Moving Within Germany: What You Need to Know
By: Simon Heinrich – Last updated: 02/2026
Moving within Germany sounds straightforward – but it rarely is. You’ll need to manage authorities, contracts, and deadlines, or things get expensive and complicated. This page is your practical guide: Start 6–8 weeks ahead, keep everything organized, and use the opportunity to switch to better utility deals.
The complete overview of rent, deposits, and utilities is here: Housing in Germany – apartment hunting, rent and deposit.
Eight Weeks Before Moving: Preparation and Notifications
Once your move-in date is confirmed, the countdown starts. In week eight, you declutter, book helpers, and notify institutions – ensuring smooth sailing on moving day.
Start with decluttering: Systematically go through your basement and attic. Give away or sell usable items you no longer need via Kleinanzeigen. The rest goes to bulk waste pickup. Less stuff means less transport hassle and lower costs.
Organize moving help next. Compare moving companies on portals like umzugsportal.de or notify friends early. In big cities like Berlin or Munich, look for English-speaking providers to avoid misunderstandings.
Don’t forget to update insurance. Household insurance often depends on apartment size – adjust it ahead via your provider’s customer portal. Notify parental leave or housing benefit offices now too, as you’ll need to reapply after moving. Penalties apply for missing deadlines.
Phone and internet: Check if your current provider can serve your new address. Simply run an availability check on their website (like for Vodafone). If yes, use their moving service. If they can’t match your current conditions, you have special cancellation rights. Cancel the old one and sign up for a new contract.
Notify daycare or school for de-/registration if needed.
Energy contracts: Check meter readings and switching options. You’ll often need to sign new deals for electricity (ad) and gas (ad).
Three Weeks Before Moving: Packing and Organizing
Three weeks out, it gets real. Stock up on materials, secure parking, and sort mail forwarding.
Gather packing supplies: Boxes, tape, straps, and protective film from hardware stores or discounters. Plan for 20–30 boxes per person so nothing’s left behind.
Apply for no-parking zones at the traffic authority for both addresses – forms are online, processing takes 1–2 weeks.
The mail forwarding service from Deutsche Post is essential: For € 31.90, they forward everything for six months, ensuring official letters or bank documents reach you.
Start packing: Begin with non-essentials – books, decor, seasonal clothes. Create an inventory list and take photos as proof for your insurance.
Moving Day: Keep Control
Discipline is key on moving day: Clear helper assignments, refreshments, and thorough documentation prevent chaos.
Load systematically: Heavy furniture at the bottom of the truck, fragile boxes on top. Take valuables like documents, laptops, or cash yourself. Direct helpers clearly and plan breaks with drinks and snacks.
Secure meter readings: Read electricity, gas, and water meters at both apartments, note the meter numbers, and take photos. Send the data directly to landlords and providers.
Document handovers: In the old apartment, note damages and count keys (unit, building, basement). In the new one, check the inventory point by point.
Clean stairwells and hallways after unpacking – good neighbor relations start with tidiness.
After Moving: Re-Registration (14-Day Deadline)
Post-move is the busiest phase: Update all authorities and institutions, always using your registration confirmation as the base.
Residents’ registration office: Go in person within 14 days – bring electronic residence permit (eAT)/passport and new lease. Late fees apply. Request a resident parking permit if needed.
Car re-registration: To the licensing office with eVB number, MOT certificate, and registration confirmation. You can usually keep your license plates.
Update other addresses: Banks online, broadcasting fee transfers automatically, clubs via email. Also notify the immigration office about the address change.
Common mistakes to avoid: Forgetting meter readings leads to back-billing, missing registration brings fines, late internet applications results in weeks without connection and potentially double payments if old contracts aren’t canceled in time.
Your Next Steps: Setting Up After the Move
Move accomplished – now furnish and optimize. These articles help:
- Found an apartment? Moving in Germany: documentation, registration and meter readings
- Furnishing an apartment in Germany: what you need and where to buy it