Everyone planning a move abroad starts with the same question: "What is this going to cost?" The honest answer is that international removals have no single "tariff". The cost of an international move is the sum of roughly ten independent variables that happen to meet in one shipment. Two families leaving the same city for the same country can receive quotes that differ dramatically, simply because their volume, building conditions, customs formalities and transport method differ. In this guide we give no figures, but we open up the full logic of a quote so you can see exactly which line items a removal quote is built from.
Our aim is twofold: to help you read and compare the quotes landing in your inbox correctly, and to show how a few small decisions taken before moving day can swing the total in your favour. We have also gathered the misconceptions we most often hear at the quoting stage.
The Factors That Drive the Cost
Unlike a local move, an international household removals quote is based on volume rather than weight, and the freight charge is joined by customs, insurance, packing and the delivery conditions in the destination country. The headings below explain why the quote form asks so many questions.
1. Volume (m³): the backbone of the quote
The space you occupy in the vehicle is the largest single cost item. Volume is calculated on the goods as packed; a sofa goes into the truck at its dimensions after stretch film and cardboard have been applied, not before. An experienced surveyor knows roughly how many cubic metres a one-bedroom, two-bedroom or three-bedroom home occupies, but the real figure depends on how many bookcases you own, whether your appliances are coming with you, and how many "just in case" boxes you pack. The whole point of a video or on-site survey is to turn that number from an estimate into a measurement.
2. Distance and route
Distance is not just kilometres. The number of borders crossed, whether a transit declaration is needed, ferry or tunnel crossings, bridge and motorway tolls, and the restrictions in the destination city all make a route more or less expensive. A vehicle running uninterrupted by road to Germany does not have the same cost structure as one crossing the Channel to the United Kingdom or heading over the Øresund into Scandinavia.
3. Groupage or a dedicated vehicle?
With groupage (part-load) you share the vehicle with other customers and pay only for the volume you occupy, joining our regular weekly departures. With a dedicated (full-load) vehicle the truck or lorry works for you alone; you get direct, faster delivery but take on the cost of the whole vehicle. Groupage makes sense for small and medium volumes, a dedicated vehicle for large homes and anyone who needs a fixed date. When comparing quotes, judge these two methods against your own volume rather than against each other.
4. Packing service and materials
Export-standard packing means double-wall boxes, bubble wrap, corner protectors, furniture blankets, stretch film and timber crates for paintings and mirrors. Professional packing is a separate line, but it affects the cost in two ways: properly packed goods take up less volume, and they qualify for full insurance cover. Boxes you pack yourself bring both wasted volume and insurance exclusions (internal damage).
5. Floors, lifts, access and parking permits
The physical conditions at the collection and delivery addresses determine how long the crew works. Upper floors without a lift, narrow staircases, streets where the truck cannot reach the door, long carrying distances or city centres that require transfer into a smaller vehicle all create additional labour lines. Municipal parking permits in European cities (a Halteverbot in Vienna, a parking suspension in London) also appear as a separate line in the quote; we cover this in detail in our London guide.
6. Customs line items
An export declaration in Turkey, a transit declaration and guarantee for Europe, an import declaration in the destination country; plus the ToR1 application for the UK or the transfer-of-residence relief file for EU countries. These formalities require a customs broker and are listed separately in the quote. Used household goods that meet the relief conditions attract no duty; but if you are moving new goods, alcohol or commercial products, duty and VAT are a separate charge paid to the state, outside any removal quote. Our customs clearance page summarises the process.
7. Insurance
Carrier liability under the CMR Convention is included in every shipment and is capped at a limit calculated per gross kilogram. To protect the true value of your belongings, all-risk cover is arranged on the declared value; this line is calculated as a proportion of the value you declare. See our article on CMR and all-risk insurance for the details.
8. Storage
The day you leave one home and the day you can enter the next do not always coincide. If your goods need to wait in our warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London or Frankfurt, a storage line based on duration and volume is added; this is a far more sensible solution than moving twice.
9. Season and timing
The summer months, the start of the academic year (August–September) and the year end are the periods when vehicle capacity is tightest. Booking early secures your place on a groupage departure and gives you flexibility on dates. Fixed-date and last-minute requests cost more because capacity has to be found at short notice.
Every Quote Line in One Table
| Line item | What it depends on | Can you influence it? |
|---|---|---|
| Freight | Volume (m³), route, groupage/dedicated | Yes: reduce volume, choose groupage |
| Packing | Type of goods, share of fragile items, materials | Partly: self-packing (with insurance exclusions) |
| Loading/delivery labour | Floor, lift, carrying distance, dismantling and reassembly | Partly: book the lift, dismantle in advance |
| Parking permit / city restrictions | Destination city and council rules | No, but early notice prevents delays |
| Customs brokerage | Country, number of declarations, relief file | No; complete paperwork shortens the process |
| Duty/VAT (to the state) | Relief conditions, share of new goods | Yes: zero with used goods and complete documents |
| Insurance | Declared value | Yes: realistic declaration, choice of excess |
| Storage | Duration and volume | Yes: align your dates |
| Seasonal effect | Departure date | Yes: book early, stay flexible on dates |
How to Compare Quotes Properly
Putting two bottom lines side by side is usually misleading. For a sound comparison, ask each quote the following questions separately:
- Is the volume the same? If one quote is based on 20 m³ and the other on 26 m³, you are comparing surveys, not prices. The quote that understates volume comes back on loading day with an "excess volume" surcharge.
- Door to door, or depot to depot? Some quotes cover delivery only to a warehouse in the destination country; home delivery and carrying upstairs are charged separately.
- Is customs included? Export, transit and import declarations, ToR1 or the EU relief file must be stated explicitly. A quote marked "customs excluded" produces a surprise on arrival.
- What does the insurance cover? CMR only, or all-risk on the declared value?
- Are packing materials and labour included? "Packing included" may not cover the materials.
- What are the transit time and departure schedule? There is a real waiting-time difference between a carrier with regular weekly departures and one that leaves "when the truck is full".
- Is it in writing and itemised? A single figure quoted over the phone is not a quote.
"Cheap Quote" Traps
Behind a quote that looks noticeably lower than the market, you will usually find one of these mechanisms:
- Deliberately low volume: A price given on an "estimated" volume without a survey is recalculated on loading day against the volume actually measured.
- Customs and paperwork excluded: The declaration, customs broker and port/terminal charges in the destination country are invoiced afterwards.
- Depot-to-depot delivery: You are expected to collect your goods yourself from a warehouse in the destination city.
- CMR insurance only: In the event of damage, the per-kilogram limit does not cover the value of your belongings.
- No fixed departure date: The vehicle does not leave until it is full; your goods sit in a warehouse for weeks.
- Unlicensed carrier: Intermediaries without an international haulage licence or import experience are nowhere to be found when a problem arises at customs.
The Right Way to Lower the Cost: Reduce Your Volume
Volume is the most powerful variable you can influence in a quote. Taken a few weeks before moving day, the steps below reduce it visibly:
- Declutter: Part with items you will not be able to use in the destination country (appliances on the wrong voltage, worn furniture, cheap pieces that are easily replaced).
- Decide on appliances: An ageing fridge or washing machine takes up volume and may face plug or voltage incompatibility in some countries; find out whether the new home comes equipped.
- Textiles and bedding: Vacuum bags cut the volume of duvets and seasonal clothing dramatically.
- Dismantlable furniture: A bed base, wardrobe or table dismantled and flat-packed takes up far less space in the vehicle; our crew handles dismantling and reassembly.
- Books and papers: Books are heavy and bulky; take only the ones you genuinely want with you.
- Survey with an inventory list: A room-by-room inventory list makes both the survey and the customs file more accurate.
Common Mistakes
- Treating a single figure quoted over the phone, without a survey, as a "quote".
- Comparing total prices without reading the volume, scope and insurance lines.
- Viewing customs duty and tax as a carrier cost; tax is paid to the state and can be reduced to zero with relief.
- Thinking you are saving money by under-declaring the value of your goods for insurance; in a claim, you are underpaid.
- Leaving it to the last week in peak season and finding no capacity.
- Not disclosing the floor, lift and parking conditions at the destination address at the quoting stage.
Worked Example: A Two-Bedroom Home from Izmir to Rotterdam
A couple living in Izmir is relocating to Rotterdam for work. The first two quotes they receive look very different. A video survey reveals that the lower quote was calculated on 14 m³ and the other on 21 m³, and that the cheaper one covered neither customs nor home delivery. During their survey with us, the couple decides to leave behind the old washing machine and two bookcases; textiles are vacuum-packed and the bed base is dismantled. The measured volume comes down to 17 m³. They are booked onto the weekly European groupage departure; the export declaration, transit and the Dutch transfer-of-residence relief file are all written into the quote. Delivery is scheduled around a weekday time slot obtained from the building management in Rotterdam. The volume measured on loading day matches the quote exactly; no surcharge. Tax paid on delivery: zero.
Why REG Transport?
- Same-day written, itemised quote: Freight, packing, customs, insurance, delivery and any storage on separate lines; no surprises in the total.
- Video or on-site survey: Volume is measured, not guessed; the quote does not change on loading day.
- Our own fleet and warehouses: Our warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt let us control waiting times and transfer costs.
- Regular weekly departures: Every week to the UK and regular departures across Europe; no waiting "until the truck is full".
- Customs-inclusive service: ToR1, the EU relief file, export and import declarations are all handled by our team.
- One dedicated move coordinator: You speak to the same person from quote to delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the price of an international move calculated by weight or by volume?
For household goods, by volume (m³). Weight is monitored only in relation to the vehicle's legal payload; heavy items such as books are therefore noted separately.
Can I get a quote without a survey?
A preliminary quote can be given against a detailed inventory list; for a binding quote, however, we recommend a video or on-site survey. The survey is free and removes any surprise on loading day.
Is customs duty included in the quote?
Customs brokerage and declaration services are included. Duty and VAT are a separate charge paid to the state; for used household goods that meet the relief conditions, that charge is zero.
Is groupage always cheaper?
For small and medium volumes, yes. As volume grows, a dedicated vehicle becomes more sensible in both cost and transit time; at the end of the survey we present both options side by side.
How long is the quote valid?
Our written quote is valid for the period stated; as long as the volume and address conditions do not change, the same figure applies on loading day.
Get Your Itemised, Written Quote Today
The quickest way to understand the cost of your international move is to have your volume measured and every line written out separately. Send us your inventory list or book a time for a video survey, and receive a written quote the same day. See our international household removals page for the scope of service, the destinations section for country-by-country procedures, and our comprehensive guide to moving household goods abroad.