Moving to England
Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, moving to England is no longer ordinary transport within Europe. Furniture and personal belongings cross a customs border, so besides a lorry and a crew you need paperwork submitted before departure. 4RELO from Wrocław handles both parts: the logistics of crossing the English Channel and the formalities without which your load would get stuck at the port.
Customs relief – the ToR1 form
HMRC offers relief for people moving their residence to the United Kingdom (Transfer of Residence). Thanks to it, used furniture and personal belongings enter free of customs duty and VAT. The ToR1 application is submitted online before arrival, and the reference number you receive is needed for the customs declaration of the load.
- You must have lived outside the United Kingdom for at least 12 months before the move.
- The items should belong to you and have been used by you – for a car, at least six months is required.
- Goods covered by the relief must not be sold, hired out or given away for 12 months after import.
- The relief does not cover, among other things, alcohol, tobacco products and equipment used for business.
The application needs proof of your residence in Poland and in England, plus an inventory of goods. We draw up the inventory together with you during packing, and we prepare the export declaration on the EU side and the import declaration on the UK side in cooperation with a customs agency. You can read more on our customs clearance page.
Across the Channel: Eurotunnel or ferry
Eurotunnel Calais–Folkestone
The lorry drives onto a rail wagon and the crossing under the Channel takes about half an hour. Less dependent on the weather, a good choice when deadlines are tight.
Calais–Dover ferry
The crossing takes about an hour and a half. Sailings are frequent, but storms and the summer peak can cause delays.
Before boarding, the vehicle must have its journey registered in the UK system and linked to the customs declaration. Without this the carrier will not let the lorry onto the ship or the train.
Distances to cities in England
| Destination | Approx. km from Wrocław | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| London | 1,400 | 2–3 days including crossing and clearance |
| Birmingham | 1,580 | 3 days |
| Bristol | 1,590 | 3 days |
| Manchester | 1,720 | 3 days |
| Leeds | 1,730 | 3 days |
The route runs through Germany and the Netherlands or Belgium to the French coast. England drives on the left and charges extra fees for foreign lorries, which we include in the quote.
What not to pack for England
The United Kingdom has its own rules on food and plants. Do not bring meat, cured meats or dairy, and potted plants and soil are best left in Poland. Weapons, ammunition and larger quantities of prescription medicines require separate permits. Everything on your inventory should match what is in the boxes – customs officers may check.
Moving to England – questions
Will I pay duty on my furniture without the ToR1 form?
Without relief granted, imported items may be subject to customs duty and VAT. That is why it is worth applying well in advance, before we fix the loading date.
Can my belongings be sent later than I travel?
Yes. Your goods can follow you, as long as you stay within the time limits for the relief. In the meantime they can stay in our storage.
Do you move belongings from England to Poland?
Yes. Returning to Poland also involves customs clearance, and people moving their residence to the EU can use the relief for household effects.
Do you also handle small moves to England?
Yes, but with a small load the fixed costs of clearance and the crossing make up a bigger share of the price. You can work out the volume in the calculator.
Moving to England for good?
We will prepare the inventory for ToR1, the customs clearance and the Channel crossing – the quote is free.
Free quote