Moving from the UK to Romania
Romania is one of the longest road corridors from the UK, at roughly 1,700 miles to Bucharest, crossing Belgium or the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary. It is a well-served route thanks to a large Romanian community in Britain, but the distance means transit times and costs are closer to Spain and Portugal than to the neighbouring Benelux.
How Much Does It Cost to Move from the UK to Romania?
| Home size | Shared load | Dedicated vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed | £1,700 – £3,400 | £2,900 – £4,700 |
| 2-bed | £2,500 – £4,600 | £3,800 – £6,300 |
| 3-bed | £4,000 – £7,400 | £5,700 – £9,500 |
| 4+ bed | £5,600 – £9,800 | £7,800 – £12,500 |
Calculate the cost of moving to Romania.
Transit Times
| Destination | Dedicated | Shared load |
|---|---|---|
| Timișoara and the west | 4–6 days | 12–18 days |
| Cluj-Napoca and Transylvania | 4–7 days | 12–20 days |
| Bucharest | 5–7 days | 14–21 days |
| Iași and the east | 5–8 days | 14–24 days |
| Constanța and the coast | 5–8 days | 14–24 days |
Part Loads Are the Norm
Like Poland, Romania sees a great deal of part-load traffic rather than whole-household relocations. Regular scheduled services run this corridor, and if you are sending a few rooms of furniture or returning belongings to family, a scheduled part-load operator will usually beat a general international remover substantially on price.
Ask specifically whether the operator runs a scheduled Romania service and how often. Frequency matters: a weekly service means a predictable delivery window, while an operator waiting to fill a vehicle could leave you waiting considerably longer.
Customs and Paperwork After Brexit
A UK to Romania move is an EU import. Used household goods are normally exempt from duty and Romanian VAT under transfer-of-residence relief when you are genuinely relocating and have owned and used the goods for at least six months.
You will need a detailed valued inventory, ideally in Romanian, proof of your Romanian address, passport and proof of prior ownership. Because the route crosses several countries, make sure the paperwork travels with the vehicle — a document problem discovered in Hungary is a slow one to resolve.
The CNP and Registration
The CNP (Cod Numeric Personal) is Romania's personal numeric code, needed for banking, healthcare, tax and employment. Registration is handled through the General Inspectorate for Immigration and the local authority, and requires proof of address and your right to reside.
Housing and What to Ship
Romanian rentals are commonly furnished, particularly in Bucharest and Cluj, so consider carefully whether a full household of furniture is worth the volume on such a long corridor.
Apartment blocks are often mid-rise with small lifts. Confirm lift dimensions before shipping anything large — sofas and wardrobes that will not fit a lift or stairwell are the most common delivery-day problem.
Vehicles and Practicalities
Vehicles must be registered in Romania after establishing residence, which involves a technical inspection and registration fees. Right-hand-drive vehicles are permitted but resale is difficult.
Pets need a microchip, rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
Next Steps
Price your move with the European moving cost calculator, then read the European removals guide for how groupage, customs and transit work across the continent.