Removals to Germany from Dorset
1st Choice Removals surveys, plans and manages moves from Dorset to Germany, with the transport carried out by trusted partner removal firms. We are a family-run company trading since 1990, and we help you prepare the customs paperwork Germany now requires.
How a move to Germany works
Every move starts with a quote. If you live in a BH postcode or DT11, Book your free home visit. Everywhere else, Get an online quote by sending short room videos or photos from your phone, or call 01202 570970. From that we give you a written quote for the whole job.
- Packing: our crews can pack everything, or you can buy packing materials and pack yourself.
- Loading: heavy-duty floor sheeting and padding protect floors, banisters, doors and frames before anything moves.
- Transport: the European road transport is carried out with trusted partner removal firms, and we manage the move throughout.
- Delivery: your belongings are unloaded at your new address in Germany.
- Optional extras: unpacking at your new home and furniture dismantling and reassembly, charged on top of your quote.
Customs paperwork for Germany after Brexit
Since the UK left the EU, household goods going to Germany need an export declaration leaving the UK and customs clearance on arrival. Most people moving their main home can claim relief from German import duty and VAT under the EU's transfer of residence rules.
To qualify you generally need to have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, and to have owned and used your belongings for at least six months. You should not sell or lend them for 12 months after import.
Documents usually include:
- your passport
- a detailed inventory of what you are moving
- proof of your new German address, such as a tenancy or purchase contract
- proof that you are giving up your UK home
Fiona, who runs our removals, holds a BTEC in Customs Export and Import Procedures, so we can talk you through what German customs (Zoll) is likely to ask for. Rules change, so always check current guidance before you move.
Arriving in Germany: practical tips
- Register your address: new residents are expected to register at the local registration office soon after moving in, so keep your tenancy or purchase paperwork to hand.
- Parking for the lorry: many German towns let you reserve a temporary no-parking zone outside your new home. Ask the local authority well ahead of delivery.
- Flats and stairwells: tell us about lifts, stairs and parking at both ends during the survey so we can plan the delivery.
- Euros: our partner Regency FX can help with deposits and bills; see currency exchange.
Packing, protection and insurance
Long journeys are hard on furniture, so fragile items are properly wrapped and we can build bespoke wooden crates for antiques and artwork. Pianos and awkward pieces are covered by our specialist removals service.
Your move is fully insured for goods in transit. For shipping abroad, marine insurance must be arranged by you: 1st Choice does not provide it, so sort your cover before moving day.
If your German home is not ready yet, we can keep your belongings in our containerised storage here in Dorset, short or long term.
Why Dorset families choose 1st Choice for Germany
We are a family-run company founded in 1990 by Alan and Richard Vaughan, with removals now run by Chris and Fiona. We have been members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) since 2011, and we manage every move from the first survey to delivery.
To start planning your move to Germany, call 01202 570970 or email admin@1stchoiceremovals.net. If you live in a BH postcode or DT11, Book your free home visit; everywhere else, Get an online quote. Our moving abroad checklist covers everything else to plan, and our European removals page lists the other countries we serve.
Your questions answered
What paperwork do I need to move my belongings to Germany?
You will usually need your passport, a detailed inventory of your household goods, proof of your new address in Germany such as a tenancy or purchase contract, and evidence that you are leaving your UK home. An export declaration is made when goods leave the UK. We help you prepare the paperwork, but check current German customs guidance too, as requirements can change.
Do I pay import duty or VAT on furniture moving to Germany?
Usually not, if you are moving your main home. EU transfer of residence relief generally covers belongings you have owned and used for at least six months, provided you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months. New items, goods for resale and some restricted items may not qualify, so list them separately on your inventory.
Is my move to Germany insured?
Your belongings are fully insured for goods in transit while we move them. For shipping abroad, marine insurance must be arranged by you, as 1st Choice Removals does not provide it. We recommend arranging that cover before moving day and checking that its value reflects what your belongings would cost to replace in Germany.
Can you collect from anywhere in Dorset?
Yes. We are based at Canford Business Park, between Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth. Free home visits are available across all BH postcodes and DT11. If you are further away, use Get an online quote and send short room videos or photos from your phone, and we will quote from that.
What should I not pack for a move to Germany?
Leave out anything flammable or hazardous, such as paint, gas bottles and aerosols. Food, plants, alcohol, tobacco and weapons are restricted by customs and are best left behind or checked first. Keep passports, documents, medicines and valuables with you. We can give you advice on specific items at your survey.
Can you store my belongings until my home in Germany is ready?
Yes. We have around 1,000 storage units across four local sites, using containerised storage for short or long periods. Your belongings are loaded into containers at your home and kept in Dorset until you are ready for delivery to Germany. Storage is in the UK only.