Why Choose White & Company?
Planning to move to France in the near future? Here’s just a few of the reasons why you should consider choosing White & Company as your designated removals specialist:
- Offices & storage depots in France & UK
- Door-to-door packing & removals
- Founder member of BAR, FIDI
- Members of OMNI
- Award winning service
- Established in the UK since 1871
- Fully insured
- Dedicated team of trained professionals
- Tailored removals package
We are founder members of the well-respected British Association of Removers, FIDI & OMNI and have been providing removal and shipping services to destinations all over the world for over 137 years.
Whether you’re moving from Portsmouth to Paris, or the Essex countryside to the French Riviera. Our highly trained removals team are equipped to deliver to any city, town or island.
Our removals service
Our extensive fleet of vehicles, specialist local knowledge and experienced staff make us the standout choice for all removals to France.
We can arrange a free no obligation home or on-line survey and quotation, carried out by one of our qualified surveyors. They will answer any questions you have and offer advice where necessary.
The survey will determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The total cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in our vehicles.
Regular removals to France
We offer weekly removals services to and from France.
This includes either full load consignments that take your belongings direct from point A to B, or part loads that are delivered shortly after your arrival.
With full load services our team will arrange the unloading and unpacking of your household items exclusively onto our own fleet of trucks.
If you are moving with fewer items or are staggering your move to France, you may want to opt for a part load service.
The service is completely the same, but we will combine several customers’ loads onto one high-capacity truck to save time and reduce transport costs.
Our dedicated team in France will ensure all the relevant paperwork and customs clearance is processed correctly. They will arrange the unloading and unpacking of your household goods.
Depot Locations
White & Company offers secure containerised storage facilities via its own depots. We have 19 secure units dotted throughout the UK and our partners in France can also offer storage facilities.
All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European Standard BS EN 14873.
Recognition
White & Company are members of the British Association of Removers, FIDI & OMNI, renowned regulators of the removals industry both in the UK and internationally.
As such we are responsible not only for meeting the highest sets of standards but listening to our customers on how we can continue to improve our performance.
In addition to this we are also affiliate members of the FIDI & OMNI international relocation network and have industry partners all over the world.
Insurance For Removals to France
Despite our best efforts sometimes items can get damaged, or things go amiss. White & Company always try to minimise problems during the moving process, that’s why we offer limited liability insurance.
Marine insurance is a key consideration when shipping overseas. We recommend that you consider protecting your valuable personal possessions while in transit and/or storage with our ‘All Risk’ Marine Standard Liability cover.
Marine Insurance Cover is offered to you on receipt of a completed Overseas Valuation Form. Such Marine Insurance Cover is ‘Comprehensive’ and ‘All Risk’ and is based on the values as declared by you on the Overseas Valuation Form.
Moving to France? Get a removals quote
Preparing for Your Move
Choosing a removal company who have a proven track record with European moves will give you peace of mind that your personal belongings are in safe hands.
Each European country has its own rules and regulations and France is no different.
There can be some unusual parking rules and in many French towns, parking is permitted on one side of the street for the first half of the month and on the other for the second.
More troublesome is that not all towns have large open streets. Some have very narrow roads (especially in the older parts of the city) which need to be carefully navigated.
Thankfully our experienced moving team can help put you at ease and answer any questions you might have about the process of moving to France.
Our drivers are equipped with local knowledge of the roads having carried out many successful delivers before.
Below are some further things to consider before you move to France:
- Register – Non-EU Citizens will need to apply for the appropriate visa to enter or live in France.
- Research – Before you buy a property it is advisable to get independent legal advice. Most properties in city centres will be expensive and small. But the further outside of the centre you venture you can expect to get much more space.
- Rent before you buy – This will give you time to decide which part of the city would suit your requirements: close to the busy centre or in the suburbs which cater more for families.
- Location, location, location – Carefully plan where in France you are going to relocate to. Choosing the right location can either make or break your experience
- Healthcare – Your company may be covering the cost of private health insurance. If not, research what public healthcare you are entitled to or consider private options.
- Secure school places early – Expats tent to send their children to an international school, where English is the main language. They can study for international qualifications accepted in their home country like the IB.
- Language – Start taking French lessons before you go, to help integrate quicker and gain higher paid work.
FAQs
Several factors will be included when calculating the cost of your move:
The volume of your effects (space they take up in the vehicle).
Distance our vehicles have to travel to get to you.
Customs documentation charges
Certain sundry fees such as ferry crossing costs and special parking permits, hoists and shuttle vehicles.
Pieces of furniture or delicate/specialist items may require certain care and attention that may incur additional expense.
Items such as pianos may require a hoist if stairwells or lifts are not large enough. Note these extra requirements can be costly as they must be arranged independently on the French side.
For British Citizens resident in the EU, there are further questions regarding pension rights post-Brexit. The good news is that for UK nationals resident in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland before 31 December 2020, nothing has changed.
Your rights are protected under the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement, and EU member states will take into account all contributions made to UK or EU state pension schemes.
For those who moved to the EU after this date, or those hoping to move or retire to France or another EU country in the future, there have been some changes regarding certain UK benefits.
However, rest assured that if you are entitled to a UK state pension, it is still possible to claim this if you move abroad.
To legally drive on French roads, you need to be over 18 years and hold a valid driving license.
British citizens can drive in France with a foreign issued (UK) driving licence.
We can arrange to transport your car direct to your new home in one of our large trucks. (This service excludes larger vehicles or very low sports cars).
Speak to our surveyor when he carries out your home survey regarding costs and logistics. See the following Expatica guide for more details about driving and parking in France.
Most domestic pets can enter France. However, there are certain things that you need to do.
Firstly, you need to prove that your pet is in good condition regardless of what type of animal they are. Below are some useful tips to follow:
Arrange an appointment with your veterinary surgeon well in advance of travel.
Ensure you have plenty of time to get your pet vaccinated against diseases such as rabies parvo, lepto, distemper and feline enteritis.
Arrange for blood tests to be done in good time before you travel
Dogs, cats and horses are required to have an EU Pet Passport.
Rabbits and guinea pigs do not need vaccinations but may need to be de-flead.
There is a wealth of information online regarding the import of pets into France.
We endeavour to use environmentally friendly packing materials which are specifically sourced to ensure they are eco-friendly. All our used cardboard is compacted and sent to a recycling facility.
For extra protection, double-thickness cartons are used to wrap china and glassware.
Quilted blankets are used to wrap items such as sofas and arm chairs and bubble wrap is also used as added protection.
We can arrange for wooden made-to-measure crates to be made to safeguard expensive items such as antiques.
If you plan to spend any considerable time in France it makes sense to open a French bank account.
You can continue to use your UK account, however, this can be problematic in the long term, especially if you intend to make large purchases such as homes and cars. Moreover, English cards are not always widely acceptable. Some French automated systems in petrol stations and payment tills on autoroutes are not compatible with UK cards.
To open an account you should make an appointment with your local bank. Remember to bring with you the following:
your passport
a utility bill showing you have a French residence (or letter from your notaire)
Popular French banks include Crédit Lyonnaise, Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP Paribas) and Société Générale. The co-operatives include Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel and Banque Populaire.
UK Citizens can drive in France on their Great Britain or Northern Ireland driver’s license. You must be over the age of 18 years.
For those relocating to France, after a certain period, you will have to exchange the licence for a French one. You may also have to take a French driving test in some regions.
However, if you commit a driving offence whilst in France and get points on your UK licence you will be forced to exchange it for a French license.
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