Living in Tours: districts parking space and public offices
Living in Tours
Between the Loire and the Cher: Tours for newcomers
Areas and daily life
Tours is the prefecture of the Indre-et-Loire department in the Centre-Val de Loire region and has around 139,000 inhabitants. The centre lies between the Loire and the Cher, which flow parallel through the city about three kilometres apart. People moving here usually choose between the old town around Place Plumereau, the 19th-century districts of Prébendes and Velpeau, and the north bank with Saint-Symphorien. We are based in Berlin and plan your private move to Tours from the survey through packing and transport to assembly in the new flat.
One city rule is important for moving day: you apply online for the parking space for the removal van at least ten calendar days in advance, or 20 days for a road closure – the city does not process later applications. We factor in this deadline, because it is around 1,300 road kilometres from Berlin-Moabit to Tours, which means at least two days of driving. France has no registration requirement like Germany's. You can read how we organise long routes under Long-distance moves.
A fixed price for your move to Tours
After a survey, also by video
Tell us your Berlin address, the new street in Tours, the floors and the large pieces of furniture – whether a student room near the Grandmont campus or a family flat in Prébendes. After the survey you receive a fixed price for your move to Tours, which includes the driving days and the overnight stay. Phone: 01625978461.
Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.
How we plan the route to Tours
Two driving days, one team
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and, on request, also drive to the Loire. For Tours this means around 1,300 km, driving and rest periods, and one overnight stay on the way. No customs duties apply within the EU. The city administration matters more: you apply online for the parking space for the removal van, and the city explicitly recommends that a removal company does this. If the stopping point is near the tram, the operator's permission is also required. Our liability for your household goods is governed by the German Commercial Code (HGB) (§ 451e: €620 per m³); we give you the fixed price after the survey.
Packing service
Parking space application
Senior moves
Furniture transport
What your Tours move includes
For a move to Tours, what counts is a schedule with two driving days, a timely parking space application to the city and a price that is fixed. We plan every job individually after the survey.
One fixed contact person
Well secured
Clear quote
Predictable delivery window
Flexible dates
Liability under the HGB
Part load to the Loire
Settling
in Tours
A move to Tours brings its own tasks: narrow lanes in Vieux Tours, the tram line that has run north–south through the city since 2013, and the parking space application with ten days' notice. Around 26,000 students were enrolled at the Université de Tours in 2023/24, and many move at the start of term – so plan September and October early. France has no obligation to register with a residents' office; you report your new address via Service-Public to your health insurance, the Caf and the tax office. We show what matters for your new district and for moving day itself, from the parking space to the tram.
Choosing a district at leisure
Furniture through the old town
Tram, companies, special cases
Frequently asked questions about moving to Tours
Districts of Tours: where to settle
Vieux Tours, with its half-timbered houses around Place Plumereau, appeals to anyone who loves historic buildings – but it is tight there for a removal van. Two sought-after districts date from the 19th century: Prébendes, with the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé, a park from 1872 in the midst of former villa districts, and Velpeau, originally built for railway workers. The grand ensemble of Sanitas was built around 1960 as a large housing estate.
On the north bank of the Loire lie Saint-Symphorien and Sainte-Radegonde, which were only incorporated in 1964; the bank is only sparsely built up, with more houses with gardens. In the south-west, the Quartier des 2 Lions has recently emerged as a new district. For each of these locations we clarify in advance where the removal van may stop and apply for the parking space with the necessary notice.
Rents, employers and quality of life in Tours
We do not quote an average rent because we have no verified source for it; compare current listings before you set your moving date. As for the economy: the Tours agglomeration is broadly based, with many medium-sized and larger businesses in industry and services. The largest single employer is the university hospital (CHU de Tours). Around 26,000 students were enrolled in 2023/24 at the Université de Tours, named after François Rabelais; its campus is unusually central, on the bank of the Loire.
Quality of life is shaped by the Loire châteaux in the surrounding area, such as Amboise, Chenonceau and Villandry, and by specialities such as Rillettes de Tours. Since 2013 the tram has linked the north and south of the city, and trains from Paris towards Bordeaux stop at Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station, about five kilometres from the centre. Tours is connected to the motorway network via the A10, A85 and A28 – which also suits our removal van from Berlin.
What does a move to Tours cost?
Our rates at a glance: 1-room flat – from €339; 2-room flat – from €584; 3-room flat – from €889; 4-room flat – from €1,269; house/villa – individual quote; long-distance move – from €3.90/km. Contact us for a free survey.
What the price to Tours depends on
- Amount of furniture and boxes
- Driving distance (from €3.90/km)
- Number of floors
- Lift yes/no
- Parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone) required
Optional: furniture assembly and part load.
Services for your move to Tours
Our full service for your move
Everything from a single source – for a relaxed move.
Business move: The business move with professional logistics planning.
Private move: The private move with personal service.
House clearance: House clearance for cellars, attics and more.
Furniture transport: Furniture transport with optimum protection.
Move with assembly: The move with assembly for maximum convenience.
Part load: The part load for a small budget.
From Berlin across Germany and to the Loire
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and drive throughout Germany and abroad, and on request to France as well. Destinations with their own page are listed in the locations overview, and notes on long routes under Long-distance moves.
Parking space for the removal van in Tours: Stationnement pour déménagement
The city of Tours has its own page for moving parking spaces. You submit the application via the online form on formulaires.services.tours.fr; the city recommends that a professional removal company submits it, because it can assess the impact on parking and traffic.
The deadlines are tight: at least 10 calendar days before the move for parking spaces, 20 calendar days for a road closure. According to the city, late applications are not processed, so plan with a buffer. The permit is valid for up to 3 days for private individuals and up to 5 days for professionals. In the city centre, vehicles of up to 7.5 t and 8 m (private) or 19 t and 11 m (professional) are permitted.
Neither the city nor the Métropole provides signs; you place the permit behind the windscreen of the removal vehicles. If the move takes place within 2.2 m of the outer rail of the tram, the operator's permission is also required ([email protected]). The page does not mention a fee. Questions are answered by the Direction Circulation – Voirie (1 à 3 rue des Minimes, tel. +33 2 42 88 02 01, [email protected]).
The journey from Germany is described in our article Long-distance move to France: process and tips and on the page about the parking restriction zone.
Parking, bulky waste and official errands in Tours after moving in
According to the city, parking in the centre of Tours is subject to a charge Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:30. You can park free of charge before 9:00, after 18:30, daily from 12:00 to 14:00 and on Sundays and public holidays. The city gives the prices as of 1 January 2024; ask the Direction Circulation – Voirie (02 42 88 02 01) for current rates. There are two zones: red (maximum 3 hours, business district) and blue (maximum 5 hours). The city limits parking in the same space to 48 consecutive hours; bear this in mind if vehicles remain parked after the move.
For bulky waste there is the form "Demande de collecte des encombrants" on the city's website; you can reach the waste department of Tours Métropole on 02 47 80 12 12. According to the city, the déchèteries (recycling centres) are reserved for residents with a free card (proof of address required; a fee applies from the third request). The mobile déchèterie does not accept bulky waste. If your vehicle has been towed away, the Police Municipale is the point of contact on 02 47 70 88 88.
In France you report your change of address via Service-Public to several bodies at once, including your health insurance, the Caf, the tax office and the vehicle registration office; the service is free of charge. For the journey we recommend Moving to France: customs formalities and process.
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