Moving to Rennes: costs process, districts
Arriving in Rennes
Rennes for newcomers: which district suits you?
Living in Brittany
From Germany, a move to Rennes means a long drive right across France – no customs duty applies, because France is part of the EU. The last kilometres run along the A81 from the direction of Le Mans. In the city the address is what counts: in the Centre-Ville, with its half-timbered houses and bollard-controlled streets, delivery times apply, while the streets around the park in the Thabor district are quieter. For the parking space you submit the application online at least five working days beforehand. You can find more about long routes under Long-distance moves.
Many people move to Rennes for work, for example to Orange, the digital sector or the Stellantis La Janais plant in neighbouring Chartres-de-Bretagne, others to study. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21), give you a fixed price after the survey and are liable for your belongings under the German Commercial Code (HGB). For private households we recommend our private move service, with packing, transport and furniture assembly from a single source. That way you can concentrate on settling into Brittany rather than on logistics.
Fixed price after a survey for your move to Rennes
Distance, tolls and parking space planned in
Call us on 01625978461 or request your quote for the move to Rennes online. We calculate based on flat size, floor and distance and, after the survey, give you a fixed price that includes tolls and driving time. We are liable for your belongings under the HGB; additional insurance is possible for valuable items.
Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.
What we clarify for Rennes
Bollards, parking space
For a move to Rennes we clarify in advance what applies at your address: in the hyper-centre with its half-timbered houses, streets are closed off by bollards and only open at delivery times; on Saturdays the Marché des Lices occupies the Place des Lices; in new developments such as Beauregard or Cleunay it is usually about the lift and walking route. You apply to the city online for the parking space, and the signs go up 48 hours beforehand. We quote the price after the survey as a fixed price, whether you are moving from Germany or within France. You can find further destinations under Locations.
Packing service
Office move
Senior moves
Furniture transport
What you can rely on in Rennes
Transparency is part of a move to Rennes: you receive a clear breakdown of costs with no hidden surcharges. Our fixed price after a survey takes into account distance, tolls, floor and the amount of furniture, so you know beforehand what to expect.
One team, door to door
Parking space included
Clear quote up front
Schedule with rest times
Storage if needed
Liability under the HGB
Part load for students
First
steps in Rennes
Many questions play a role in a move to Rennes: the right district, the Breton weather with its many rainy days and the formalities – France has no general registration requirement as Germany does, but the carte grise (vehicle registration certificate) and the electoral roll need the new address. If you are moving with children, you should enquire early about nursery and school places in districts such as Sainte-Thérèse or Jeanne d'Arc. Students at the Université de Rennes or Rennes 2 often live near the Beaulieu and Villejean campuses. We advise you on timing and costs.
Paperwork and flat handover
Half-timbering, bollards, new builds
Parking space, companies, special cases
Frequently asked questions about living in Rennes
The districts of Rennes: where you can settle
Rennes is divided into varied districts that suit different lifestyles. The Centre-Ville charms with half-timbered houses, the well-known Marché des Lices market and short distances to cafés and shops, but it is also the most expensive part of town. If you prefer things quieter, the green Thabor district with its famous park offers an upmarket, family-friendly residential area close to the centre.
Students and young professionals are often drawn to Villejean, right next to the university campus and well connected to the metro, or to up-and-coming Beauregard with its modern new builds. Families also appreciate Cleunay and Bréquigny for their schools, parks and more affordable rents compared with the centre. For your private move to one of these districts, we plan the route individually, including parking permits.
Housing market, rents and employers in Rennes
The housing market in Rennes is considered moderate by French standards, even though rents have risen in recent years. The centre is the most expensive, while outlying areas such as Le Blosne or Maurepas are cheaper. Thanks to the good TGV connection to Paris in only around 1 hour 25 minutes, Rennes has also become attractive for commuters, which further drives demand.
As an important business location in Brittany, the city offers jobs at companies such as Orange, at the Stellantis La Janais plant in Chartres-de-Bretagne and in a growing tech scene around the ‘French Tech Rennes St Malo’ initiative. Together with the two large universities and several grandes écoles such as INSA Rennes, this makes the city particularly attractive for young professionals and students.
Price overview for your move to Rennes
- 1-room flat: from €375
- 2-room flat: from €609
- 3-room flat: from €909
- 4-room flat: from €1,309
- House/villa: individual quote
- Long-distance moves: from €3.80/km
Book a free survey today to find out the exact price of your move.
These points determine the price for Rennes
First, the volume of your household goods counts, then the distance to Rennes (from €3.80/km) including tolls. The floor and a missing lift also have an effect, as does the parking space, which in Rennes is applied for instead of a German parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone). Furniture assembly and a part load can be booked as options.
Services for Rennes
We offer you everything you need for a successful move.
- Part load: cost-efficient thanks to shared transport capacity. Part load
- Move with assembly: we handle the assembly and dismantling of your furniture. Move with assembly
- House clearance: clearance made easy. House clearance
- Furniture transport: safe and punctual, however bulky. Furniture transport
- Private move: personal support for your move. Private move
- Company relocation: an efficient move without business interruption. Company relocation
From Berlin to France and across Germany
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and carry out moves across Germany and abroad, including to France. The locations overview shows destinations with their own page; for longer routes we recommend our page on long-distance moves.
Rennes: applying to the city for a parking space for the removal van
In Rennes you do not reserve the space in front of the building with a sign you put up yourself, but with a temporary parking permit from the city. Rennes Métropole describes the process on its parking page:
- The application is made online, at least five working days before the moving date (weekends and public holidays do not count).
- The city replies by email within four working days of receipt.
- You must put up ‘interdiction de stationner’ (no parking) signs yourself, at least 48 hours before the move.
- The city does not lend or install these signs.
- Private individuals can borrow a key for lowering retractable bollards against a deposit.
The page does not state a fee for the permit. Applications go through the city's online portal (demarches.rennes.fr). Because the signs must be up two days beforehand, you should not leave the application until the last moment. Keep the permit to hand on moving day. Also plan in a buffer: apply at least five working days beforehand, wait for the city's reply, then have the signs put up on site in good time. For the starting point in Germany, a parking restriction zone applied for in advance is also advisable. Background on the route and process can be found in our article Long-distance move to France.
Hyper-centre and Marché des Lices: access rules in Rennes
Not every street in the centre of Rennes is freely accessible. Rennes Métropole explains that access to some streets of the hyper-centre and its fringes is controlled by automatic bollards. In these pedestrian sectors parking is prohibited, but stopping briefly is allowed.
- Deliveries are permitted on weekdays and Saturdays in two time windows, one in the morning and one in the evening.
- At other times, prior permission from the city is required.
- Residents with a private parking space receive a badge for lowering the bollards; residents without a space use the intercom on the post.
- Commercial drivers may enter during delivery times.
Please check the exact times on the city's parking page before you fix a date.
If you are moving near the Place des Lices on a Saturday, bear the weekly market in mind: according to the Office de Tourisme, the Marché des Lices takes place on Saturdays from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm between the two Halles Martenot, with almost 250 stallholders. Whether and how the market restricts access can be found out from the city; ask there if your moving date falls on a Saturday morning. Customs and document questions for the country are covered in the article on customs and formalities when moving to France.
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