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Trusted International Moving Network
Accredited Relocation Specialists
The USA is one of the most popular destinations for British movers. Finance and technology professionals relocate to New York City, San Francisco and Chicago on work visas; families follow partners or seek a change of lifestyle across the East Coast, West Coast and Sun Belt states; and retirees move to be closer to grown-up children already settled in America.
Moving to the USA is fundamentally different from a European move. Everything travels by sea, transit runs 21 to 35 days, and US Customs and Border Protection requires documentation unlike anything used for EU destinations. What follows is the ten checks that separate a good USA route mover from a poor one. The companies that carry out our USA moves are named further down this page.
International Removals Companies is a free enquiry matching service operated by Darren Benjamin since 2010. We match each USA enquiry with one suitable accredited removal company based on your UK origin, US destination state, timeline and volume. Your details are not passed to several firms at once. One contact. One quote.
UK to USA moves use sea freight, priced by volume in either a shared container (LCL) or a dedicated container (FCL). These are indicative guides only. The matched removal company gives the confirmed price after survey.
LCL shared container
East Coast (New York): from approx. £1,800 to £2,800
West Coast (LA): from approx. £2,200 to £3,200
20ft FCL dedicated container
East Coast (New York): from approx. £3,500 to £5,500
West Coast (LA): from approx. £4,500 to £6,500
40ft FCL dedicated container
East Coast (New York): from approx. £5,500 to £8,500
West Coast (LA): from approx. £6,500 to £10,000
Typically included: Professional export packing, UK port delivery, sea freight, ISF filing, US customs clearance with CBP Form 3299, US destination delivery and goods-in-transit insurance. LCL transit times are 25 to 35 days; FCL 21 to 28 days. Air freight is available at 5 to 10 days but is significantly more expensive for household volumes. Confirm exact inclusions with your matched removal company before booking.
All prices are indicative planning guides only. The matched removal company confirms the actual price after a home survey.
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. The USA is unusual because most of what can go wrong is paperwork rather than handling: a missed filing carries a five-figure penalty, and a wrong answer about how long you have owned something can cost you the duty-free entry.
FIDI FAIM involves more than 200 independent quality checks and an EY audit every three years. BAR Overseas is the UK trade standard, and fewer than 100 firms qualify for that section. They are not the same thing and a firm may hold one, both or neither. Ask for the certificate number and the legal entity, then check it on the FIDI register at fidi.org or with BAR.
A good answer: the certificate number and the entity name, offered without hesitation.
The Importer Security Filing must be lodged by a licensed US broker at least 24 hours before your container is loaded in the UK, and a missed filing carries a USD 5,000 penalty. Ask which broker they use and whether the filing is included. This is the single most expensive thing a firm can get wrong on this route.
A good answer: names the broker relationship and confirms the filing is in the price.
US duty-free entry requires goods to have been owned and in use in your household for at least a year. Not six months, as in the EU. That new sofa bought for the American place does not qualify and attracts duty. A firm used to European work may quote you on the six-month assumption without checking.
A good answer: raises the one-year rule first, and asks what you have bought recently.
Form 3299 is signed by you as the importer, not by the mover, so it is your name on an inaccurate declaration. A good firm sits with you and works through it against the inventory. A poor one emails a blank PDF. The form also needs your actual US arrival date, which people routinely guess at.
A good answer: they complete it with you and explain what each section is asking.
A shared container is cheaper but waits until it fills, and that wait is where most unexplained delay comes from. A dedicated container sails on a schedule. Ask for the next real sailing date rather than a transit time, because a 21-day crossing is no comfort if the box sits at Tilbury for a fortnight first.
A good answer: gives a real sailing date and says how long consolidation usually takes at your volume.
Containers get pulled for examination at random as well as for cause, and it adds days plus an examination fee. Ask who pays it, how you are told, and roughly how often it happens on their US shipments. A firm that says it never happens is either lucky or not being straight with you.
A good answer: explains the exam fee is the importer's cost and gives a realistic frequency.
The sea transit figure stops at the port. If you are going to Austin, Denver or anywhere off the coast, someone has to truck the load inland and that can be two or three days and a meaningful cost. Some quotes include it, some quote to port only. Check which yours is.
A good answer: states the port of entry and prices the inland leg to your actual address.
Limited liability pays by the kilogram, typically £40 to £60. A 40kg sofa is worth 40kg, not what you paid. All-risks pays declared replacement value. On three to six weeks at sea through several climate zones, in a box that will be opened at the far end, all-risks is the only sensible level.
A good answer: states which level is in the price and quotes the upgrade.
Usually not. Boxes you pack yourself are commonly covered for total loss only, meaning the whole box going missing rather than the contents arriving broken. CBP also wants a numbered inventory with values, which is harder to produce honestly for boxes you filled yourself in a rush.
A good answer: explains the exclusion up front rather than leaving it in the terms.
Ask for the claim window in days, who you notify, and whether the firm falls under an independent dispute service. BAR Overseas members come under the Furniture Ombudsman scheme. Ask specifically who owns the problem when the damage appears at unpacking in America: the UK firm you booked, or their US agent.
A good answer: names the claim window, the form, and who handles it at the US end.
UK to USA is an intercontinental sea freight move. All household goods travel by container ship; there is no road option. Understanding the sea freight process and its timeline is essential for planning your US arrival date correctly.
Professional export packers collect from your UK address and pack goods to international sea freight standards: double-walled cartons, furniture blankets, custom crating for fragile or high-value items. Goods are packed to withstand a container ship crossing, which involves significant movement and temperature variation.
The Importer Security Filing, also known as the 10+2 rule, must be submitted by a licensed US customs broker to CBP at least 24 hours before goods are loaded onto the vessel at the UK port. This is a legal requirement for all sea freight entering the USA. Failure to file results in a USD 5,000 penalty per violation. Your matched removal company coordinates this with its US customs broker. You provide the information; they file it.
Container vessels from UK ports, typically Tilbury or Southampton, to US East Coast ports such as New York, Newark and Baltimore take 14 to 18 days at sea. To West Coast ports including Los Angeles, Long Beach and Seattle, the sea transit runs 21 to 28 days.
On arrival at the US port, goods enter a CBP inspection process. For moves using CBP Form 3299 with correct documentation, clearance is typically 2 to 5 business days. Some shipments are selected for physical examination, which can add 3 to 7 business days and an examination fee. Pre-filing all documents before vessel departure reduces the risk of delay.
After port clearance, goods travel by road from the port to your US address. Inland distances vary greatly: New York port into Manhattan is a short run, New York port to Texas is 2 to 3 days of domestic trucking. Confirm the inland delivery time and cost with your matched removal company, because it is not part of the sea transit figure.
The USA has specific and recently updated rules for dogs entering the country. Cats are subject to fewer federal requirements but state-level rules may apply. Hawaii and Alaska have significantly different requirements from the continental USA. Read this section carefully before booking pet travel.
Cats: No federal vaccination requirements for cats entering the USA from the UK. A health certificate from a licensed veterinarian is strongly recommended. Some US states have additional requirements, so confirm for your destination state.
Hawaii, dogs and cats: Hawaii has some of the strictest pet import rules in the USA because of its rabies-free status. Dogs and cats require a rabies vaccination at least 90 days before arrival, a specific Hawaii-approved rabies antibody blood test, a microchip, and advance approval from the state agriculture department. The short-quarantine programme requires all documents to be submitted at least 10 days before arrival. Without correct documentation, pets may face a 120-day quarantine. Treat Hawaii as a completely separate destination from the continental USA.
Alaska: No specific quarantine but additional permit requirements apply. Confirm current Alaska state rules for your pet species before travel.
Pets cannot travel in a container with household goods. They travel by air, on a separate booking entirely from the removal shipment. For East Coast US cities, a direct London to New York flight with your dog in the hold is typically 7 to 8 hours. Plan the pet air travel booking alongside but separate from your sea freight booking, and confirm that your chosen US arrival airport is on the designated list for dogs vaccinated outside the USA.
The USA uses US Dollars (USD). Your removal is quoted in GBP. All US property purchases, living costs and savings transfers are in USD, and the GBP/USD rate moves on entirely different drivers from GBP/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
US property values are high in absolute terms in the cities most popular with British movers. New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle regularly show average prices of USD 600,000 to USD 1,500,000 or more. At typical exchange levels, a 5% movement in the GBP/USD rate on a USD 700,000 property changes the sterling cost by approximately £25,000 to £30,000. US conveyancing, from signed purchase agreement through escrow to closing, typically runs 30 to 60 days, during which the rate can shift materially.
Foreign nationals, including British citizens, can purchase real estate in the USA without restriction. There is no equivalent of Switzerland's Lex Koller. The process runs from signed purchase agreement through a title search, escrow and title insurance to closing. Closing costs typically add 2% to 5% of the purchase price, covering title insurance, attorney fees, recording fees and lender fees if you are mortgaging. All closing payments are in USD and pass through the escrow account.
A forward contract locks in today's GBP/USD rate for the transfer required at closing, protecting against the rate moving during the escrow period. Given the absolute sums involved in US property, that protection is worth proportionally more than on most European purchases.
To receive USD in the USA you need a US bank account. Most US banks require either a Social Security Number, available once you have a US work visa, or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the IRS for those not eligible for an SSN. Some banks will open an account with a passport and proof of US address. Allow two to four weeks from arrival before an account is fully operational for large transfers.
One practical point that rarely comes up before a USA move: your UK credit history does not transfer. You start with no US credit score, which affects apartment rental applications, mobile phone contracts and financing. Secured credit cards and credit-building products help establish a history in the first year. Factor this into accommodation planning if you are renting on arrival.
If you sell a US property as a foreign person, the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act generally requires the buyer to withhold a percentage of the gross sale price and remit it to the IRS unless an exemption applies. That is a tax consequence to plan for before you buy rather than after. Take independent US tax advice before and during your move.
Vehicles manufactured 25 or more years ago are exempt from those conformity requirements and can be imported into the USA for road use. This is the only straightforward route to importing and registering a UK car in most US states. If you own a classic or vintage UK car over 25 years old, it can be shipped and registered. Duties and taxes still apply unless the vehicle qualifies under the personal effects rules.
Non-conforming vehicles under 25 years old can be imported through an approved Registered Importer, who converts the vehicle to meet US safety standards. Given typical conversion costs, this is rarely worthwhile for a standard family car and is usually reserved for rare or high-value vehicles.
For most people moving to the USA with a standard right-hand drive car, the practical answer is to sell it in the UK and buy a left-hand drive vehicle after arrival. US car prices vary by state, with Texas, Florida and the South generally cheaper than California or New York. Factor in that you will need a US driving licence and US car insurance, which is expensive at first without any US insurance history.
If your vehicle qualifies, it typically travels by roll-on roll-off vessel or in a shared container. Transit to East Coast US ports takes 14 to 18 days. The vehicle needs a US customs bond, a customs entry separate from the household goods, compliance documentation if using the Registered Importer route, and state-level registration after arrival. Tell us at the enquiry stage if you have a vehicle, because only some firms handle it.
Most US states let new residents drive on a UK licence for 30 to 90 days, after which you must obtain a state licence. Most states require a written theory test and sometimes a practical test, and some require both even with a valid UK licence. Apply at your state motor vehicle office after arriving.
UK storage is needed when your US property is not available on arrival, when you are moving into corporate furnished accommodation first, or when your UK sale completes before the US start date. Options include:
Indicative UK container storage cost: from approximately £80 to £150 per container equivalent per month. Confirm with your matched removal company.
The USA has one of the world's most developed self-storage markets, with facilities near residential areas in every major city and climate-controlled units widely available. Climate control matters more than people expect in states with extreme heat or humidity, particularly for electronics and wooden furniture.
Confirm the free period and ongoing rates with your matched removal company before booking.
Storage charges are separate from the removal price. US storage costs are quoted in USD and vary significantly by city and neighbourhood. Confirm inclusions, free period and costs per additional month 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, typically well below the replacement value. This is the default level if you do not specify otherwise.
2. All-risks cover (full replacement value): Cover based on the declared replacement value of your goods. All-risks is strongly recommended for UK to USA sea freight, where goods spend 21 to 45 days at sea in a container subject to ocean movement and temperature variation, plus handling at the UK port, the US port and on inland delivery.
Sea freight carries risks that road freight does not: containers move considerably in heavy seas, pass through temperature extremes, and go longer between inspections. All-risks cover with a declared replacement value inventory is the appropriate standard for any intercontinental container move. Costs typically run 2% to 4% of declared replacement value. Always confirm whether cover is all-risks or limited liability before signing.
US customs for household goods is handled by Customs and Border Protection, whose current guidance is published at cbp.gov. The key document is CBP Form 3299, the Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles. There is no equivalent of the EU's Transfer of Residence certificate; eligibility rests on the one-year ownership and use rule instead.
To qualify for duty-free entry, household goods must have been available for use or used in a household where you were a resident for at least one year. The year does not need to be continuous. Goods must not be intended for resale or for another person. This is stricter than the 6-month period required by most EU countries. New items purchased within the past year, such as furniture bought for the move or recently purchased electronics, do not qualify for duty-free entry and may attract US import duty.
Firearms and weapons: US firearms regulations are both federal and state-specific and highly complex. Importing any firearm requires federal approval and must comply with US law, and certain firearms are prohibited outright. Do not include firearms in your shipment without prior clearance.
Alcohol: Personal effects rules do not cover alcohol. Importing it is separately regulated and subject to duty. Wine and spirits cannot typically be included in a household goods shipment without specific licensing.
Protected wildlife (CITES): Items made from protected species, including ivory, certain leathers and coral, are prohibited without CITES documentation.
Food and agricultural items: The importation of food, plants and soil is regulated. Many food items are prohibited and all must be declared.
Medication: Prescription pharmaceuticals must comply with US rules. Quantities should not exceed a 90-day personal supply and must be accompanied by valid prescriptions.
Cash: Cash and monetary instruments over USD 10,000 must be declared.
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. Firms used on the UK to USA route are assessed against the three criteria below. 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. Fewer than 100 UK firms meet the criteria for this section of the BAR.
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. Certificates are held by named legal entities and can be checked on the FIDI register.
Demonstrated UK to USA sea freight operations. Expertise in ISF pre-filing, CBP Form 3299 documentation, licensed US customs broker relationships, container port operations at New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Seattle, and inland delivery across all 50 states.
Valid UK passport, US visa or immigration status documentation, CBP Form 3299 (Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles), and a detailed numbered inventory with replacement values. Your removal company also coordinates an Importer Security Filing submitted by the US customs broker at least 24 hours before goods are loaded at the UK port. Your matched company confirms the full document list for your specific visa type and US destination before you book.
Shared container to the East Coast: 25 to 35 days. Dedicated container to the East Coast: 21 to 28 days. Shared container to the West Coast: 35 to 45 days. Dedicated container to the West Coast: 28 to 38 days. Air freight: 5 to 10 days. The transit time is the sea journey plus UK port loading of 3 to 5 days, plus US customs clearance of 2 to 5 days, plus inland delivery. Plan your US arrival and accommodation date accordingly.
Household goods that have been owned and in regular use for at least one year may enter the USA duty-free using CBP Form 3299. Goods owned for less than one year, alcohol, tobacco and commercial goods do not qualify and are subject to US import duties, with rates varying by item category. Your matched removal company's US customs broker handles the clearance process. Check current rules at cbp.gov.
Standard right-hand drive UK cars under 25 years old cannot typically be registered for US road use without expensive safety and emissions modifications that usually cost more than the car is worth. Vehicles 25 years old or older by manufacture date are exempt from those requirements and can be imported. Most people sell their UK car before leaving and buy a left-hand drive vehicle in the USA. Tell us at the enquiry stage if you have a vehicle, because only some firms handle it on this route.
Yes. Dogs must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, and dogs vaccinated outside the USA must arrive through one of 18 designated airports. Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online before travel. A health certificate from a licensed vet is required. Cats have fewer federal requirements but should carry a vet health certificate. Hawaii requires a separate process with rabies antibody blood tests and may impose quarantine without correct documentation. Check current CDC rules before booking.
The USA uses USD. A 5% GBP/USD rate movement on a USD 700,000 property changes the sterling cost by approximately £25,000 to £30,000. US conveyancing from purchase agreement to closing typically runs 30 to 60 days. A forward contract locks in today's rate for the closing payment. You need a US bank account and an SSN or ITIN before receiving large USD transfers, and FIRPTA withholding may apply when you later sell. 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.
UK depot storage: from approximately £80 to £150 per container equivalent per month. US self-storage is widely available near all major cities, with climate-controlled units from approximately USD 60 to USD 350 per month depending on size and city. Many full-service removal companies include 30 days free US storage with the move service. Confirm the free period and costs with your matched company before booking.
ISF, the Importer Security Filing or 10+2 rule, is a mandatory CBP requirement for all sea freight entering the USA. It must be filed by a licensed US customs broker at least 24 hours before goods are loaded onto the vessel in the UK. Failure to file results in a USD 5,000 penalty. Your matched international removal company handles this via its US customs broker as part of the standard service. You provide the information; they file it.
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 USA moves that come through this page. We also work with independent firms outside the group where a route suits them better, and on the USA that happens often because sea freight frequency and US customs broker relationships vary a lot between firms. Which one your enquiry goes to depends on your UK origin, your US destination state, 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 on a route where your things spend a month at sea and clear a foreign customs authority, knowing who packed them matters more than usual.
AGM Group network
A nationwide relocation company running 24 branch locations across the UK. On a container move the origin packing decides how well things survive a month at sea, and that packing comes from a local branch team rather than a crew booked in for the day.
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: one point of contact, a proper pre-move survey, export packing by their own crews, and a delivery plan agreed with you.
Suited to: private households paying for the USA 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. Gerson Relocation supports large multinational employers and manages mobility programmes end to end, which is the shape most New York, San Francisco and Chicago postings take. Gerson Moving Services handles individuals and families moving on their own account.
Suited to: employees relocating to the USA on a company programme, and separately, families moving privately.
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. On a USA move that makes it relevant chiefly at the front end, for anyone moving to America from a French address, where the household has to reach a UK or European port before the container is loaded.
Suited to: moves to the USA starting from France rather than the UK.
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 the USA route.
Formed in 1978 and working from London, Manchester and Glasgow. Long-haul sea freight is its main business rather than a sideline, which counts on a route where the container and the customs paperwork are the whole job. Also handles vehicle shipping for qualifying vehicles.
Holds: IAM member. FIDI accredited.
Founded in 1884 and working on international moves only, so surveyors and packers deal with export standards every day. Its shared container service runs on regular schedules, which on a route this expensive often decides whether things get shipped or sold.
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. That storage matters here, because US visa dates and property dates rarely line up with when your UK house sells.
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 and a member of both FIDI and OMNI, which gives it established agent relationships at the American end. Offers a choice between a dedicated container on a fixed schedule and a shared load at lower cost with a delivery window.
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, which matters on a month at sea and where US customs want itemised values.
Holds: FIDI FAIM. BAR Overseas Group. IAM.
Founded in 1929, with branches across England and Scotland and its own international packing teams rather than subcontracted crews. Covers sea freight to the main intercontinental destinations, and handles office moves as well as households.
Holds: FIDI affiliate, FAIM accredited, listed on the FIDI register. IAM. BAR Commercial Moving Group.
Tell us your UK origin and US destination state. We match you with one accredited removal company from our network. One contact. One confirmed quote. The service is free.
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