International route guide
Moving from Germany to Spain
Route, transport options, paperwork and a practical checklist for your international move.
- 2,321 kmby road
- 1,869 kmstraight line
- No customsEU → EU move
2,321 km by road
Moving from Germany to Spain is an EU-to-EU move, so there are no customs declarations for your household goods. The distance, however, varies enormously: Munich to Barcelona is a very different trip from Hamburg to Málaga.
Route and distance
From southern Germany the usual route runs through Switzerland or eastern France towards the Mediterranean and enters Spain near La Jonquera. From northern and western Germany, removers often drive through Belgium or Luxembourg and France. Where you start and where you end in Spain decides the total distance more than the border crossing does.
Note that Switzerland is not in the EU: if a route passes through it, your remover has to handle transit formalities. Many removers simply avoid it by staying in France.
| Between | Distance |
|---|---|
| Berlin – Madrid (by road) | ≈ 2,321 km |
| Berlin – Madrid (straight line) | ≈ 1,869 km |
| Munich – Barcelona (straight line) | ≈ 1,055 km |
| Frankfurt – Málaga (straight line) | ≈ 1,821 km |
| Hamburg – Valencia (straight line) | ≈ 1,751 km |
Straight-line distances are great-circle distances between city centres. The road distance comes from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) between the city centres, checked on 30 September 2026.
Your transport options
Full load
Dedicated truck
A dedicated truck from Germany to Spain is a multi-day transport from Berlin or Hamburg, and still more than one day's driving from Bavaria. Ask whether the remover plans a route through France or through Switzerland.
Shared load
Groupage
Several households share one truck heading for Spain. This suits a partly furnished move or a few rooms of furniture, as long as you can accept a delivery window instead of a fixed day.
Drive yourself
Hired van
Van hire works for a small household. If your route passes through Switzerland you need the Swiss motorway vignette, and French and Spanish motorways charge tolls.
What determines the price
We do not quote fixed prices. Volume in cubic metres, the services you book (packing, dismantling, storage, insurance) and your dates matter on every move; on this route, also look at:
- Where you startThe distance from northern Germany is much greater than from Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg.
- Route choiceThrough Switzerland (transit formalities, vignette) or entirely through France.
- Parking at the German addressA temporary no-parking zone (Halteverbotszone) for the truck can be requested from the local authority.
For an indicative figure, use the free moving calculator and compare written quotes.
Paperwork for an EU-to-EU move
No customs declarations are needed for household goods moving from Germany to Spain. In Germany you deregister your address (Abmeldung) at your local registration office when you move abroad. In Spain you will generally need a foreigner identification number (NIE), registration as an EU resident for stays longer than three months, and registration with your town hall (empadronamiento).
Cars will eventually need Spanish registration, and pets travel with an EU pet passport. The Your Europe portal of the European Commission explains the EU-wide rules for all three.
Official sources
- Your Europe (European Commission): residence formalities in another EU country (opens in a new tab)
- Your Europe: registering your car in another EU country (opens in a new tab)
- Your Europe: travelling with pets and other animals (opens in a new tab)
Page and sources last reviewed on .
Rules change. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice; always check the official source or ask your remover before you move.
Planning your move, step by step
Start
Make an inventory of what you are taking and get an estimate in the calculator.
Step 2
Request quotes from several removers and compare what they include.
Step 3
Do your Abmeldung in Germany and keep the confirmation; Spanish and German authorities may ask for it.
Step 4
Apply for your NIE as early as possible.
Step 5
Tell the remover about any access limits at both addresses: parking permits, narrow streets or a missing lift.
Step 6
Decide on the route through or around Switzerland with your remover.
Before moving day
Confirm the dates, the insurance cover and the delivery address in writing.
Checklist
What to have ready for a move from Germany to Spain. Tick items off as you go; your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to deregister in Germany when moving to Spain?
Yes, when you move abroad you deregister (Abmeldung) at your local registration office in Germany. Keep the confirmation for later formalities.
Is there customs when moving from Germany to Spain?
No, household goods moving between EU countries need no customs declaration. Only a route through Switzerland would involve transit formalities, which your remover handles.
How far is it from Germany to Spain?
In a straight line, Berlin to Madrid is about 1,869 km. By road (OpenStreetMap routing between the city centres) it is about 2,321 km. Your own distance depends on both addresses.
What does a move from Germany to Spain cost?
We do not publish fixed prices: volume, the exact distance, access and the services you choose make every move different. The free calculator gives an indicative estimate for your own addresses and inventory; then compare written quotes.
Sister site · SellYourOwnHouse.eu
Selling a home before you move?
SellYourOwnHouse.eu explains how to sell a house yourself, without an estate agent.
Get an estimate for your move
Enter your own addresses and inventory for an indicative estimate and a moving plan. Free, no registration.
Open the moving calculator
