From Moabit to the Limmat: long-distance move Berlin–Zurich
Moving company Berlin
Between the Uetliberg and the Zürichberg: Berlin ↔ Zurich
With removal goods
Zurich lies at the lower end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat leaves the lake and takes in the Sihl, framed by the Uetliberg and the Zürichberg. Anyone moving here from Berlin changes to a country outside the EU customs union: your household goods are declared at the border as removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut), with form 18.44 and an inventory list. Beste Umzug Unternehmen drives from Moabit (Stromstraße 21) with one team to your new address in one of the twelve city districts (Stadtkreise). At the survey we estimate the cubic metres, check access and set the fixed price in writing.
856 kilometres and approx. 13 hrs by lorry with breaks do not fit into a single working day: EU Regulation 561/2006 allows a driver nine hours at the wheel. That is why two drivers drive with us, or the trip is spread over two days, with the border crossing during the opening hours of the customs office. In Switzerland, lorries over 3.5 t are not allowed on the road between 10 pm and 5 am. The toll on the Austrian A14 and the LSVA (Swiss heavy vehicle charge) are included in the fixed price; liability is under the HGB (§ 451e). We plan the return move from Zurich to Berlin the same way.
Zurich quote
Berlin ↔ Zurich: customs, A14 toll, LSVA and second driver in the fixed price
You receive your fixed price for the move between Berlin and Zurich after a survey; enquiries on 01625978461. The quote includes packing, furniture assembly, the clearance of the removal goods and the LSVA for the lorry in Switzerland. Whether the outbound move to Zurich or the return move to Berlin – we calculate by volume, route and scope of services.
Quotes are available individually depending on effort, availability of dates and the scope of services required.
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Private move
Long-Distance Move
No-Parking Zone
Via Lake Constance and Winterthur to Lake Zurich
Spree and Limmat, both directions
The shortest way to Zurich does not go via Basel: we take the A9, A6, A7 and A96 to Lake Constance, skirt Vorarlberg and from St. Margrethen drive on the A1 through St. Gallen and Winterthur to the Limmat. The customs list, form 18.44 and the proof of your Zurich residence are ready in the cab on departure, and the border appointment fits the opening hours of the customs office. We set off from Stromstraße 21 in Berlin, arrange parking spaces at both buildings and are liable under the HGB. You receive the fixed price after the survey, there and back.
Packing service
Office move
Senior move
Furniture transport
What we pay attention to when moving to Zurich
For the move to Zurich this means: a written fixed price after a survey, an inventory list that matches the customs declaration, and a schedule that takes into account driving times, the Swiss night-time driving ban and the opening hours of the customs office between Berlin and Zurich.
One team all the way to the Limmat
Customs list checked
All costs in the quote
Date with a border window
Storage in case of delay
Parking space at both buildings
Part load Berlin ↔ Zurich
For small quantities, ask about a part load on the Berlin–Zurich route. You only pay for the cargo space you occupy; your removal goods are still declared individually at the border. Whether and when a trip fits, we tell you after your enquiry.
Customer
review
Preparing
for Zurich: customs, districts, registration
Before the move to Zurich we clarify what customs and the canton require: the inventory list for the removal goods, with furniture, valuables and large appliances listed individually, form 18.44 and documents such as an employment or tenancy agreement. In the canton of Zurich you register within 14 days and also apply for the residence permit within this period; in the city this is done at the residents' registration office (Personenmeldeamt), and when moving from abroad only by appointment. For health insurance you have three months. On top of that: a parking restriction in Berlin, a parking space in Zurich, assembly and storage.
Deadlines in the canton of Zurich
Period building, hillside, new build
Price and schedule
Customs, A1, registration office, the way back
Moving to Lake Zurich: furniture as removal goods
Zurich is not part of the EU customs union. The procedure in three steps: first, you declare your household goods as removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut) with form 18.44; they are duty-free if you have already used them for six months or longer and continue to use them in Zurich. Second, you enclose a list in which furniture, large appliances and valuables are itemised individually. Third, you show that you are really moving – the Zurich tenancy agreement or an employment contract is usually sufficient. The customs office then clears the goods while it is open for commercial goods, on weekdays.
Back to the Spree later? Then Switzerland checks a list with the old and new address on export, and German customs lets the removal goods in free of duty, provided you have lived outside the EU for at least one year (Regulation (EC) 1186/2009). A fixed price also applies to the return move from Zurich to Berlin.
856 km via Memmingen, Lindau, St. Gallen and Winterthur
The route to Zurich in five stages:
- Berlin → Nuremberg: via the AVUS and the Berlin ring road onto the A9, around 380 km south
- Nuremberg → Memmingen: A6 to the Feuchtwangen/Crailsheim interchange, then the A7, a good 220 km altogether
- Memmingen → Lindau: A96 through the Allgäu to Lake Constance
- Lindau → Rhine valley: around 17 km of the Austrian A14 with the Pfänder tunnel, then via Lustenau to the border
- St. Margrethen → Zurich: A1 via St. Gallen and Winterthur, a good 100 km
That makes around 856 km and approx. 13 hrs by lorry including breaks. The lorry pays a toll for the A14, and the LSVA in Switzerland. Because lorries over 3.5 t drive at a maximum of 80 km/h in Germany (§ 18 (5) StVO) and must take a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours, the route is too long for one driver alone: we use two drivers or stay overnight at Lake Constance and have customs clearance done in the morning. The way back to Berlin follows the same line.
Twelve districts, one registration office: arriving in Zurich
Zurich is divided into twelve city districts (Stadtkreise), most of them incorporated in 1893 or 1934: Wiedikon between the Sihl and the Uetliberg, Aussersihl and the Industriequartier on the valley floor, Oberstrass and Fluntern on the Zürichberg, Altstetten and Höngg in the Limmat valley, Schwamendingen in the Glatt valley. Whether a period building in Seefeld or a new build in Oerlikon – we clarify access, parking space and floor in advance. In the canton you register within 14 days; in the city at the residents' registration office, by appointment when moving from abroad, followed by an appointment at the migration office for the biometric permit card.
Back to the Spree later? Then first deregister at the residents' registration office and visit the citizens' office (Bürgeramt) in Berlin within two weeks, with the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) in your luggage – we take care of the parking restriction signs in front of the new building.
Orientation prices Berlin ↔ Zurich
First figures for your move to the Limmat or back to the Spree; the fixed price after the survey is binding:
| Living space | Moving volume | Orientation price |
|---|---|---|
| small flat, 1 room | 10–15 m³ | from €350 |
| medium flat, 2 rooms | 20–25 m³ | from €590 |
| family flat, 3 rooms | 30–40 m³ | from €890 |
| large flat, 4 rooms | 45–60 m³ | from €1,290 |
| house or villa | over 60 m³ | quote after a survey |
For the 856 km to Zurich we quote a guide price from €3,210, there and back. Toll, LSVA, customs clearance and a second driver appear as separate lines; the price becomes fixed after a free survey.
What determines the Zurich price
Above all the volume. For Zurich, the 856 km, the toll on the A14, the LSVA on a good 100 Swiss kilometres, customs clearance and a second driver or an overnight stay are added. Likewise the floor, lift and extras such as furniture assembly or a parking restriction in Berlin. Small quantities travel more cheaply with a part load.
Services for the route to the Limmat
Everything for your move to Zurich and back, individually or combined:
- Private move – from a Berlin period building to your Zurich city district
- Company move – workstations and IT with their own customs list
- Furniture transport – single items via Lindau and the A1
- Part load – share cargo space towards Lake Zurich
- Move with assembly – wardrobes and kitchens dismantled and reassembled
- Clearance – whatever does not come along stays in Berlin
Routes in north-eastern Switzerland
Our route to Zurich leads through St. Gallen; to Schaffhausen, on the other hand, we drive via the A81. You can find all destinations in the Long-distance moves overview, and our regions in the locations overview.
Survey and Zurich fixed price
If you are moving to Zurich, we survey your Berlin flat; for the return move from Zurich to Berlin, by video. Afterwards we fill in the inventory list and form 18.44 together and set the fixed price for the 856 km in writing, guide price from €3,210. Phone 01625978461 – free of charge and without obligation.