Alltranz LTD has made over fifty trips to Europe from our depot at Long March Industrial Estate, Daventry, and a good number of those have been Spain moves. We hold an International CPC, which means customs paperwork is part of what we do rather than something we hand off. If you have decided to move to Spain and are now working out what to do with your possessions, this guide covers the three main decisions: take it with you, put it in storage, or sell and start fresh.
The Three Decisions Every UK-to-Spain Mover Faces
Most people trying to plan a move to Spain end up overwhelmed because they attempt all three things at once: shipping some items, storing others and selling the rest, without a clear framework to guide each choice. The three decisions are straightforward when you take them one at a time. Take it with you, put it in storage, or let it go. Most Spain moves use a combination of all three.
Decision 1: Take It With You
Shipping your belongings to Spain is the right call when the items are genuinely worth moving: furniture you have chosen over years, a piano, kitchen equipment you use daily, sentimental pieces that cannot be replaced. The question is how much of that list is real and how much is habit.
Full load vs. part load
A full container (20ft) carries the contents of a three or four-bedroom house. It moves on your schedule, with your own door-to-door customs paperwork handled by Alltranz from Daventry. A part load shares the container with other customers, which brings the volume and cost down to suit a flat or a selective move. Part loads take longer because the container waits until it is filled. Allow extra weeks on the timeline if you go that route.
Alltranz holds an International CPC and has completed over fifty European trips, so the customs side is not a new problem. If you need car transportation alongside the household move, that is a separate service we can run in parallel.
Decision 2: Put It in Storage
Not everyone moves to Spain permanently on day one. If you are testing the water, waiting for a property to complete, or simply want time to work out what your Spanish home actually needs, storing belongings in the UK is a practical middle route.
When storage makes sense
Storage buys you flexibility. You move to Spain without dragging everything across the continent, and you retrieve or ship individual items once you know what the new property is missing. If you are renting first and buying later in Spain, UK storage is often cheaper than filling a rental with furniture you may not need long-term.
Short-term bridging storage vs. long-term storage
Alltranz runs containerised storage at Long March Industrial Estate, Daventry: 8ft, 10ft and 20ft shipping containers, internal crates and archive storage. Short-term gaps between exchange and completion are the most common use case. Longer-term storage suits anyone renovating the Spanish property or waiting out a rental agreement before committing to a permanent address.
Containerised storage at Long March Industrial Estate, Daventry. Short and long-term options in 8ft, 10ft and 20ft units.
A Simple Decision Framework: What to Take, Store or Go
Furniture you use daily
Take it: if volume allows
Store it: if the Spanish property is not ready
Sell or clear it: if it is functional and replaceable
Sentimental items
Take it: yes, if space permits
Store it: good option if moving in stages
Sell or clear it: only if they carry no meaning
Clothes and kitchen kit
Take it: selectively
Store it: rarely worth container space
Sell or clear it: most household items sell quickly
Piano or specialist items
Take it: yes, piano removals is a service we run regularly
Store it: possible with the right container
Sell or clear it: not recommended
Office or business equipment
Take it: via our office removals service
Store it: if your Spanish base is not yet set up
Sell or clear it: only if it has been replaced
If you are genuinely unsure, call 01327 876007 and describe your situation. A real person will come back with a practical recommendation rather than a generic quote form.
What Affects the Cost of Shipping Belongings to Spain
Cost on a UK-to-Spain removal is driven by several factors. Understanding them lets you make decisions that keep the quote manageable:
Volume. The single biggest driver. Fewer items means a smaller container or a more cost-effective part load.
Distance to port. Alltranz is based in Daventry with good motorway access. Properties that are difficult to reach add time and mileage.
Access at the destination. Narrow lanes, flights of stairs, building restrictions or remote rural locations all affect the delivery stage.
Time of year. Summer and holiday periods are busier across European freight routes.
Full load vs. part load. A dedicated vehicle costs more than a shared container but delivers faster.
Packing service required. Full export packing costs more than self-pack but provides better protection across a multi-handling-point route.
Insurance level. Higher declared values and broader cover affect the premium. Check with Alltranz on policy options before shipping high-value items.
On customs: if you are moving to Spain permanently and the items are genuinely yours, household goods and personal effects typically move duty-free under the personal effects exemption. Alltranz handles the paperwork from the UK side. Verify the current rules with the destination country's customs authority before the move.
How Alltranz Helps
Alltranz LTD handles Spain removals end to end from the Daventry depot. The team holds an International CPC, which covers the customs paperwork from the UK side. Export packing is provided in-house. The fleet runs full-load and part-load options depending on what you are moving.
Containerised storage is on site at Long March Industrial Estate for anyone bridging a gap between leaving the UK and settling into their Spanish property. The quote is fixed, not subject to revision on loading day. Call 01327 876007 or use the contact form to request a survey.
Alltranz LTD's European removals service: surveys, export packing, tracked transit and delivery across Europe including Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much notice do I need to give for a Spain move?
For a UK-to-Spain removal, 6 to 8 weeks' notice is the practical minimum during busy periods. In quieter months, 4 to 6 weeks usually works. The earlier you book, the more flexibility you have on loading and delivery dates.
Q: Can I store items while I get settled in Spain?
Yes. Alltranz runs containerised storage at the Daventry depot. Short-term bridging storage covers the gap between leaving your UK property and receiving your first shipment in Spain. Longer-term storage suits anyone renovating or renting before committing to a permanent address. Request a storage quote and describe your timeline.
Q: What is the difference between a part-load and a full load?
A full load means your belongings fill the vehicle and it goes directly to your destination. A part-load means your items share the container with other customers heading in the same direction. A full load is faster. A part-load is more cost-effective for a flat or a selective move. Your surveyor will advise which makes sense for your volume and schedule.
Q: Can I pack some things myself?
Yes. Alltranz offers a full pack, a fragile-only pack, or a self-pack option where you handle your own boxes and the crew loads them. For an international move, fragile and high-value items are better packed professionally to export standard. Standard household items packed carefully in good-quality boxes travel well as self-pack.
Q: What happens if my Spanish property completion is delayed?
Your belongings stay in the container at Alltranz's Daventry storage until you are ready. Storage can be extended on a rolling basis. Communicate any delays as early as possible so the delivery schedule can be adjusted without additional charges where avoidable.
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