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Abels van - a leading company for overseas relocations & a trusted international moving company.

International Removals from the UK

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Your International Removals Service, From a UK Leader

Moving overseas means trusting someone else with everything you own. Our professional packing services and trained international relocation team prepare your household goods and personal belongings using expert packing materials and techniques, so you can ship furniture overseas with confidence. As an international removals company, we look after the entire process, from the first survey to final delivery in your new country.

International Removals – Trusted Global Relocation Services
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Proud Members of the British Association of Removers

Abels is a long-standing BAR member, abiding by BAR’s strict Code of Practice and covered by the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee so your deposit is protected. We hold BAR’s “Overseas Remover” accreditation, alongside FIDI/FAIM membership, ISO 9001, 14001, 27001 and 45001 certification, and IAM membership.

What’s Included in Your International Move

When you choose Abels, your international moving service includes:

  • Professional export packing and wrapping
  • Secure shipping by sea, air or road
  • Full customs clearance, with customs paperwork handled on your behalf
  • Detailed inventories, plus MoveProtect Liability Cover and shipment protection for your personal effects
  • UK and overseas storage
  • Advice on visas, prohibited items such as perishable goods, and international regulations, which vary by destination country

We’re with you at every stage of your move, wherever in the world it’s headed, working with trusted customs brokers at your destination who handle the paperwork and any inspection on arrival, so you can make an informed decision at every step.

Abels staff handling sculptured art with care, offering safe transport for delicate items across the UK & through our overseas moving company services.

International Services Designed Around You

From packing and shipping to storage and currency, Abels manages every part of your international move from a single point of contact, for a seamless transition to your new country.

Export Packing

Export Packing

Trained in-house, our packers export-wrap and protect your furniture and fragile items for international transport. Our packing services use the same professional standards for every move.

Learn more about Export Packing Learn about Export Packing
International Shipping

International Shipping

We ship by road, sea freight in secure containers, or air freight when speed matters more than cost, and advise on the best route and shipping options for your move, including inland haulage to the departure port or airport.

Learn more about International Shipping More on International Shipping
Overseas Storage

Overseas Storage

Secure storage in the UK and abroad bridges any gap between moving dates, so your move doesn’t have to wait on everything lining up perfectly.

Learn more about Overseas Storage Learn about Overseas Storage
Vehicle Transportation & Storage

Vehicle Transportation & Storage

If a car or motorbike is part of your move, we transport vintage, classic, high-performance or simply much-loved vehicles worldwide with the same care as everything else we move, and can store them securely in the UK or abroad if your dates don’t line up.

Learn more about Vehicle Transportation & Storage More on vehicle transportation
FX Transfers

FX Transfers

We work with preferred partners to offer safe, cost-efficient currency exchange.

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Private Collections

Private Collections

We look after fine art, antiques, wine and paintings, in the UK and abroad, working with trusted partners across Europe.

Learn more about Private Collections Learn about our Art services

European Moves and Worldwide Groupage Shipping

Smaller shipments can travel by groupage, a shared container that keeps costs down without needing a dedicated container. Full container options come in 20ft or 40ft sizes for larger moves. We run regular routes across Europe and a wider network reaching Australia, Canada, South Africa, the UAE and the USA. Ask about a priority option if your move is time-critical.

Overseas Removals: How We Ship Internationally

Whether you need overseas shipping for a smaller load or a full home, your Move Manager will talk through the shipping containers and routes that suit your volume, then coordinate final delivery to your home overseas.

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Abels Luggage Delivery Service

For smaller international shipments, our dedicated luggage service offers a quick, convenient solution, perfect for students, frequent flyers, and light movers.

How an International Move With Abels Works

Every move follows the same clear path, with a dedicated Move Manager as your single point of contact throughout, so your international relocation stays stress free:

  • Enquiry and survey: we assess your move with a home or video survey, so your quote reflects exactly what you’re moving.
  • Written, itemised quotation: one proposal covering labour, packing and MoveProtect, with no hidden extras.
  • Packing, shipping and customs: full inventory, then customs documentation handled for you.
  • Delivery and aftercare: we unpack, reassemble, and follow up.

Timings depend on your circumstances, but your Move Manager will map out your specific schedule at quotation stage. Request your free quote to get started.

What Affects the Cost of an International Move

Every move is priced individually after a survey, and costs vary depending on the same factors on every route:

  • The volume of what you’re moving
  • Your destination and the shipping method used, whether that’s groupage, a sole-use container, or air freight
  • Export packing requirements, including fragile or high-value items
  • Customs formalities, import duty and any destination charges that apply
  • Storage before departure or after arrival
  • Your chosen level of MoveProtect cover

Your survey gives you a clear, itemised quote based on your actual volume, destination and requirements, with nothing hidden and nothing added later.

Why Choose Abels for International Removals

Abels has been moving families and businesses since 1958. As a Royal Warrant holder, a BAR member and a FIDI/FAIM accredited international moving company, we’re a reliable international removal company with a proven track record, and customers trust us to handle each move with care. You can read verified customer reviews before you decide.

That’s the standard we hold on every job: BAR membership, MoveProtect cover, and crews who treat your belongings like their own.

A Global Move Manager, A Worldwide Network

You’ll have a single point of contact overseeing logistics, customs and support, starting with a free pre-move survey so your quote reflects exactly what you’re moving, right through to safe delivery abroad. Our global network of trusted partners supports your move at the destination, while our own teams look after everything before it leaves the UK as a moving company you can rely on.

Moving Abroad?
Explore Abels Overseas Destinations Worldwide

From Portugal to Pakistan, Oman to Mexico, Abels has helped families relocate across the globe.

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International Removals FAQs

What are the best international removal companies in the UK?

Look for BAR membership with Overseas Remover accreditation, FIDI/FAIM certification, ISO-certified management, and the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. Abels holds all of these. Our moving FAQs answer more of the questions we hear most often.

What is the cheapest way to move internationally?

Sharing a groupage (shared) container is generally the most cost-effective way to ship a smaller load overseas, and sea freight usually costs less than air freight. Decluttering before you move and giving plenty of notice also help. Import duty and customs rules vary by destination, so ask your Move Manager what applies to your move.

How much notice do I need to give for an international move?

Give as much notice as you can. A move tied to a house sale needs the most planning, so get in touch early and we’ll build a schedule around your dates. Renting is usually quicker. If unforeseen circumstances change your timetable, your Move Manager will keep you updated.

What documents will I need to provide?

An Acceptance Form, a MoveProtect Form, a copy of your passport, and the customs documentation your destination requires. You’ll also need an EORI number for UK customs declarations, which we help you sort as part of the process. We send a Relocation Guide to walk you through it.

What if I want more protection than standard liability cover?

Standard liability cover on international moves often doesn’t cover full replacement value. MoveProtect offers enhanced options including door-to-door cover and new-for-old replacement, quoted separately alongside your removal costs.
Home Removals

Start Your International Move Today: Get a Quote

Get in touch with our removal experts today for a free estimate and see how simple your move abroad can be. Tell us whether you need removals, removals and storage, or storage only, where you are moving from and to, and a few details about your move. Your Relocation Consultant will take it from there.