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How many quotes should you request for an international move?

Christiaan van der Ent ·

For an international move, it is best to request at least three quotes from recognised international moving companies. Three quotes give you enough insight to fairly compare offers on price, service, and reliability, without being overwhelmed by too many options. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about requesting, comparing, and choosing quotes for an international move.

How many moving companies should you compare at minimum?

Request at least three quotes from recognised international moving companies. Three is the magic number: with fewer than three quotes you have insufficient material for comparison, and with more than five the overview quickly becomes unmanageable. Three well-substantiated quotes give you a realistic picture of the market and help you make a well-considered decision.

With international moving within Europe, the price variation between moving companies can sometimes be significant, even for comparable services. This is because companies handle costs such as customs documentation, storage, insurance, and additional services differently. By comparing three quotes side by side, you can see not only the price difference, but also what is and is not included.

Limit your comparison to recognised moving companies. Look for members of industry organisations such as Top Movers Nederland, FIDI, or IAM. These memberships are not a formality; they stand for quality standards, dispute resolution procedures, and professional practices. An unknown provider with an attractive price but without accreditation carries risks that can quickly negate any savings.

What does a good quote for an international move include?

A good quote for an international move is detailed, transparent, and tailor-made. It contains at minimum a description of the volume to be moved, the route, the expected mode of transport, the included services, the insurance options, and a clear price breakdown with no hidden costs.

Check the following elements in every quote:

  • Volume survey: Is the quote based on a home visit or a digital inventory? An accurate measurement prevents surprises afterwards.
  • Mode of transport: Is it an exclusive shipment (your belongings alone in the vehicle) or a groupage shipment in which multiple moves are combined?
  • Customs documentation: Who arranges the required paperwork, import lists, and any exemptions? This is crucial for international moves.
  • Insurance: What is the coverage and what are the exclusions? A good quote makes this clear.
  • Additional services: Think of packing and unpacking service, assembly and disassembly of furniture, storage, or a handyman service for the completion of the move.
  • Additional costs: Are there extra charges for parking permits, shuttle service, or hard-to-reach addresses?

A quote that only states a total price without specifications is a warning sign. In an international move, the details determine both the costs and the quality of the execution.

How do you choose a reliable international moving company?

You can recognise a reliable international moving company by demonstrable accreditations, transparent communication, and its own resources for carrying out the move. Always check membership of recognised industry organisations, ask for references, and pay attention to whether the company carries out the move itself or outsources it.

Concrete signs of reliability include:

  • Membership of Top Movers Nederland, FIDI, or IAM
  • Own fleet of vehicles and own storage facilities (no dependence on third parties)
  • Own customs agents for arranging the correct documentation
  • Demonstrable experience with your specific destination or route
  • Clear and honest communication about costs, timelines, and responsibilities
  • Track-and-trace options for international shipments

We at Van der Ent Group, for example, have been active for more than 100 years, have received the Royal Warrant (Hofleverancier des Konings), and work with our own customs agents, our own fleet of vehicles, and our own storage facilities. This gives customers certainty: the entire move remains under our own management, from collection to delivery at the final destination.

Also read online reviews, but be critical. Look at the pattern in the reviews and pay specific attention to how the company handles complaints or complications. That says more about their way of working than a series of five-star reviews without substance.

When should you request quotes for an international move?

Request quotes for an international move as early as possible, preferably two to four months before the desired moving date. Good moving companies fill up quickly, especially during the peak season from April to September. Requesting early also gives you the space to compare and negotiate at your leisure.

Planning differs per situation. If you are moving to a popular destination such as Spain, the pressure on capacity during the summer months is particularly high. For the Netherlands–Spain route, one of the busiest corridors for Dutch emigrants, expats, and retirees, it is wise to start requesting quotes three months in advance.

Also take into account the time required for customs documentation and any exemptions. With worldwide moving outside Europe, customs procedures can take several weeks. The earlier you start, the more room you have to arrange everything properly without time pressure.

Can you negotiate a moving quote?

Yes, negotiating a moving quote is common and completely normal. Moving companies expect you to ask questions and compare. You can negotiate on price, but also on the content of the quote: additional services, flexible moving dates, or a better insurance option.

Effective negotiation works like this:

  1. Compare thoroughly first: Make sure you have at least three quotes before you start negotiating. That way you know what is in line with the market.
  2. Negotiate on content, not just price: Ask whether certain services can be added for the same budget, such as packing and unpacking service or a handyman service.
  3. Be transparent: If you have a lower quote from a competitor, you may honestly mention this. Serious moving companies will engage in that conversation.
  4. Watch what disappears: A lower price is only interesting if the quality and service level remain the same. Always check what has been removed from the quote to lower the price.

Be cautious with companies that immediately drop their price significantly without further explanation. This may indicate that the original quote was not realistic, or that savings are being made on the execution.

What if your employer reimburses the move?

If your employer reimburses the move through a moving budget or relocation allowance, the process changes in a number of ways. You often have more budget to spend, but also more accountability. Always check in advance which costs are reimbursed and whether you may choose your own moving company or must go through the employer’s preferred supplier.

Many employers, from multinationals to government institutions, work with a relocation service or a fixed moving budget. In that case, there are often agreements about maximum costs, approval procedures, and the documents you need to submit. Make sure you request quotes that are complete and itemised, so you can easily submit them to your employer or HR department.

Also pay attention to the following practical points:

  • Ask whether the reimbursement is a fixed amount or an expense claim based on actual costs.
  • Check whether additional costs such as storage, insurance, and customs documentation are also reimbursed.
  • When moving to or from abroad, a vehicle import exemption may apply; this is sometimes also part of a relocation package.
  • Keep all quotes, invoices, and correspondence carefully for the administrative processing.

Employers who relocate employees internationally appreciate it when the employee is well organised and comes with a detailed quote from an accredited moving company. This speeds up the approval and prevents disputes afterwards about what does or does not fall under the reimbursement.

Veelgestelde vragen

Hoe lang duurt het gemiddeld om drie offertes te verzamelen en te vergelijken?

Het aanvragen van drie offertes kost doorgaans één tot twee weken, afhankelijk van hoe snel verhuisbedrijven reageren en of er een huisbezoek of digitale inventarisatie nodig is. Plan minimaal een extra week in om de offertes grondig naast elkaar te leggen en eventuele vragen te stellen. Door vroeg te beginnen — bij voorkeur twee tot vier maanden voor je verhuisdatum — heb je voldoende tijd zonder onder druk te staan.

Wat zijn de meest voorkomende fouten bij het vergelijken van verhuisoffertes?

De meest gemaakte fout is het vergelijken op totaalprijs zonder te kijken naar wat er daadwerkelijk in de offerte is opgenomen. Twee offertes met dezelfde prijs kunnen sterk verschillen in serviceniveau, verzekeringsdekking en inbegrepen douanedocumentatie. Vergelijk offertes daarom altijd op identieke onderdelen en vraag bij onduidelijkheden expliciet om een specificatie van de kosten.

Kan ik ook online of digitaal een offerte aanvragen, of is een huisbezoek verplicht?

Veel erkende internationale verhuisbedrijven bieden tegenwoordig digitale inventarisaties aan via een video-opname of een online inventarisatietool, wat praktisch is als je weinig tijd hebt. Een fysiek huisbezoek levert echter de meest nauwkeurige volumeopname op en verkleint de kans op meerkosten achteraf. Voor grotere verhuizingen of complexe routes is een huisbezoek dan ook sterk aan te raden.

Wat moet ik doen als de offertes sterk van elkaar afwijken in prijs?

Een grote prijsvariatie is een signaal om dieper te graven: vraag elk bedrijf om een gedetailleerde uitsplitsing van de kosten en controleer welke services wel of niet zijn meegenomen. Soms is een lage offerte gebaseerd op een groepagezending in plaats van exclusief transport, of ontbreken kosten voor douanedocumentatie en verzekering. Vergelijk dus altijd appels met appels voordat je een beslissing neemt op basis van prijs.

Is een internationale verhuisverzekering verplicht en wat dekt die precies?

Een internationale verhuisverzekering is niet wettelijk verplicht, maar wel sterk aanbevolen gezien de risico’s van transport over lange afstanden, douaneprocedures en eventuele opslag. Een goede verzekering dekt schade door transport, brand, diefstal en waterschade, maar let op de uitsluitingen zoals breekbare items die niet professioneel zijn ingepakt. Vraag bij elk verhuisbedrijf naar de exacte dekkingsomvang en vergelijk ook of het zinvol is om een aanvullende verzekering af te sluiten via je eigen verzekeraar.

Wat gebeurt er als mijn verhuizing vertraging oploopt door douaneproblemen?

Douanevertraging is een reëel risico bij internationaal verhuizen, zeker buiten de EU, en kan oplopen van enkele dagen tot meerdere weken afhankelijk van het land van bestemming. Een betrouwbaar verhuisbedrijf met eigen douanedeclaranten anticipeert hierop door tijdig de juiste documentatie voor te bereiden en je actief te begeleiden door het proces. Vraag bij het aanvragen van offertes altijd naar de ervaringen van het bedrijf met douaneprocedures op jouw specifieke route en of tijdelijke opslag bij vertraging is inbegrepen.

Hoe weet ik zeker dat een verhuisbedrijf de verhuizing zelf uitvoert en niet uitbesteedt?

Vraag het bedrijf rechtstreeks of zij de volledige verhuizing in eigen beheer uitvoeren of werken met onderaannemers, en wie er feitelijk verantwoordelijk is als er iets misgaat. Bedrijven met een eigen wagenpark, eigen opslagfaciliteiten en eigen douanedeclaranten hebben doorgaans meer controle over de kwaliteit en communicatie gedurende het hele traject. Transparante bedrijven beantwoorden deze vraag zonder aarzeling; terughoudendheid hierover is een waarschuwingssignaal.

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