Whether you are relocating for a new job abroad, moving your belongings to a summer house on the Sunshine Coast, or maybe just looking to send your bikes to Italy for an active holiday adventure–then look no further. Transporteca is a great starting point for your transport inquiries. We arrange the transport of your personal effects when you are moving within Europe.
Where to start when moving within Europe?
Sending your moving goods or personal effects abroad does not have to be difficult or expensive. If you are able to take an active part in the moving process, for example to pack all smaller items in moving boxes, then you will definitely be able to save money on your move compared to using a traditional moving company.
Regardless of who you choose to handle your move across Europe, the first thing you need to establish is what to bring and what to leave behind. For example, does it make sense to bring your double bed or would it be a more sensible solution to buy a new bed when you arrive at your destination?
When transporting moving goods, the larger items are also the most costly as they occupy more space. Therefore, it may be a good idea to consider which items are a necessity to bring and which items can easily be replaced.
Now I know what I am bringing–what is next?
Once you have figured out what you would like to bring, the next step will be to search for offers corresponding to your transportation needs. On Transporteca’s website you will find a moving site specially designed to make your search for transport solutions of moving goods faster and more manageable.
Click here or go to transporteca.co.uk/moving-goods, here you simply select the desired product(s) from the list, fill in your information and send your request our way.
Another option is the ‘do-it-yourself method’: in this case you measure your goods yourself, then visit our home page transporteca.co.uk and fill in the total volume(m3) and weight(kg) of your shipment (don’t forget to select ‘moving goods’ instead of ‘commercial goods’). This may be a better solution if you are transporting goods with odd measurements or if you cannot find what you are looking for on the list.
Cubic meter is found by multiplying length(m), width(m) and height(m). For example, if a cabinet measures 50cm in length, 40cm in width and 110cm in height, the calculation would look like this: 0.5, x 0,4 x 1,1 = 0,22m3
After completing your transport inquiry we will contact you to learn more about the goods you are looking to send and also to discuss possible dates for collection and delivery. Once we have this information, we will get back to you with a non-binding quote within 24 hours.
Packing your goods
When moving within Europe, all your items should be packed in boxes, except furniture. It is important that all fragile items are packed in paper, bubble wrap, towels, or the like. It is your responsibility to make sure your goods are packed in a proper way so it does not suffer damage during transportation.
Make sure you use professional moving boxes as these are much stronger, and can carry more weight than the regular, lighter version. This ensures that your boxes are stable and protect your goods in the best way. Please note that the weight limit of your moving boxes is 23 kilos each. This complies with the chauffeurs guidelines for weight restrictions, thus giving the driver the best working conditions.
When moving personal effects within the EU, you do not have to make a packing list, and you are also exempt from paying customs duties. This is because you are moving within the customs union and thus not crossing any of its borders. However, for all goods moving in or out of Norway and Switzerland, the local customs authorities require specific information on the goods in order for it to pass through customs. Therefore you must fill out a packing list when entering or leaving non-EU countries.
Who will be transporting my moving goods?
Most freight forwarders are not interested in handling moving goods. This is due to unfortunate experiences in the past. Experiences triggered by private customers’ lack of knowledge in regards to how forwarders work, thus leaving all parties unsatisfied.
Fortunately, there is an even better solution for moving within Europe: Private carriers. A carrier is a man-with-a-van and is more suitable for handling moving goods and personal effects within Europe because:
– They ensure the best handling of your goods: They do not stop at multiple warehouses to reload and repack your goods. Your goods will be collected and delivered in the same truck and will not be unloaded on the way.
– They are easy to get a hold of. Should there be shifts in the timetable, they are only a phone call away. When dealing with forwarders, all information has to go through the forwarder and it is not possible to call the driver directly.
– They have a lot of experience with the road network in Europe.
– Most importantly, they are willing to deal with private effects, which forwarders are not. This also means that they have great experience dealing with private customers.
Pickup and delivery
The chauffeur will arrive on the agreed date and will contact you no later than half an hour before arrival. It may be difficult for him to provide a precise time and date for pickup and delivery several weeks prior to the move as there are various factors, which are out of the chauffeurs’ control, that may contribute to changes in the timetable. Queuing, road accidents, last minute transport bookings–meaning extra stops on the way, cancellations, or just a single customer who is not home on the agreed time may all lead to delays or other shifts in the timetable.
Delivery works in the same way as pickup. The many unforeseen factors as mentioned above can affect the day and time of delivery.
Therefore, it is expected that you are flexible in regards to pickup and delivery of your goods and it is always a good idea to calculate some extra time on the scheduled dates. This provides optimal conditions for the carrier. Should there be any shifts in the timetable, the chauffeur will contact you directly with further details. Please make sure that you receive all your belongs upon delivery.
All your items should be packed in moving boxes and sitting outside your residence ready to go when the chauffeur arrives. Together, you will move the goods to the van and the driver will make sure that the goods are loaded and packed securely. If you are not able to have your goods ready on the ground floor, but need help carrying them down from the first floor or higher, this will cost extra and will have to be pointed out in advance.
Transport insurance on private effects
At Transporteca, we offer our customers to add a transport insurance. A transport insurance covers damaged or lost goods during transit and will generally entitle you to a greater compensation in case of loss or damages. If you buy a transport insurance, you will be covered by First Marine Insurance, who is an experienced player in the field of transportation.
The price of the transport insurance depends on the value of your moving goods + the transportation costs, and is easy to calculate:
Transporting moving goods/personal effects within Europe: 1.5% of the total value, but a minimum of GBP 90.
Transporting arts/antiques within Europe: 4.0% of the total value, but a minimum of GBP 240.
Price examples
When you are moving within Europe it is always a door-to-door service. To give you an idea of the price level, we have summarized a list of examples below:
London to Barcelona, 0,5m3, – GBP 225 incl. 25% VAT
Manchester to Florence, 3,5m3 – GBP 963 incl. 25% VAT
Birmingham to Lisbon, 8m3 – GBP 1.682 incl. 25% VAT
Newcastle to Milano, 2,5m3 – GBP 607 incl. 25% VAT
Malaga to Brighton, 5m3 – GBP 825 incl. 25% VAT
Munich to Bristol, 19m3 – GBP 2.738 incl. 25% VAT
If you have any questions regarding moving within Europe, feel free to get in touch at [email protected]