A move to Mallorca is pure logistics. Between packing up in Germany and your first evening in your new home on the island, several weeks pass, along with port handling, customs paperwork and often a long drive. With the right planning it becomes a manageable project. This guide shows you how removal companies work, what a container costs and how to get your pets and car safely across the Mediterranean.
Planning your move
Good moves start three to four months before the date. The closer the move gets, the harder bookings become - especially in the high season between May and September. The Balearic Islands are particularly in demand during the summer because many Germans use the holidays as a moving window.
Core steps in chronological order:
- Set your moving date and allow one to two weeks of flexibility
- Compile an inventory, calculate cubic metres
- Request quotes from removal companies and compare them
- Choose transport insurance
- Clarify the delivery address and vehicle access
- Plan separately for car, pets and electronics
- Prepare the customs declaration for removal goods
As a rough guide to volume: a two-room flat is about 15 to 20 cubic metres, a four-room flat 30 to 40 cubic metres, and a detached house 50 to 80 cubic metres. Almost all removal companies price by cubic metre or in container units (20 or 40 foot).
Tip: less is more
Mallorca is not a typical destination for furniture removal. Spanish apartments often have different floor plans from German ones, fitted kitchens are standard, and humidity can take its toll on some wooden furniture. Declutter thoroughly before ordering a container. Anything you sell or donate is something you do not pay to transport.
Finding and comparing removal companies
Several removal companies operate a regular Germany route to Mallorca. When choosing, three criteria matter: experience with Mallorca, a clear cost breakdown and proper insurance.
Major German-speaking providers:
- Hasenkamp Relocation: international provider, professional but expensive
- Schenker Move: the removal arm of DB Schenker, reliable
- AGS Movers: specialises in international moves, including a Mallorca route
- Frerich: medium-sized removal company with Mallorca experience
- Deutsche Seereederei and local groupage providers
What to look out for:
- Experience specifically with Mallorca, not just Spain in general
- A German-speaking contact who is reachable even after the move
- A transparent quote with no open-ended additional charges
- Transport insurance cover at replacement value (not just a flat-rate sum)
- A clear delivery date with a one-to-two-day time window
Typical services and prices:
- Transport only (groupage): 80 to 120 EUR per cubic metre
- Full move with packing service: 130 to 200 EUR per cubic metre
- 20-foot container, own slot: 3,500 to 6,000 EUR
- 40-foot container, own slot: 6,000 to 11,000 EUR
- Premium packages with unpacking service: up to 50 per cent more
Get at least three quotes. Watch out for surcharges such as floor-level fees, charges for difficult vehicle access or premiums for pianos, safes or artwork. With reputable providers all of this is stated in the quote; with less reliable ones it appears on the invoice.
Warning: check rock-bottom quotes
Extremely cheap quotes below 60 EUR per cubic metre are often from subcontractors with inconsistent quality. Your belongings then end up not in their own container but in shared loads that are offloaded several times. Damage and losses become more likely.
Containers and groupage
The standard route to Mallorca is by sea via Barcelona or Valencia. Your household goods travel either in a full container (your own box, your own key) or as groupage (shared box, mixed with other moves).
Own container
A 20-foot container holds approx. 33 cubic metres, a 40-foot container approx. 67 cubic metres. You book the container, it is loaded in Germany, sealed, taken by lorry to the port, loaded onto the ferry to Palma and delivered to your street. Advantage: no reloading, less risk of damage, clear timelines.
Process overview:
- Container is delivered and placed outside your door
- Loading by the removal company or by you yourself
- Sealing by the removal company
- Transport to the port, transfer onto the ferry
- Ferry crossing from Barcelona or Valencia to Palma
- Delivery on Mallorca, unloading outside your new door
Groupage
Groupage is cheaper because you share the loading space with other moves. Typically 80 to 120 EUR per cubic metre. Drawbacks: less flexible timings, several offloads, higher chance of damage.
Groupage makes sense for moves of up to around 10 to 15 cubic metres, for example for students or a second home. For families with a full household, an own container is usually the better choice.
Customs and VAT
When moving within the EU there are no customs duties on used household goods, provided you comply with the formalities. Mallorca is part of Spain and therefore part of the EU customs territory.
What you prepare:
- Inventory list: all items with category and approximate value. Languages: German and Spanish or English
- Copy of your deregistration from Germany: proof of your departure
- Copy of Empadronamiento or rental contract on Mallorca: proof of your new address
- Identity card or passport
Used goods:
- In your possession for at least six months
- For personal use, not commercial goods
- No major weapons or hazardous substances
What can cause problems:
- New, unopened electronics: may be classified as commercial goods
- Alcohol in large quantities: flagged by customs
- Plants and seeds: quarantine and possible import ban
- Weapons and ammunition: separate declaration required, only with appropriate authorisation
The removal company usually prepares the customs paperwork for you and has you sign it. It is important that the inventory list is accurate. Incorrect details are checked spot-check basis.
Transporting pets
Mallorca is pet-friendly, but getting there requires planning. Dogs, cats and ferrets need an EU pet passport, a valid rabies vaccination and a microchip. Entry with these documents is generally straightforward.
Before the travel day
- Have the microchip fitted (ISO standard 11784/11785)
- Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before the journey
- EU pet passport issued by your vet
- If flying: book at least 4 weeks in advance - pet spaces are limited
- Transport box to IATA standard (for hold travel)
- Sedative medication only after consulting your vet
Options at a glance
- Flight in the cabin (up to approx. 8 kg including box): Lufthansa, Iberia, Vueling
- Flight in the hold: Lufthansa Cargo, Iberia Cargo
- Ferry: Balearia and GNV offer pet-friendly cabins
- Car plus ferry: pet in a familiar environment, less stress
Ferries are often the least stressful option because the animal stays with you in the cabin and the journey proceeds in stages. A good combination: drive to Barcelona or Valencia, overnight ferry to Palma, settle in the following day.
You will find more details in our article on ferry to the mainland.
Delivery on Mallorca
Delivery on Mallorca is the moment when problems become visible. Narrow streets, steep approaches, pedestrian zones, one-way streets: Palma and villages like Valldemossa or Deia are not designed for 40-foot trucks.
What to clarify in advance:
- Can the lorry drive right up to the door, or only a smaller van?
- Do you need a transfer area (second lorry, transfer at the village entrance)?
- Are there parking restrictions that require a permit from the Policia Local?
- Is the staircase wide enough, or do you need an external lift?
- Who will be on site on the delivery day - you yourself or a representative?
Many municipalities (Palma, Inca, Manacor) require delivery permits for larger lorries. The removal company often handles this, but clarify it explicitly in advance. In Palma a permit from the Policia Local costs approx. 30 to 60 EUR and takes three to five working days.
Tip: do not plan anything else on delivery day
Keep your diary free on the delivery day. Container unloading takes between four and ten hours, and you want to check which boxes are complete. Photograph any damage immediately, before the removal company leaves. This is crucial for making a claim with your transport insurance.
Taking your car or motorbike
Many people take their car or scooter with them. Mallorca is hard to manage without a car in many villages, and transport is surprisingly straightforward.
Options:
- Drive yourself: Germany - France - Spain, then ferry from Barcelona or Valencia to Palma. Ferry costs approx. 200 to 500 EUR plus cabin
- As groupage in a container: possible with removal containers, but requires more effort to secure the vehicle
- As a dedicated vehicle shipment: specialist providers such as Carpooling, Ship Your Car or Seabridge
After arriving you have six months to re-register the car on Spanish plates. Details are in our article on re-registering your car on Mallorca. If you miss this deadline, your German insurance cover and registration lapse - from that point on you are driving without valid documents.
Insurance and liability
Transport insurance is essential, but the differences are significant. Three basic forms:
- Basic liability of the removal company: approx. 620 EUR per cubic metre, often not enough
- Full insurance at replacement value: covers the cost of replacement, approx. 1 to 2 per cent of the goods' value
- Full insurance at new value: for new furniture or high-quality fittings
Make sure the insurance also covers damage during reloading (especially important for groupage). Check whether valuables (jewellery, artwork, antiques) need to be insured separately. Standard household contents insurance does not apply during transport.
Building in a realistic timeline
A typical move to Mallorca looks like this in terms of timing:
- Month minus 4: quotes, inventory list
- Month minus 3: book removal company, take out insurance
- Month minus 2: prepare pets, sort customs paperwork
- Month minus 1: cancel contracts, register new address
- Moving day: loading, transport
- Day plus 10 to 21: delivery on Mallorca
- Day plus 30: start re-registering car
- Day plus 60: all official steps completed
Keeping to this timeline means you arrive on the island in a calm, organised state. A good removal company, an accurate inventory list and a plan for the first few days are the three factors that make the difference. Combined with the moving checklist you have all the information you need for a well-prepared start on Mallorca.