips are the two things most likely to push you past the free window.
A good answer: gives the free period, the weekly rate after it, and confirms cover while in store.
A price given from a room count, without a video or in-person survey, is an estimate. If the volume turns out higher on the day, the price usually follows. A surveyed quote can still change, but the firm carries more of the risk. On an international move where the vehicle is booked around your volume, this matters more than on a local job.
A good answer: offers a video survey at minimum, and states whether the price is fixed or subject to volume.
German city delivery often needs a parking bay suspension, and older buildings in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg frequently have no lift and narrow stairwells. Some quotes assume kerbside access and add charges later for a shuttle vehicle or an external lift. Send photographs of both properties and the street before you accept a price.
A good answer: asks you about floors, lifts and street width before quoting, not after.
A firm running Germany weekly can put you on a shared load and pass on the saving. A firm running it occasionally has to sell you a dedicated vehicle or wait until the load fills, which is where long unexplained delays come from. Frequency is the single biggest driver of both the price and the honesty of the delivery window.
A good answer: gives a real frequency and the next few departure dates, not "regularly".
Ask for the claim window in days, who you notify, and whether the firm is covered by an independent dispute service. BAR Overseas members fall under the Furniture Ombudsman scheme. A firm confident in its handling will explain the process plainly. Hesitation at this question is the most useful signal you will get on a quoting call.
A good answer: names the claim window, the form, and the ombudsman or dispute route.
Stage 1: Collection from your UK or European address (Day 1)
Stage 2: Road freight via established European routes (Days 2 to 3)
Stage 3: German customs clearance, 1 to 3 days on UK moves since Brexit
Stage 4: Final delivery to your German address
The moving companies in our network cover every major German city and postcode including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Bonn, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Bremen, Dortmund, Wiesbaden, Aachen, Mainz, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Darmstadt, Freiburg and Potsdam.
Germany is generally pet-friendly but the UK's exit from the EU changed the documentation process for UK owners. EU pet passports are no longer valid for UK-to-Germany travel. Each move now requires an Animal Health Certificate issued fresh for each trip.
Quarantine: Germany does not require quarantine for dogs and cats arriving from the UK, provided all documentation is correct and the AHC is valid.
Breed restrictions: Germany does not have a federal ban on specific breeds, but individual Bundesländer (states) have their own dangerous dog regulations. Breeds commonly restricted or requiring permits in one or more German states include: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Rottweiler (in some states) and Dobermann (in some states). Rules vary between Bayern, NRW, Niedersachsen, Hamburg, Berlin and other Bundesländer.
Action: Check the specific rules for the German Bundesland you are moving to before confirming your move date.
The AHC window is tight: 10 days from issue to travel. Plan your pet's Official Veterinarian appointment no earlier than 10 days before your travel date. Allow time for APHA endorsement (usually same day if using an approved OV). Pets travel separately from household goods, either by air with an approved pet travel service or by car through the Channel Tunnel.
Germany uses the Euro (EUR). Your removal is quoted in GBP. Any property purchase, rental deposit, savings transfer or ongoing living costs in Germany are in EUR. Most people treat the move and the money as two separate jobs, and end up paying more than they need to on both.
Currency exchange is part of what we help with. We have helped customers exchange currency in any currency through trusted partners for many years, alongside arranging the move itself. Tell us at the enquiry stage that you have money to transfer and our partners can help with that side of it. There is no extra charge for the introduction.
Experts in currency exchange
No hidden fees
5-star consumer ratings
Competitive exchange rate
At typical exchange levels, a 5% movement in the GBP/EUR rate on a €300,000 German property purchase changes the sterling cost by approximately £13,000 to £15,000. German conveyancing typically takes 6 to 10 weeks from notary appointment to completion, during which the rate can shift materially.
A currency specialist can lock in today's GBP/EUR rate for a transfer you need to make at a future date. This protects you against the rate moving between agreeing a German property price and the point your funds need to transfer at the notary (Notar) stage.
Currency specialists typically offer materially better rates and lower fees than high street banks for GBP to EUR transfers of property-purchase size. For a €250,000 transfer, the difference can be several hundred to over a thousand pounds.
To receive EUR in Germany, you need a German bank account. Most German banks require your Anmeldung confirmation before opening a Girokonto. Some digital banks can open an account before Anmeldung, which is worth checking if your registration appointment is weeks away. High street banks are usually straightforward once you are registered.
Germany automatically issues a tax identification number (Steuer-ID) to all registered residents within a few weeks of Anmeldung. This is separate from a Steuernummer (used for tax returns). You'll need your Steuer-ID for employment, banking and tax filing.
Regular German expenses (Miete/rent, Nebenkosten/utilities, Grundsteuer/property tax, GEZ broadcasting fee) are all in EUR. A standing EUR payment facility with a currency specialist typically costs less than repeated international bank transfers.
Right-hand drive UK vehicles are legal to drive in Germany, but headlight beam deflectors are required by law to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. Deflectors are inexpensive and available at most German petrol stations and car accessory shops.
UK cars need a German individual vehicle approval (EG-Einzelgenehmigung) via the TUV (Technischer Überwachungsverein) if they do not already hold EU type approval. The TUV inspection covers safety and emissions compliance and takes 1 to 3 days.
Most major German cities have low-emission environmental zones (Umweltzonen). A green emissions sticker (Plakette) is required to drive in these zones. UK cars must meet at least Euro 4 standard to obtain the green sticker. Most post-2005 petrol cars and post-2009 diesel cars qualify. Check your vehicle's DVLA registration document for the Euro emissions standard.
After the TUV inspection, the vehicle must be registered at the local Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office). You will need your Anmeldung confirmation, passport, proof of vehicle insurance (a German insurer must be in place before registration), and the TUV documentation. German number plates replace the UK plates at this point. SORN the vehicle with DVLA before export from the UK.
Most UK cars move to Germany by road transport on a car transporter alongside household goods, or on a separate vehicle carrier. The journey takes 1 to 3 days. Household removal companies may handle this directly or refer to a specialist vehicle shipping agent. Always tell us at the enquiry stage if you have a car to ship.
UK storage is commonly needed when your UK property sale completes before your German property purchase, or when you need to travel to Germany ahead of your goods. Options include:
Indicative UK container storage cost: from approximately £80 to £150 per container equivalent per month. Confirm with your matched removal company.
German storage (Möbellager) on arrival is needed when your German property is not yet ready, customs clearance is delayed, or you are moving into temporary accommodation first. Options include:
Indicative German storage cost beyond free period: approximately €15 to €25 per cubic metre per month. Confirm with your matched removal company.
Storage charges are separate from the removal price. Confirm inclusions, free storage period and costs per additional week with your matched removal company before booking.
International removal companies typically offer two levels of goods-in-transit insurance:
1. Limited liability: Cover based on the weight of your goods (typically £40 to £60 per kilogram). For a 2-bedroom household at around 2,000 kg, this gives approximately £80,000 to £120,000 of cover, which is less than the replacement value of most households. This is the default level if you do not specify otherwise.
2. All-risks (full replacement value): Cover based on the declared replacement value of your goods. If a £1,500 television is damaged, it is replaced at £1,500. This is the recommended level for international moves where goods travel through multiple handling points and customs.
For all-risks cover, you declare the replacement value of your goods at the start. Under-declaring saves on premium but means under-payment if a claim is made. A room-by-room inventory with estimated replacement values for major items is required. International removal insurance typically costs 2% to 4% of the declared replacement value.
Customs procedures differ by origin. EU citizens moving to Germany import used household goods without a customs barrier. UK movers since Brexit require Transfer of Residence (ToR) customs clearance. Non-EU movers follow equivalent simplified processes with correct documentation. Your FIDI-certified removal company Germany confirms what applies for your specific origin and route.
Prohibited: cannot enter Germany:
Restricted: require declaration or special process:
International Removals Companies was founded by Darren Benjamin in 2010, with more than 20 years in international logistics behind it. The company is registered in England and Wales and can be checked on Companies House. Only removal companies meeting all three criteria below are used for German routes. Accreditations are verified independently on a rolling basis. We do not accept payment for placement, because there is no placement to buy.
British Association of Removers Overseas membership. Independent quality checks, Furniture Ombudsman dispute resolution and adherence to published industry service standards. Mandatory for all UK-origin international moves in the network.
The international quality standard for removal companies. More than 200 independent quality checks. Audited every three years by Ernst and Young for operational excellence, financial stability and customer service. Only a small percentage of global removal companies hold this standard.
Demonstrated Germany route operations. Expertise in German customs procedures (Anmeldung, Form 03.50, Zollamt clearance), German city access logistics and German-speaking staff or support. Minimum operational volume on Germany routes confirmed.
Valid passport with German residence permit or visa, Anmeldung confirmation from the Burgeramt (within 14 days of arrival), Wohnungsgeberbestatigung from your landlord, proof of prior residence for 12 or more months, a detailed numbered inventory, and Customs Form 03.50 for UK and non-EU movers. UK movers: a P60 or 12 months of utility bills also required. Your matched removal company Germany confirms the full list for your specific route before you book.
UK to Germany by dedicated vehicle: 2 to 4 days. Groupage (shared load): 7 to 14 days. Add 1 to 3 days for German customs clearance on UK moves. Allow 2 to 3 weeks overall for UK to Germany moves including customs. North America: 21 to 35 days sea freight. Asia and Australia: 28 to 42 days. Air freight: 5 to 10 days total from collection to delivery.
Prohibited: firearms without permits, protected wildlife (CITES), counterfeit goods, plants or food without phytosanitary certificates, and Nazi symbols. Restricted items requiring declaration: alcohol over duty-free limits, prescription pharmaceuticals, cultural artefacts, and cash over €10,000. All FIDI-certified removal companies Germany provide item-specific guidelines before your move.
Since Brexit, UK to Germany moves require Transfer of Residence (ToR) customs clearance. Used personal household goods can enter Germany duty-free and VAT-free under ToR rules if you complete the correct sequence: Anmeldung completed, Anmeldebestatigung received, Form 03.50 submitted. New items or commercial goods may be subject to duty. Your matched removal company Germany confirms what applies for your move.
Yes. The car must have been owned for at least 6 months and be for personal use. Right-hand drive is legal in Germany; add headlight beam deflectors. A TUV inspection for individual vehicle approval is required. The car must meet German Umweltzone emissions standards (Euro 4 minimum for most city zones). Complete Zulassung (registration) at the local Kfz-Zulassungsstelle. SORN the vehicle in the UK before export. Tell us at the enquiry stage if you have a car to ship.
Yes. Dogs and cats need: ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination given after microchipping, an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an Official Veterinarian endorsed by APHA and valid for 10 days from issue. Dogs must also have a tapeworm treatment by a vet 1 to 5 days before arrival. No quarantine is required if all documents are correct. Check breed-specific restrictions for the specific German Bundesland you are moving to. Pets travel separately from household goods. Mention your pets in your removal enquiry.
Germany uses EUR. Your removal is quoted in GBP. For property purchases or savings transfers, the GBP/EUR rate directly affects your sterling cost. At typical exchange levels, a 5% rate movement on a €300,000 property changes the sterling cost by approximately £13,000 to £15,000. A forward contract locks in today's rate for a transfer you need to make at a future date. You also need a Girokonto (German bank account) opened after Anmeldung to receive EUR in Germany. Currency exchange is part of what we help with. We have arranged currency exchange in any currency through trusted partners for many years, alongside the move itself. Mention it at the enquiry stage and our partners can help with the money side. Your partner confirms the rate, the fees and the terms before any money moves.
The moving companies in our network cover every major German city and postcode including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Bonn, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Bremen, Dortmund, Wiesbaden, Aachen, Mainz, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Darmstadt, Freiburg and Potsdam. See the Germany removals section for individual city pages with specific access and customs notes.
International Removals Companies works within the AGM Group network. Bishop's Move, Abels Moving Services, Gerson Relocation, Gerson Moving Services and Anglo French Euro Removals are part of that group and handle a share of the Germany moves that come through this page. We also work with independent firms outside the group where a route suits them better. Which one your enquiry goes to depends on your origin, your German destination, your volume and your dates. We do not rank firms or take payment for placement, and we do not send your details to several companies at once. One firm contacts you, confirms the scope and gives the price. The service is free.
Most sites in this trade will not tell you who turns up. You send your details, someone rings, and you find out on collection day. We would rather say it up front, because knowing which firm is coming is half of what people are worried about when they fill in a form.
AGM Group network
A nationwide relocation company running 24 branch locations across the UK. That branch depth matters more than it sounds on a Germany job, because the survey, the packing crew and the collection all come from a local team who know your roads, parking rules and building types, while the European leg runs on the group's international operation.
Suited to: households anywhere in the UK, and especially outside London and the South East.
Holds: Founding member of the British Association of Removers. BAR Overseas Group. BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. BAR Commercial Moving Group, certified to BS 8522. EUROMOVERS International. Movers Trading Club, an NVOCC registered with the US Federal Maritime Commission. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001.
AGM Group network
Abels handles residential moving for private customers going from the UK to Europe and further afield. The work is aimed at households rather than corporate mobility programmes, which shows in how a job runs: one point of contact, a proper pre-move survey, export packing by their own crews, and a delivery plan agreed with you rather than with an employer's relocation department.
Suited to: private households paying for the Germany move themselves.
Holds: FIDI FAIM Plus, listed on the FIDI affiliate register. BAR member number A001. BAR Overseas Group, a section fewer than 100 UK firms qualify for. BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. International Association of Movers. Movers Trading Club. ISO 9001:2015. Royal Warrant for removals and storage services.
AGM Group network
Gerson runs as two arms of one business, which is useful because a company move and a family move are not the same job. Gerson Relocation supports large multinational employers and manages mobility programmes end to end. Gerson Moving Services handles individuals and families starting again in a new country, with the emphasis on flexible options and value rather than programme management.
Suited to: employees relocating to Germany on a company programme, and separately, families making the move themselves.
Holds: FIDI FAIM Plus, with operations and management systems independently audited by EY. BAR Overseas Group. OMNI, the Overseas Moving Network International. EuRA, the European Relocation Association. Employee Relocation Council.
AGM Group network
Anglo French runs cross-Channel road freight as its main business rather than as one route among fifty. On Germany work that matters most for moves starting in France, where the road route runs east through the French network rather than out of a UK depot, and for UK moves travelling by road through France.
Suited to: France to Germany moves, and UK departures routed through France.
Holds: British Association of Removers member. Guild of Removers and Storers member. Running UK to France removals since 1984, and part of the AGM Group network since November 2024.
No commercial relationship. Listed because they are good on Germany routes.
Founded in 1884 and working on international moves only, so surveyors and packers deal with export standards every day rather than splitting attention with domestic jobs. Runs a shared container part-load service for smaller volumes.
Holds: FIDI FAIM. BAR Overseas Group. BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. OMNI. IAM Trusted. Movers Trading Club.
Trading since 1871 and one of the largest privately owned removal firms in the country, with its own containerised storage in 19 UK locations. Useful when a mixed inventory needs specialist packing alongside ordinary household contents.
Holds: Founder member of FIDI, operating to the FAIM standard. Founder member of OMNI. BAR member with Advanced Payment Guarantee. BS EN 12522.
Moving households since 1895, with scheduled European road freight as its strength. Offers a choice between a dedicated service on a fixed collection and delivery date, or a shared load with a delivery window at lower cost. Relevant on Germany.
Holds: FIDI FAIM, independently audited by EY. BAR Overseas Group with Advanced Payment Guarantee. Founder member of OMNI.
Started in 1977 as a fine art and antiques mover and kept that specialism while growing into full international removals. Builds custom export crating for individual pieces. Offices in London and Paris.
Holds: FIDI FAIM. BAR Overseas Group. IAM.
Founded in 1929, with branches across England and Scotland and its own international packing teams. Covers European road freight and sea freight, and handles office moves as well as households.
Holds: FIDI affiliate, FAIM accredited, listed on the FIDI register. IAM. BAR Commercial Moving Group.
Formed in 1978, working from London, Manchester and Glasgow. Its depth is in long-haul sea freight to Australia, New Zealand and the USA, so it comes into play on a Germany page mainly for moves arriving from those countries.
Holds: IAM member. FIDI accredited.
Tell us your origin country and German destination city. We match you with one certified removal company Germany from our network. One contact. One confirmed quote. The matching service is free.
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