Removals UK to France
Move It Removals runs removals UK to France from our base in Essex, moving households from Southend and across the county to Paris, Normandy, Brittany, the Dordogne, Provence and the Côte d’Azur. France is our closest European route, and one team plans the crossing, packs your belongings and delivers to your French address.
UK to France removals, handled properly
France is our closest European destination and one of the busiest, but it still needs proper planning and, since Brexit, the right customs paperwork. We have run French moves since 2003, so we know the crossings and the drive on the far side.
The same team handles the whole move, from the Essex collection to the French delivery, keeping one company accountable throughout. The UK end runs through our house removals team, and our European removals page shows how we work more widely.
How removals UK to France work
The move follows a set order, from the first visit to unloading in France.
Planning your move to France: crossings, distance and timings
France is the most flexible of our European routes, because the short Channel crossing lands you straight in the country. For northern France and Paris, we cross from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk, or take the Eurotunnel, and drive on. For the west, Normandy, Brittany, the Loire and the Atlantic coast, a direct ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo or Roscoff can save a lot of driving. For the south, Bordeaux, the Dordogne, Provence and the Côte d’Azur, it is a longer run down the autoroute.
A few things shape the plan for your move:
- Timing: how far south you are going is the biggest factor, northern France is a short hop while the Riviera or the Dordogne is a full day or more of driving. We plan around the crossing and your dates.
- Access at both ends: Paris apartment buildings with narrow stairwells and no lift, rural homes down long farm tracks in the Dordogne, and tight medieval village lanes in the south all need thought, along with your Essex access.
- The route: the short Channel crossing for the north, a western ferry to Normandy or Brittany for the Atlantic side, or the autoroute south, whichever suits your destination.
- Customs paperwork: France is in the EU, so most people moving their main home bring belongings in free of import duty and VAT under the EU relief for personal effects, handled by French customs (Douane). It usually wants a detailed inventory and proof you are moving your residence, and we prepare the declaration.
Packing and protection for the journey
Whether your belongings are heading to a Paris apartment or a farmhouse in the Dordogne, they are packed to travel the distance safely. Our trained, uniformed team wraps and boxes everything to export standard, boxes and materials included, with extra care for fragile and valuable items.
Every item is recorded on an inventory, which also serves as the packing list for customs. Every move is fully insured up to £100,000.
Storage if your dates
do not line up
French completion dates, especially on rural properties, can slip, and storage keeps your move flexible when they do. We hold your belongings at our own secure Essex facility and take them over to France once you are ready to receive them.
Our storage service explains how it works, or we can build it into your quote.
Why move to France
with Move It
Trusting your whole home to a mover for a move abroad is a big call, so we keep the job with one team you can hold accountable, from Essex to France. Move It grew from a single van in Southend in 2003 into a full removals operation with its own storage and larger vehicles, on the back of repeat customers and referrals.
We hold BAR membership and work to the Trading Standards approved Code of Practice, insure every French move to £100,000, and add no waiting-time charges.
Related European routes
Moving somewhere else in Europe? We also cover:
For destinations beyond Europe, see our overseas and international removals.
Removals UK to France: your questions answered
What affects the cost of a move to France?
Mainly the volume you are shipping, where in France you are headed, access at both properties, whether you want packing, and whether you need storage. Distance is the big one, the north is close while the south is a long drive. We quote after a survey, with no waiting-time charges.
How long does a move from the UK to France take?
It depends where you are going. Northern France is a short hop over the Channel, while the south or the Dordogne is a day or more of driving on top. We give you a realistic schedule after your survey.
Which crossing do you use for France?
For the north and Paris we take the short Dover to Calais or Dunkirk crossing or the Eurotunnel. For Normandy, Brittany and the west, a direct ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth can save driving. We pick the crossing that suits your destination.
What paperwork do I need to move to France?
France is in the EU, so most main-home moves come in free of import duty and VAT under the EU relief for personal effects, handled by French customs. It usually wants a detailed inventory and proof you are moving your residence. We prepare the declaration for you.
Do you pack for moves to France, and are materials included?
Yes. We bring the boxes and materials and pack to export standard, or you can pack yourself, with fragile or valuable pieces wrapped for the journey to France.
Can you store my belongings if my dates do not match?
Yes. We can hold your belongings at our own Essex facility and deliver to France once your new home is ready.
Are my belongings insured on the way to France?
Yes. Every move to France is covered up to £100,000, and we go through what is included before you book.
Get a removals UK to France quote
Planning a move to France? Call the team on 01702 277420 or fill in the quote form and we will come back with a clear plan and pricing for the route. Prefer to show us what is moving? Book a survey and we will take it from there.
