Moving to Caen: Costs Process & Districts
Guide to Caen
Moving to Caen: the Château, the Abbaye aux Hommes and the banks of the Orne
at a glance
Caen lies on the River Orne, 15 kilometres upstream of its mouth on the English Channel, and with around 109,000 residents it is the largest town in the Calvados département in Normandy and its prefecture. William the Conqueror had a castle and, around 1059, abbeys built here, and the university founded in 1432 still shapes the city today. The Mémorial de Caen is one of the most visited museums about the Second World War. If you are planning a move to Caen, plan the parking space, change of address and the long route from Berlin early.
We come from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and drive the lorry around 1,218 km via Belgium and the A13 to Caen; that takes about 18.5 hours including breaks – so we use two drivers or an overnight stop. As both countries are in the EU, there are no customs formalities for your household goods. Whether you are moving from Berlin to Caen or from Caen back to Berlin: we quote the fixed price after a survey. Read more about paperwork in the guide Moving to France.
Moving to Caen: arrange a survey now
Survey first, then the price is set
Call us on 01625978461 and arrange a survey for your move to Caen. We take into account the size of the flat, the floor, access, the roughly 1,218 km route and any shared-load requests, and then quote you a fixed price. Places with their own pages can be found under locations.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
How your move to Caen works with us
Planned in Berlin, arriving in Normandy
We have no branch in Caen; we come by lorry from Berlin-Moabit. That is why we ask about access, floor and stairwell in advance – whether a half-timbered house in the Vaugueux, a flat in Saint-Jean or a house in Venoix. We apply in good time for the permit to stop outside the new address under the City of Caen's rules. We quote the fixed price after the survey; we are liable for your belongings under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. For your private move we coordinate the date with the flat handover.
Packing Service
Office Move
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
What you can rely on
We quote the fixed price for your move to Caen after the survey – with packing, transport over around 1,218 km, parking permit and assembly as separate items. That way you can see in advance what you are paying for.
Fixed arrival time
Access sorted
Parking outside the door
Planned backwards
Storage if there is a gap
Ready to move in
Part loads – the clever solution
For smaller moving volumes or single items, a shared load to Caen can be cheaper: your belongings share the loading space with other consignments on the same route. You need some flexibility on the delivery day; we will tell you after your enquiry whether a run towards Caen is coming up. It is also handy if a few items need to follow after the main move.
Moving
& transport from a single source
A move to Caen raises many questions: which district suits you, how does the lorry get into the old town around the Château and the Vaugueux, how do you reserve the parking space and how do you report the new address? This guide introduces districts from the Vaugueux and Saint-Jean to Venoix, explains the parking space, change of address and registration for EU citizens, and describes the roughly 1,218 km drive from Berlin via Belgium. Costs and shared loads are covered too. That way you are prepared before the first box is packed.
Planning safe and relaxed
Furniture, boxes, transport routes
Costs, timing and special cases
Frequently asked questions about moving to Caen
The most attractive districts of Caen at a glance
Caen is divided into numerous districts, each with its own character. The historic Vaugueux, with half-timbered houses and restaurants, lies at the foot of the Château de Caen, which William the Conqueror had built as a fortress. Saint-Jean, with the church of the same name, is a lively shopping district in the centre. Quieter are Venoix, with residential streets and detached houses, and the Côte de Nacre in the north.
Students often live around the university campus; neighbouring towns such as Hérouville-Saint-Clair belong to the urban area. We do not quote specific rents – they depend heavily on location and condition. For the move, what counts is access, floor and stairwell; the streets in the old town are narrow, so the parking space should be reserved early. The city provides an online form with a dedicated option for moves.
Housing market and employers in Caen
The housing market in Caen is considered more relaxed than in Paris. We do not quote specific rents – they depend heavily on district, size and condition; flats near the university and in the centre are in demand. As a major employer with many students, the Université de Caen Normandie shapes the city, together with the university hospital and the prefecture administration.
The proximity to the Normandy landing beaches and the ferry port in Ouistreham at the mouth of the Orne also make the region important for tourism. Paris can be reached by train, and Le Havre is 50 km to the north-east. France has no general registration obligation as in Germany; you report your new address online to several bodies at once. This mix of university, history and sea attracts many newcomers. For everyday life, French is important, especially for the tenancy agreement, bank and insurance.
Transparent moving prices
| Flat size | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 room | from €344 |
| 2 rooms | from €605 |
| 3 rooms | from €889 |
| 4 rooms | from €1,309 |
| House / villa | individual quote |
For long-distance moves: from €4.20/km. Get no-obligation advice – book your free survey now.
Moving price: these aspects play a role
The final price of your move is made up of volume, distance (from €4.20/km), floor, lift and any necessary parking restriction zone. We are happy to extend your move with furniture assembly or a shared load.
A compact overview of our services
Everything you need for your move, in one place.
| Furniture transport | furniture transport |
| Part load | part load |
| Home move | home move |
| Company move | company move |
| Clearance | clearance |
| Move with assembly | move with assembly |
Planned from Berlin
We plan moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) for private and business customers. In the locations overview you will find places with their own pages, and details on longer routes under long-distance moves. For single pieces of furniture or small loads, take a look at our shared-load service.
Parking space for your move in Caen: stationnement pour déménagement
In Caen you reserve the space for the removal van with the city administration via the online procedure "Stationnement pour déménagement" on mesdemarches.caen.fr. According to the Ville de Caen, applications to use public space must be received at least 8 days in advance; with shorter notice, the permit cannot be guaranteed. In the form you choose "déménagement" (moving out) or "emménagement" (moving in) as the type of request and can specify "monte-meuble", i.e. a furniture lift, as the vehicle type, among others. A plan of the requested location and a site plan must be attached.
- Rates according to the city: €6 per space per day in the yellow zone, €8.30 per space per day in the red zone
- The invoice for the fee is sent after approval
- You must mark the reserved space yourself while it is in use, with a sign or other means and the permit from the Direction de la Voirie
The responsible office is the Pôle Règlementation de l'espace public of the Voirie (roads department), 18 rue de la Cotonnière, telephone 02 31 75 49 50, email [email protected]. For orientation: according to the city, on-street parking in Caen is chargeable between 9:30 and 12:30 and between 14:00 and 19:00. We plan the deadlines with you; more on the permit with us under parking restriction zone.
From Berlin to Caen: deregistration, change of address and vehicle papers
A move from Berlin to Caen requires dealing with the authorities in both countries. In Germany, under § 17 of the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz), you deregister within two weeks of moving out if you are not moving into a new home in Germany. You can do this at the earliest one week before moving out. Keep the deregistration certificate to hand.
In France, service-public.gouv.fr offers a central page on "Je déménage en France" (checked on 9 July 2024). The online change-of-address service informs the CPAM, the tax authorities, EDF, France Travail and the Caf in one step. The page also lists these points:
- The new address must be entered on the carte grise (vehicle registration certificate) if you bring a vehicle
- According to the page, changing the address on your ID card, passport or driving licence is not compulsory
- Optional: mail forwarding by the post office (for a fee) and a quote from a professional removal company
The page does not mention a separate registration obligation at the mairie for EU citizens; if your situation has special features, it is best to check directly with the city. We explain customs and process for moves to France in our articles Moving to France: customs and process and Long-distance move to France.
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