International: Germany

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

EU Community Licence Required for Cross-Border Road Transport

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles across the border. A legacy domestic-only Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis does not cover cross-border transport; a Gemeinschaftslizenz (EU Community Licence) is required, covering Germany, the EU/EEA, and Switzerland. Since 27 February 2026, new applicants receive only the Community Licence (see the Germany page). Where a mover subcontracts the cross-border carriage, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs.

§ 451 HGB Continues to Apply: CMR Does Not Cover Furniture Removal

Yes. § 451 HGB’s moving-contract liability rules (covered on the Germany page) continue to apply to cross-border moves starting or ending in Germany. The CMR Convention, which generally governs international road carriage, explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope under Article 1(4)(c), as confirmed in the Convention’s own text and by its custodian body, UNIDROIT. A household-goods/furniture-removal shipment therefore does not automatically fall under CMR’s liability limits or consignment-note requirement; § 451 HGB remains the applicable framework by default.

Insurance

No international-specific insurance requirement was identified beyond the vehicle insurance that applies to the company operating the vehicles. No rule was found requiring movers to insure customers’ goods. Under § 451g HGB, the mover must tell a consumer sender about the option to agree extended liability or insure the goods if it wants to rely on the liability cap (see the Germany page); customers should ask what protection is offered.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Cross-border household goods moves involving Germany add two layers on top of domestic requirements. First, a legacy domestic-only Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis doesn’t cover cross-border transport: a mover operating its own vehicles across the border needs a Gemeinschaftslizenz (EU Community Licence). Second, on liability: § 451 HGB’s specific moving-contract rules continue to apply to cross-border moves starting or ending in Germany, since the CMR Convention explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope under Article 1(4)(c). Customs formalities for moves to or from third countries are covered in Country Guides.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that carry goods across borders in their own vehicles must:

1. Hold a Gemeinschaftslizenz (EU Community Licence) rather than relying on a legacy domestic-only Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis.

All movers handling international furniture-removal moves must:

2. Apply § 451 HGB terms to international furniture-removal moves, including the § 451g HGB information to the sender and recipient where the mover relies on the liability cap, since CMR’s furniture-removal exclusion means the domestic framework continues to govern by default.
3. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Gemeinschaftslizenz held for cross-border road transportWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across the border)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Contracts for international furniture-removal moves follow §§ 451 to 451h HGB (CMR does not apply), with the § 451g HGB information given to the sender and recipientWhere applicable (mover relies on the § 451e HGB liability cap and § 451f HGB exclusion periods)Verified by AffirmationRequired