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Self move to Spain

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 2:00pm
12 replies561 views9 members subscribed
CatM

Posts: 13

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 17 Jun 2021

Hi! Has anyone on here managed their own household goods removals, as in, hired a huge van and driven themselves over, from UK to Spain? I know a lot of people seem to leave a lot behind and just source new furniture etc in their new foreign home but...I would want to bring nearly all of mine over with me. Post Brexit, I would imagine quite a lot has changed but how much it affects household contents moves, I just don't know. Quotes received from official companies have been high with mentions of having to go through customs with a full inventory, translated documents and potential customs taxes? Pre Brexit, someone I know moved from the UK to France and brought all their household goods over in a rented pantechnicon with ex HGV driver father doing the trip for them? Would this still be possible to Spain or........any help and advice gratefully received! Kind regards, Cath.

beauly

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 9:56am

beauly

Helpful member

Posts: 206

89 helpful points

Location: La Alfoquia

Joined: 2 Apr 2018

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 9:56am

Hi there. Things have changed dramatically since Brexit. I think the information you have been given is correct re having a detailed inventory and translated. To get the correct information, best to Google the government UK pages to see what is correct or contact the British consulate. You will possibly get all kinds of answers Ona Forum !!!!  Sorry cannot be more helpful ….

Andymac

Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 10:13am

Andymac

Helpful member

Posts: 161

101 helpful points

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 1 Jul 2021

Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 10:13am

Hi, I am moving out in September (hopefully) and I looked at the option of a self move but when I costed it, it came out expensive and a lot more hassle. I have the license to drive anything up to the old HGV 1 but I would have to have done all the driving, I needed a couple of friends to help both ends, and the cost of stops and fuel, the ferry options were also difficult, through France, 2 custom stops and at least 2 stopovers. Overnight ferry to Spain and at least one stop as the ferry gets in mid-afternoon and nearly a 1,000 km drive. Then the costs of getting the vehicle and friends back.

The moving quotes were all over the place, up to £7,000 in one instance. However I managed to get a good quote, collection and delivery door to door and agreed dates, customs done by themnot one of these that pick up, put it on another vehicle and then a date of delivery that suits them.

I am also taking my car, another debate in itself!

I suppose it depends where you are in the UK, to decide which ferry route to use but to within a few   hundred pounds I found a company called Rightmoving, based in Dorset, very competitive.

Hope this helps.

Mick1984

Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 2:00pm

Posts: 68

36 helpful points

Location: Cantoria

Joined: 4 Nov 2020

Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 2:00pm

Hi, 

Our furniture arrives Tuesday in Cantoria. I have to agree with Andymac, we looked at self move however after adding it all up, van hire, ferry, fuel, route you decided to use we decided against it. We got very competitive quotes ending up with a local company 'Simply moves' doing the job and doing it very well too. Yes  everything is itemised but it's not difficult.

As a foot note we came back out on Saturday and we were one of a couple singled out for a car search along with several white vans.

Good luck either way

David62

Posted: Mon Aug 2, 2021 12:24pm

Posts: 53

41 helpful points

Location: Bédar

Joined: 28 May 2021

Posted: Mon Aug 2, 2021 12:24pm

Hi

You can still take your goods across to Spain on your own like that, but unless you have the appropriate paper work to confirm that you own (or rent long term) a property in Spain, you will be charged duty, which can I believe be upwards of 30% the value of the goods.

We are currently looking to move in September and in order to do so, have been advised that we need to be able to present the following documentation.

The logic behind it is that you need to be able to prove that the goods are yours and are not likely to be sold on once you have entered Spain. From the Spanish governments perspective the most reliable method of providing this evidence is by proof of the fact that you reside in Spain, hence the particular paperwork.

Note that if you are already a Spanish resident or have a Non-Lucrative Visa, then that pretty much covers you.

▪ Copy of Passport

▪ NIE card (ID given to all foreigners living in Spain, IMPORTANT NUMBER IS ACTIVATED)

▪ Inventory list must be valued with a depreciated value for customs.

▪ Cancellation of residency from origin country IE certificate from town hall, or other documents crediting change of residence such as payment of council taxes for last 3 years, and work contract or letter confirming change of residence.

▪ Certificado de Empadronomiento (registration of residency at local town hall)


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CatM

Posted: Mon Aug 2, 2021 6:14pm

CatM

Original Poster

Posts: 13

Location: Lubrín

Joined: 17 Jun 2021

Posted: Mon Aug 2, 2021 6:14pm

SO helpful!! Thank you! Does the translated document have to have been done by an official and stamped as notarised? Or just good and correct Spanish? And where are the forms from that you need? Many thanks! Cath xx

Sveinb

Posted: Tue Aug 3, 2021 9:15am

Sveinb

Helpful member

Posts: 301

258 helpful points

Location: Sorbas

Joined: 11 Nov 2020

Posted: Tue Aug 3, 2021 9:15am

David62 wrote on Mon Aug 2, 2021 12:24pm:

Hi

You can still take your goods across to Spain on your own like that, but unless you have the appropriate paper work to confirm that you own (or rent long term) a property in Spain, you will be charged duty, which can I believe be upwards of 30% the value of the goods.

We are currently looking to move in September and in order to do so, have been advised that we need to be able to present the following documentation.

The logic behind it is that you need to be able to prove that the goods are yours and are not likely to be sold on once you have entered Spain. From the Spanish governments perspective the most reliable method of providing this evidence is by proof of the fact that you reside in Spain, hence the particular paperwork.

Note that if you are already a Spanish resident or have a Non-Lucrative Visa, then that pretty much covers you.

▪ Copy of Passport

▪ NIE card (ID given to all foreigners living in Spain, IMPORTANT NUMBER IS ACTIVATED)

▪ Inventory list must be valued with a depreciated value for customs.

▪ Cancellation of residency from origin country IE certificate from town hall, or other documents crediting change of residence such as payment of council taxes for last 3 years, and work contract or letter confirming change of residence.

▪ Certificado de Empadronomiento (registration of residency at local town hall)


And don't forget serial numbers of all electrical goods, stated in inventory (no, its not a joke)

Mick1984

Posted: Tue Aug 3, 2021 9:53am

Posts: 68

36 helpful points

Location: Cantoria

Joined: 4 Nov 2020

Posted: Tue Aug 3, 2021 9:53am

Sveinb wrote on Tue Aug 3, 2021 9:15am:

And don't forget serial numbers of all electrical goods, stated in inventory (no, its not a joke)

I'm sat in Cantoria waiting for my removals to arrive from the UK today. We itemised everything box 1 kitchen utensils and so on. All the shipping agent required was a total estimate of goods being shipped in our case the size of a two bedroom house. We didn't have to register any serial numbers of any electrical equipment. Difficulties were encountered along the way but were resolved by the agent. Now looking forward to the stuff arriving.

David62

Posted: Tue Aug 3, 2021 11:33am

Posts: 53

41 helpful points

Location: Bédar

Joined: 28 May 2021

Posted: Tue Aug 3, 2021 11:33am

CatM wrote on Mon Aug 2, 2021 6:14pm:

SO helpful!! Thank you! Does the translated document have to have been done by an official and stamped as notarised? Or just good and correct Spanish? And where are the forms from that you need? Many thanks! Cath xx

So we were simply advised that to generally list content was sufficient (for example, one box might say "Books and Kitchen utensils"). No mention was made on need for serial numbers on electrical goods etc. As far as the translation is concerned, your own Google translate should suffice and it certainly won't need to be legalised/notarised. 

Curly

Posted: Wed Aug 4, 2021 10:52am

Posts: 25

5 helpful points

Location: Velez-Rubio

Joined: 1 Oct 2016

Posted: Wed Aug 4, 2021 10:52am

Like you, I researched this and discovered how expensive it was to haul goods over to my holiday home in Velez Rubio.  So I bought a beat-up old transit van for £600 on ebay (mechanically sound but the bodywork was rusty) and drove my bits and bobs over myself.  It cost about £500 in diesel and overnight accommodation but I considered the journey part of my holiday.

Even better, when I returned back to the UK a couple of weeks later, I sold the van for £650!!

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