Shipping to France Costs | Moving Merchant

📋 Key Points

Removal van UK to France: £1,200–£3,500 for a 2–3 bed house (shared load cheaper)
20ft FCL container: £1,800–£3,500 door-to-door; 40ft FCL £2,800–£5,000
LCL (groupage): £80–£150 per cbm — ideal for partial loads and smaller moves
Transit time by road: 2–5 days; by sea container: 1–2 weeks
Post-Brexit: You must submit a customs declaration (FR import); ToR relief applies if you've lived outside France for 12+ months
France uses the DDUAB (Déclaration de Droits et Usages Acquis à Bruxelles) process for personal effects

UK to France Removal Costs by Property Size

Property Size	Shared Load (Groupage)	Dedicated Removal Van	Container (FCL)
Studio / 1-bed flat	£600–£1,200	£900–£1,800	—
2-bed house	£900–£1,800	£1,400–£2,800	£1,800–£3,000
3-bed house	£1,400–£2,500	£2,200–£3,800	£2,200–£3,800
4–5 bed house	£2,000–£3,500	£3,200–£5,500	£3,200–£5,500

Costs include standard packing/unpacking. Fuel surcharges, ferry costs (£100–£300 typical) and customs agent fees (£150–£400) may be added separately.

Post-Brexit Customs: What You Need to Know

Since 1 January 2021, the UK is outside the EU Customs Union. Moving personal effects from the UK to France is now a third-country import for French/EU customs purposes.

⚠️ Transfer of Residence (ToR) Relief

To avoid import duty and VAT on household goods, you must qualify for Transfer of Residence relief (known in French as franchise de droits et taxes). Requirements:

You must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months
You must be moving your normal place of residence to France (not a holiday home)
Goods must have been in your possession for at least 6 months before the move
Application submitted to French customs (Direction générale des douanes) before or at time of import
You cannot sell the goods for at least 12 months after import

Removal Van vs Container: Which Is Best for France?

Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
Dedicated removal van	3–5 bed houses; northern/western France	Door-to-door, fast (2–3 days)	More expensive for small loads
Shared load / groupage	1–2 bed; partial moves	Much cheaper (you pay per cbm)	Slower (3–10 days); less flexible dates
20ft/40ft container	Large moves; southern France (port delivery)	Secure, all-in-one unit	Requires port access; longer lead time

What's Included in UK–France Removal Quotes?

A standard removal quote for France should include:

Loading at your UK property
Ferry crossing (usually Dover–Calais or similar)
Road transport to French destination
Unloading at French property
Goods-in-transit insurance (check the declared value limit)

Items not usually included: customs agent fees (£150–£400), ToR application assistance, packing materials (if packing yourself), storage if French property not ready.

Regional Cost Variations

French Region	Example City	Typical Premium vs Paris Route	Transit Time (van)
Île-de-France / Paris	Paris	Base rate	1–2 days
Normandy / Brittany	Caen, Rennes	+5–10%	1–2 days
Loire Valley / Bordeaux	Tours, Bordeaux	+10–20%	2–3 days
Provence / Côte d'Azur	Nice, Marseille	+25–40%	3–5 days
Alps / Rhône-Alpes	Lyon, Grenoble	+20–35%	2–4 days

Prohibited and Restricted Items

France follows EU import rules. Items you cannot import include:

Certain foodstuffs (meat, dairy from non-EU countries — though UK to France transitional rules apply)
Plants and soil (phytosanitary certificate required)
Firearms and weapons (requires French firearms authorisation)
Medicines over a 3-month personal supply (require prescription documentation)
Endangered species products (CITES certificate required)

French Vehicle Registration: Key Costs

If taking a UK-registered vehicle to France permanently, you'll need to re-register it:

Certificat de conformité (conformity certificate): £150–£400 from manufacturer
Contrôle technique (French MOT equivalent): ~£80
Registration fee (carte grise): £200–£800 depending on vehicle power/region
Right-hand drive vehicles are legal in France but headlight beam deflectors (£5–£15) required

Money-Saving Tips

📅

Move mid-week

Tuesday–Thursday crossings and moves can be 10–15% cheaper than weekends.

📦

Pack yourself

Self-packing saves £300–£800. Use approved boxes and keep an inventory for customs.

🤝

Use groupage

Sharing container space with other France movers cuts costs by 30–50% for smaller loads.

📋

Apply for ToR early

Get your Transfer of Residence application submitted 4–6 weeks before your move to avoid customs delays.

🔍

Get 3+ quotes

Compare at least 3 removal companies. Prices vary by 20–40% for the same route.

🚗

Sell heavy items

Shipping large, heavy items over a short distance may cost more than replacing them in France.

Choosing a UK–France Removal Company

Look for companies with:

BAR (British Association of Removers) membership — includes deposit protection and dispute resolution
FIDI or IAM accreditation for international moves
Experience with French customs and ToR relief documentation
Goods-in-transit insurance with adequate declared value coverage
References from other UK–France moves

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay customs duty when moving to France from the UK?

Not if you qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. You must have lived outside the EU for 12+ months and be establishing your main residence in France. Apply to French customs in advance.

How long does a UK to France removal take?

By dedicated removal van: 1–3 days for northern/central France; 3–5 days for the south. By groupage/shared load: add 3–7 days as the van must collect from multiple UK properties first.

Can I take my car to France?

Yes, but you must re-register it within 6 months of becoming a French resident. You'll need a certificat de conformité, pass the contrôle technique, and pay registration fees (carte grise).

Is removals insurance required for France?

It's not legally required, but strongly recommended. Most professional removers include basic goods-in-transit insurance. Check the per-item limit and consider a standalone policy for high-value items.

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