Removal Cost to Spain from the UK

It isn’t difficult to see why so many Brits leave our rainy shores behind to start new lives in sunny Spain. Even with Brexit on the horizon, thousands of British citizens emigrate every year, whether to study, work, retire or simply to spend time exploring and experiencing everything that Spain has to offer.

Naturally, however, this isn’t a trip that you should take lightly. An international move takes a great deal of organisation, even before you get to the point of deciding what you are taking with you and how you will be making the journey itself. Luckily, most people tend to realise this early on, giving them plenty of time to get in all the necessary research.

One of the most common questions we face at AnyVan is just how much removals from the UK to Spain typically costs. While it is certainly important to get a fair price, it is more important that you book a thorough and high-quality service. Ideally, your provider will be able to include packing, transporting, loading, unloading and more as standard, as well as adequate insurance to cover all of your belongings. You will rarely get this level of service with a cheap white-van man, so do not put your trip in peril for the sake of pinching a few pennies!

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what you should expect to pay in order to move from the UK to Spain.

Moving to Spain from the UK

The good news is that, even with Brexit on the horizon, it is still fairly simple for British citizens to set up new homes in Spain. The Freedom of Movement Act is still valid, provided you have a UK, BOC, BOTC, BS or BPP passport, so you should have no trouble settling in a country that is an EU member state. The rules will be different if you are not a British or EU citizen in which case your best bet will be to search for specific information online, or to contact your nearest Spanish embassy.

While you will not need a visa if you are a British citizen, you will still need to apply for a residency card within 3 months of arriving in Spain. This is known as a ‘Tarjeta de Residencia’. You will also need an ‘Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE)’, a foreign identity number. Finally, keep in mind that even if you do not become a British citizen, any income you earn in Spain will still be taxed.

As for actually travelling to Spain, you should find making the jump fairly easy. Not only does Spain have over 91 airports, but it also boasts top-tier road and railway networks, especially around hubs like Madrid and Barcelona. That being said, if you are planning to bring a car from the UK to Spain, you will need to register it with Spanish authorities after you arrive.

Moving to Spain with a removal company

You may have heard that hiring a remover for an international move is more expensive than simply handling everything yourself. However, this is a classic false economy. Not only will the savings be eaten up by the costs of insuring your vehicle and belongings, but you will also need to pay for other factors such as packaging, to say nothing of how difficult it can be to try and move belongings and furniture without help.

It is also worth remembering that when using a professional removals company, you are also paying for peace of mind. Professionals will be able to provide the materials, labour and expertise to package, load, transport and unload your belongings without any issues. This is particularly important if you have any heavy, fragile or valuable items which require extra care. Professional removers can also provide insurance as standard, and can take out additional coverage if necessary. They will have the required vehicles ready, as well as the experience required to drive them on European roads. Perhaps most importantly of all, a reputable international removals firm will be experienced enough to be able to provide crucial advice to help you plan your move to Spain from the UK.

When considering the costs of moving to Spain, remember that it will typically be far safer, as well as more economical, to hire a professional remover.

How much does it cost to move to Spain from the UK?

The exact cost of moving to Spain from the UK usually depends on a few different factors:

• Belongings - How much are you taking with you to Spain? How large, heavy and valuable are your belongings? Depending on your answer, it may be preferable to ship your items. This can cost between £2,500 and £6,000, though removal companies with their own trucks may be able to provide a cheaper service. Transport by air is faster but far more expensive, though this will be less of an issue if you are not taking much with you
• Tax and VAT - Depending on how long you have owned certain items for and whether you have paid tax or VAT, you may have payments to make in Spanish customs. There should be no duty charges on personal goods which you have owned for three months or more. It will be best to discuss this with your remover if you are planning to take any antiques, vehicles or other valuables to Spain
• Vehicles - If you have owned your vehicle for more than six months, you should not need to pay VAT on it to transport it to Spain. If you have not paid VAT and are an EU citizen, you will need to pay 16% VAT. You will also need to pay registration tax, which should be around 12% depending on your vehicle’s CO2 emissions

While costs can vary significantly, the lesson you should take away from this is that a permanent move to Spain is not cheap! As such, you will want to plan your move carefully and have your remover itemise your costs before you make a booking. It may even be that you can make savings on aspects like packaging, so try to take everything into consideration.

However, you should not opt for an unreliable service simply because it is cheaper. If you do, you may risk inadvertently making your move to Spain far more expensive than you expect!

Get your quote for removals to Spain from just £79.