International route guide

Moving from the United Kingdom to Germany

Route, transport options, paperwork and a practical checklist for your international move.

1,106 kmby road, incl. crossing
932 kmstraight line
CustomsUK → EU since 2021

Colourful London terraced houses on the left, a German residential street with restored facades on the right — Route from London to Berlin: about 1,106 km by road, including the Channel Tunnel crossing.

A removal from the United Kingdom to Germany combines a Channel or North Sea crossing with a long drive and, since Brexit, customs formalities on both sides. Germany also has firm registration rules once you arrive: GOV.UK says you must register your address within 14 days. Below: the route, your options, the cost drivers, the paperwork and a planning order.

Route and distance

For central London to Berlin, OpenStreetMap routing uses the Channel Tunnel (Le Shuttle) from Folkestone to Calais and then continues by road through Belgium towards Germany. Dover–Calais and Dover–Dunkirk are the ferry alternatives on the short sea route.

For northern and western Germany, the North Sea crossings from Harwich to the Hook of Holland or from Hull to Rotterdam bring the truck closer to Hamburg, Bremen or the Ruhr. Germany is large: Munich and Berlin are very different distances from the Channel, so ask the remover which route fits your addresses.

Schematic, not to scale.

Between	Distance
London – Berlin (by road, incl. Channel Tunnel)	≈ 1,106 km
London – Berlin (straight line)	≈ 932 km
Manchester – Hamburg (straight line)	≈ 808 km
Bristol – Frankfurt (straight line)	≈ 805 km
Edinburgh – Munich (straight line)	≈ 1,328 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

One truck carries only your household from the UK to Germany. On about 1,106 km to Berlin, EU driving-time rules for professional drivers usually mean an overnight stop, so ask when the truck loads and when it can deliver.

Shared load

Groupage

Groupage services between the UK and Germany combine several households and deliver along a route. It costs less for a smaller volume; agree the delivery window in writing and check who files the declarations for your part of the load.

Drive yourself

Hired van

With a hired van you book the crossing, handle export and import formalities yourself and bring the van back. Over a distance like London–Berlin this is only realistic for a small load and with two drivers.

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:

Crossing and routeChannel Tunnel or short ferry plus the drive through Belgium, or a North Sea ferry closer to Germany.
Customs handlingThe UK export and the German import, including whether a customs agent is needed.
North, west or southHamburg and the Ruhr are much closer to the Channel than Munich or Dresden.

For an indicative figure, use the free moving calculator and compare written quotes.

Customs, visas and registration after Brexit

Since 1 January 2021 a removal from Great Britain to Germany is an export from the UK and an import into the EU. (Moves from Northern Ireland follow different rules under the Windsor Framework.) Your remover or its customs agent usually prepares the declarations; you supply an itemised inventory, a passport copy and proof of your new address in Germany.

When you transfer your normal residence to the EU, personal property can be imported without import duty or VAT if you meet the conditions. German customs (Zoll) decides whether relief applies; Zoll also publishes the rules for bringing pets from non-EU countries.

GOV.UK: once you arrive, you must register your residence (Anmeldung) at the local registration office (Bürgeramt) within 14 days. If you did not apply for a visa or residence permit before leaving the UK, you also need an appointment at the local Foreigners' Authority (Ausländerbehörde) within 90 days of arriving.

Relief from import duty is set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009; the matching exemption from import VAT is in Council Directive 2009/132/EC. Both apply only if you meet the conditions, such as a minimum period of normal residence outside the EU and prior ownership and use of the goods.

Official sources

Page and sources last reviewed on 20 October 2026.

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
Check which German visa or residence permit you need, and whether you apply before leaving or in Germany.
Step 4
Book a Bürgeramt appointment for the Anmeldung early; you have 14 days after moving in.
Step 5
Ask removers how they handle the UK export and the German import, and which crossing they use.
Step 6
If you arrive without a residence permit, plan the Ausländerbehörde appointment within 90 days.
Before moving day
Confirm the dates, the insurance cover and the delivery address in writing.

Checklist

What to have ready for a move from the United Kingdom to Germany. Tick items off as you go; your ticks are kept in this browser only.

Passport and the German visa or residence permit that applies to you (or the appointment for it)
Signed, itemised inventory for the customs declarations
Rental contract and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) for the Anmeldung
Microchip, rabies vaccination record and animal health certificate for pets
V5C logbook and insurance if you take your car
Written quote and moving contract, including insurance terms

Frequently asked questions

Is there import duty on household goods moving from the UK to Germany?

Relief from import duty and VAT is possible when you transfer your normal residence to the EU and meet the conditions (Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 and Directive 2009/132/EC). German customs (Zoll) decides whether it applies.

How soon do I have to register my address in Germany?

GOV.UK says you must register your residence (Anmeldung) at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in, and register again within 14 days if you move home inside Germany.

Can I apply for a residence permit after arriving in Germany?

GOV.UK says that if you did not apply for a visa or residence permit before leaving the UK, you need an appointment at the local Ausländerbehörde within 90 days of arriving. Check the German government's guidance for your situation.

How far is it from the United Kingdom to Germany?

In a straight line, London to Berlin is about 932 km. By road (OpenStreetMap routing between the city centres) it is about 1,106 km, including the Channel Tunnel crossing. Your own distance depends on both addresses.

What does a move from the United Kingdom to Germany 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

Own a property in Germany you want to sell?

SellYourOwnHouse.eu explains how to sell a house yourself, without an estate agent.

Selling a house in Germany Guide on sellyourownhouse.eu

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