Moving from Munich to London
Household moves to London from €1,200 incl. VAT. We handle the UK customs paperwork, the Channel crossing and delivery to your door, at a fixed price agreed in advance.
ISO certifiedHow much does it cost to move from Munich to London?
From €1,200 for a one-person household, €1,500 for two and €1,800 for three, including VAT and the UK customs paperwork. Your fixed price follows from your inventory, access at both addresses and the services you book.
| 1 person | from €1,200 |
|---|---|
| 2 people | from €1,500 |
| 3 people | from €1,800 |
A planning guide, not a volume allowance. Open the calculator →
What moves the price is the work, not the kilometres. A studio with packed boxes by a ground-floor door is a different job from a family flat with wardrobes to dismantle, a piano or a fourth floor without a lift. Full packing, furniture assembly and parking permits are added to the offer only if you book them.
Import duty or VAT on goods that don’t qualify for customs relief is not part of the moving price. For a normal household move with Transfer of Residence relief, there is usually nothing to pay at the border.
Munich to London at a glance
Most people on this route move a flat for one or two people. The drive takes two days; the paperwork is what needs planning.
- Distance: about 1,150 km via Stuttgart, northern France and the Channel.
- Collection to delivery: two to three days, including the Channel crossing and border checks.
- Trucks: 3.5 t or 7.5 t, chosen for your volume and London street access.
- Typical Smoover move: either a few items under 5 m³ or a flat of 15–20 m³.
- Customs: the UK is outside the EU; our customs agent handles the import declaration in every offer.
- Your own travel: direct flights connect Munich with several London airports every day.
UK customs: Transfer of Residence relief
If you are moving your main home to the UK, you can usually import your belongings free of duty and import VAT with Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. The standard conditions: you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months, you have owned and used the goods for at least six months, and you import them within 12 months of moving.
What you do
Apply online with the ToR1 form and send us the reference. Allow two to three weeks for approval; HMRC makes the decision.
What we do
We prepare the inventory, provide the power of attorney in your customer portal, and our customs agent files the import declaration for your shipment.
Documents to have ready
Passport, proof of your German and UK addresses (for example a rental contract or employment letter), the inventory and the ToR reference. We check everything digitally before collection.
What doesn’t qualify
Alcohol, tobacco and newly bought items don’t qualify for relief, and neither do goods you intend to sell. Tell us about them so they are declared correctly.
More detail in our UK customs document guide.
A real Munich to London move with Smoover
Michael and his wife moved from Bogenhausen to Wimbledon and needed everything in London within two days. The team packed their boxes, wrapped the fragile items, dismantled the bed and wardrobe, and had the customs paperwork ready before the truck left Munich.
“We had a very tight schedule and needed our belongings to arrive within just 2 days, and they accommodated us perfectly without any issues.”
| Volume | 10 m³ |
|---|---|
| Services | Full packing; bed and wardrobe assembly; UK customs |
| Collection | 5 September, 11 am |
| Delivery | 7 September, 9 am |
| Loading / unloading | 6 hours / 3 hours |
| Price paid | €2,800 |
One completed move including full packing. Your price depends on your own inventory, access and services.
Crossing the Channel and parking in London
Two to three days on the road
The truck drives via Stuttgart and northern France and crosses the Channel by ferry or Eurotunnel. With border checks, plan two to three days from collection to delivery and confirm the window before booking anything that depends on it.
Munich: about two weeks for the permit
Without private loading space, a temporary no-parking zone keeps room free for the truck. Munich needs about two weeks to process it. We apply, put up the signs and remove them afterwards.
London: a parking-bay suspension
Each borough has its own rules for suspending parking bays on moving day. Westminster, for example, asks for 10 working days’ notice. We check your street and apply where it’s needed.
London’s charging zones
The ULEZ and LEZ cover Greater London, and the Congestion Charge applies in the centre. We plan the vehicle and route for your address with these zones in mind when we prepare your fixed-price offer.
Packing, furniture assembly and practical extras
You don’t have to choose between doing everything yourself and a full-service move. Pack your own boxes and leave the heavy furniture to the team, or hand over the whole household while you deal with everything else that comes with moving abroad. Each service is agreed and priced in your fixed-price offer.
Packing and unpacking
Full packing, or just the kitchen, books and fragile items you ran out of time for. We protect furniture, label boxes by room and can unpack at delivery. Our packing guide helps with what you prepare yourself.
Wardrobes, beds and new IKEA furniture
We dismantle wardrobes, beds and tables in Munich and rebuild them in London. New IKEA furniture can be assembled at the new home. Send models, measurements and instructions so we can plan the work.
Large TVs and valuable pieces
Share the screen size and photos so we can plan suitable protection. Flag paintings, antiques and other delicate pieces in advance; see our art transport service.
Washing machine
We disconnect your washing machine, transport it and reconnect it to suitable existing connections at the new address. Send photos and remember the transport bolts. UK fittings and electrical compatibility need checking first.
Temporary storage
If your London home isn’t ready when you have to leave, we store your belongings and deliver later. Storage period and redelivery are agreed in your offer.
Insurance
Every Smoover move is insured through Allianz. Different levels of cover are available depending on the value of your belongings; we explain them before you book.
Leave your Munich flat ready for handover
Book move-out painting and final cleaning for the days after collection, so you can hand back the keys without organising a second company. Our price example: painting only the walls white in a 50 m² flat costs €700 including VAT. The 50 m² is the floor area, not the wall area.
Ceilings, doors and radiators are not part of this example. Send photos of the rooms and the wall condition, and we confirm the scope and price. Other flat sizes and repairs get an individual quote.
| Flat size | 50 m² |
|---|---|
| Work | Walls painted white |
| Price incl. VAT | €700 |
Painting and cleaning are booked separately from transport.
How your Munich to London move works
- Show us what’s coming with you. Send your Munich and London addresses, preferred dates and an inventory. For a larger home, a short video is enough and we create the list for you. Apply for ToR relief early and send us the reference as soon as you have it.
- Receive your offer by WhatsApp or email. We review transport and services and send a detailed fixed-price offer. Ask your questions, then book online when it works for you.
- Agree the details. Before moving day we confirm the inventory, access, parking and extras, and note when you hand back your old keys and get the new ones.
- Collection in Munich. The team carries out the agreed packing and dismantling, protects your furniture and loads the vehicle.
- Delivery in London. We unload, place the furniture in the rooms you choose and reassemble what was taken apart. Someone needs to be there to let the team in.
Keep passports, keys, medication and everything for the first night with you, not in the truck.
Questions about this move
How long does a move from Munich to London take?
Plan two to three days from collection to delivery, provided the customs documents are ready before the truck leaves Munich.
Do I pay tax on my furniture when moving to the UK?
Usually not, if you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief. Without relief, import VAT and duty may apply to the goods.
What documents do I need for UK customs?
Your passport, proof of your previous and your UK address, the inventory and your ToR reference. We check everything digitally before collection.
Can I send just a few boxes to London?
Yes. Many customers on this route move less than 5 m³. Small shipments still need customs documents; with flexible dates, ask about a shared load.
How far ahead should I book?
Three to six weeks is ideal, mainly because ToR approval can take two to three weeks. Short-notice moves are possible if your ToR reference is ready.
What if my London home isn’t ready yet?
We can store your belongings in Munich or London and deliver later. Storage period and redelivery are agreed in your offer.
Can you pack and assemble my furniture?
Yes. Full or partial packing, protective wrapping and furniture dismantling and reassembly can all be booked. Mark fragile and unusually large items in your inventory.
How are my belongings insured?
Every move is insured through Allianz, with different levels of cover depending on the value of your belongings. We explain the options before you book.
Useful next steps
Planning your move to London?
Send both addresses, your dates and an inventory. We put together your fixed-price offer and the customs plan.
Illustrations are AI-generated and conceptual, not photographs of customer moves. Rules checked: 29 September 2026.