International Removals From Manchester To Europe
Our international removals take homes from Manchester and Cheshire to Europe, mainly France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Our own vehicles handle the UK side, and trusted partners take care of the Channel crossing and onward delivery.
How a European move works
How We Move Homes From Manchester Into Europe
A move abroad has two halves. The first is everything that happens in the UK: the survey, the packing and the loading. The second is the long journey across the Channel and on to your new address. Our international removals in Manchester are built around that split.
Our own vehicles and crew do the UK side. We pack and load your home in Manchester or Cheshire, just as we would for a move across town. For the Channel crossing and the onward delivery, we work with trusted partners who run those routes. You deal with us from first call to final delivery.
- Main routes: France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands
- UK collection, packing and loading by our own crew
- Cross-Channel and onward legs by trusted partners
- Groupage for smaller moves when it suits you
- Storage at our Broadheath depot if dates do not line up
CMR Relocation has moved homes since 2011, from our depot in Broadheath, Altrincham. Most of our work abroad starts in South Manchester and Cheshire, but we collect across all of Greater Manchester.
Who does what
Who Handles Each Leg Of Your Move Abroad
Knowing who does each part makes the whole move easier to follow.
| Stage | Who handles it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Survey and quote | CMR Relocation | We look at what you are moving and plan the route |
| Packing and loading | Our own crew | Your home is wrapped, packed and loaded in the UK |
| UK road leg | Our own vehicles | Your belongings travel on our lorries to the hand-over point |
| Channel crossing | Trusted partner | Your goods cross to mainland Europe |
| Onward delivery | Trusted partner | Delivered to your new address abroad |
| Your paperwork | You | Visas, residence and customs forms for your new country |
Step by step
Your European Removal From Survey To Delivery
Every move abroad follows four steps. The time between them depends on the route and how you are shipping.
- 1
We Survey And Quote
We see what you are taking, ask about access at both ends and agree whether you need a dedicated load or groupage.
- 2
You Sort The Paperwork
You check the visa, residence and customs rules for your new country and get the forms started.
- 3
We Pack And Load
Our crew packs for a long journey, labels every box and loads our own lorry in the UK.
- 4
Partners Deliver Abroad
Our partners take your belongings across the Channel and on to your new home.
Sharing the load
Groupage Or A Dedicated Load: Choosing How To Ship
There are two ways to send a home to Europe. With a dedicated load, the vehicle carries only your belongings. With groupage, your goods share space with other moves going the same way, and you pay for the space you use.
Groupage suits smaller moves. Think a flat, a few rooms of furniture, or a student or couple heading out with the essentials. It also suits people whose dates are flexible, because the vehicle leaves when it is full.
A dedicated load suits a full family house, a fixed delivery date, or anything very valuable. Your belongings are loaded once and not shared with anyone.
We use groupage when it suits the move. When we quote, we tell you which option fits your volume and your dates, and why.
After Brexit
Paperwork For Moving From The UK To The EU After Brexit
This is general guidance to help you start. Always check the official rules for your new country before you book.
Your right to live there. UK nationals who move to an EU country after 1 January 2021 need the right visa or residence permit. GOV.UK has a Living in guide for each country, including France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Each one explains which permit you may need and links to the country's own system.
Customs on your belongings. Since 1 January 2021, goods moving from Great Britain to the EU cross a customs border. EU law (Council Regulation 1186/2009) lets people moving their main home into the EU bring personal belongings without import duty, if they meet the conditions. In general, you must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, and have owned and used the goods for at least six months. Each country runs this through its own customs authority and forms, so check theirs.
Pets. Pets do not travel with your furniture. GOV.UK says a dog, cat or ferret going to an EU country needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate from a vet. The certificate is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, and there is a wait of at least 21 days after the first rabies jab. Book the vet early.
Give us the paperwork dates once you have them. We plan the packing, loading and hand-over around them, so your goods do not arrive before you can receive them.
Packing for a long trip
Packing For A Long Journey Across The Channel
A box going to Spain is handled more and travels further than a box going to Stockport. So it needs to be packed with more care. Our crew packs plates on their edge, wraps each glass and fills every gap. Furniture is wrapped in blankets and corners are padded.
Labelling matters even more abroad. The people unloading at the other end may be our partner's crew, not ours. Each box carries a clear room label and a number, so it reaches the right room and nothing goes missing.
Make a simple list of what is in each box. It helps at your new home, and a list of your goods is often part of the customs paperwork too. Keep valuables, documents, medicines and keys with you, not on the lorry.
Our packing service covers the whole house or only the fragile things. If you are packing some yourself, read our packing tips for moving house first.
Pricing
What Shapes The Cost Of A Move To Europe
Every quote for international removals from Manchester is priced on its own, and the quote is free. These are the main factors.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How much you take | Volume decides the space you need on the vehicle. |
| Groupage or dedicated | Sharing space usually costs less than a whole vehicle to yourself. |
| Where you are going | A move to northern France is a shorter route than one to southern Spain. |
| Access at both ends | Narrow streets, flats with no lift and long carries take more time. |
| Packing | Full packing by our crew is part of the quote if you book it. |
| Storage | Holding goods in the UK until you are ready adds storage time. |
Avoiding problems
Common Problems When Moving Abroad, And How We Plan Round Them
Goods Arriving Too Early
If your new home is not ready, we can hold your things in sealed containers at our Broadheath depot.
Missing Paperwork
We remind you to check customs and residence rules early, before the lorry is booked.
Taking Too Much
Clear out before the survey. Shipping things you will not use abroad costs space and money.
Lost Boxes
Numbered, labelled boxes and your own list make it easy to check everything has arrived.
Is this for you
Who Our European Removals Suit
- Families relocating to France, Spain, Germany or the Netherlands
- Retirees moving to a home in the sun
- People moving for a new job in Europe
- Smaller moves that can share space through groupage
- Anyone who wants one firm in charge, from packing to delivery
We collect across the region, from Bramhall and Alderley Edge to Salford and Bolton. If your dates do not line up, our containerised storage can hold everything until your new home is ready. A piano can travel too: see our piano moving service. For moves inside the UK, see our house removals, and our moving house checklist helps you plan the weeks before.
To start planning, call Darrin or our team on 0161 478 3639 or email Darrin. Read customer reviews on our Trustpilot page before you decide.
Tell us where you are moving and what you are taking.
Get a free quoteFAQs
Moving Abroad From Manchester: Your Questions
Something else on your mind about this service? Ring the depot and ask.
Which countries do you move people to?
Our most common routes are to France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. We can look at other European countries too. Tell us the full address abroad and we will say whether it is a route we can plan well.
Do you carry my things all the way yourselves?
Our own vehicles and crew collect, pack and load your home in the UK. For the Channel crossing and the journey on to your new home, we work with trusted partners. You keep one point of contact with us throughout.
What is groupage, and is it right for me?
Groupage means your belongings share space on a vehicle with other moves going the same way. It suits smaller moves and people with flexible dates, because you only use the space you need. A full house, or a move with a fixed delivery date, usually goes on its own.
Do I need customs paperwork to move my things to the EU?
Yes. Since 1 January 2021, goods going from Great Britain to the EU cross a customs border. Many people moving their main home can bring personal belongings without paying import duty, but there are conditions and forms. Check the rules of the country you are moving to, through its customs authority and the GOV.UK Living in guide for that country.
Can you move my pets?
No, pets travel separately. GOV.UK says a dog, cat or ferret going to an EU country needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate from your vet. Start with your vet early, because there are waiting periods.
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