Moving quotes in Spain: how to compare them and what they must include
A good moving quote states in writing which services are included, what each one costs, the estimated total and what is not included (dismantling, packing, permits). To compare two or three quotes, make sure every company works from the same list and the same access details, then compare the hourly rate, estimated hours and crew size. As an approximate guide: a van with driver at 55 €/h (2-hour minimum) and a mover at 20 €/h.
Below you will find what Spanish law requires, why a moving price is always an estimate rather than an exact figure, a table for comparing quotes and the warning signs to look out for.
What must a moving quote include in Spain?
By law, the company must give you a written quote before the move starts. This comes from Article 73 of Spain’s Land Transport of Goods Act, Ley 15/2009 (checked in October 2026). The quote (presupuesto) has to show:
- the services to be provided and the cost of each one;
- the cost of the quote itself, if there is one;
- the total price of the move;
- whether paperwork and permit fees are included (for example, reserving space on the street).
Once you accept it, the quote serves as proof that the contract exists and of what was agreed. So get it in writing, even if it is just a WhatsApp message or an email, not only a figure said over the phone. The same article lets either side ask for an inventory of the items before loading.
On top of the legal minimum, a quote you can actually compare should state:
- The hourly rate for the van with driver and for each mover, or the price per kilometre for a long-distance move.
- The estimated hours, and when the clock starts and stops.
- How many people are coming and which vehicle.
- What is included: loading, unloading, blankets, straps, basic tools.
- What costs extra: dismantling and assembly, packing materials, removal of old furniture.
- How and when you pay, and who issues the VAT invoice.
How is the price of a move calculated?
Within a city, most moves are priced by the hour: van-with-driver hours plus each mover’s hours. Long-distance moves are priced per kilometre plus loading and unloading time.
With MoveValencia’s approximate rates, the maths looks like this:
- Van with driver: 55 €/h, 2-hour minimum (from 110 €).
- Mover: 20 €/h per person. Two hours with the driver also loading come to 130 €; with a second mover, 170 €.
- Outside the Valencia area: 2.65 €/km for the one-way distance, VAT included. The return trip is not charged; movers’ hours are added separately.
The hours depend on four things: volume (how much furniture and how many boxes), access (floor, lift, distance from the front door to the van), how ready everything is (boxes sealed, furniture dismantled) and the distance between the two addresses. For typical prices by flat size, see how much a move in Valencia costs.
Why is a moving quote an estimate?
Because nobody knows exactly how long a move will take until it happens. A lift held up by a neighbour, a bed that will not go round the stairwell or ten extra boxes found in the storage room all change the real time. A serious quote does not hide this: it gives a clear rate, an estimate of hours and explains what would push it up or down.
Be more careful with a round “all-in” figure with no breakdown than with a quote that says “4 to 5 hours, van plus one mover”. The first may include a margin for things that might go wrong, which you pay even if nothing does. The second tells you the reasonable minimum and maximum in advance and, if all goes well, you only pay for the time worked.
At MoveValencia prices are approximate: we give you an estimate from your photos or list, and we confirm the quote before starting. You pay at the end for the real hours, with the 2-hour van minimum.
How do you compare several moving quotes?
Only compare like with like. If you told one company “a two-bedroom flat” and sent another photos of every room, the quotes are not describing the same move. Send everyone the same information, then go through the quotes line by line:
| What to compare | What you want to see | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | Hourly price for the van and per mover, or price per km | A single figure with no breakdown |
| Estimated hours | A sensible range (e.g. 4–5 h) and when the time starts | ”We’ll see on the day”, no estimate at all |
| Crew | Number of movers and type of vehicle | No mention of how many people are coming |
| Extras | Stairs, dismantling, packing, permits: included or priced | ”There may be some extras”, nothing specific |
| Payment | When, how and who issues the VAT invoice | Vague payment terms |
| Company details | Company name, tax ID (NIF) and contact | Just a mobile number |
Then do the sums using each quote’s maximum hours. If one is cheaper per hour but estimates twice the time, or sends one mover fewer, it may end up costing more. And if two quotes are miles apart, ask why: almost always one of the companies has not seen everything that needs moving.
How much do moving companies in Valencia usually charge?
It depends on the size of the home and the access. With MoveValencia’s approximate rates and a move within Valencia with a lift in at least one of the buildings, these are the usual reference prices:
| Home | Usual time | Team | Approximate price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or single room | 2–3 h | Van + 1 mover (the driver) | 130–195 € |
| One-bedroom flat | 3–4 h | Van + 1 mover | 225–300 € |
| Two-bedroom flat | 4–6 h | Van + 1 mover | 300–450 € |
| Three-bedroom flat | 6–8 h | Van + 2 movers | 570–760 € |
These are estimates, VAT included. With a lift, carrying to your floor is included; without a lift, we take the floor and the stairs into account in the quote. Dismantling wardrobes or packing are quoted separately and you see them before confirming. For moves to another province, see removals across Spain, priced per kilometre.
Online quote or home survey?
For most small and medium moves, an online quote with good photos is just as reliable as a visit. What matters is that we see what the crew will find on moving day. Send:
- both addresses and the floor of each, with or without a lift;
- photos or a short video of every room, including the storage room and balcony;
- a list of the large items: wardrobes, sofa, bed, appliances;
- the approximate number of boxes;
- anything that needs dismantling or might not fit through a door;
- the date and how flexible you are on timing.
A visit is worth it for large homes, moves with many fragile pieces or buildings with tricky access. Either way, whatever is left out of the quote usually turns up as extra time on the day.
What are the warning signs in a moving quote?
Some details tend to predict trouble:
- Nothing in writing. No message, no email, no document.
- The price is far below the others with no clear reason (fewer people, fewer hours, a different vehicle).
- You can’t tell who will do the job: no company name, no tax ID.
- The extras are vague: “we might have to charge something for the stairs”.
- No word on how you pay or whether there will be a VAT invoice.
- Pressure to decide on the spot with a discount that expires today.
It is also worth thinking about insurance: if you are moving high-value items, you can take out additional insurance for your belongings yourself.
How do quotes work with MoveValencia?
MoveValencia manages your move from start to finish. You tell us what needs moving and get an approximate price straight away; we confirm the quote before starting, with the rate, the team and anything charged separately. The van carries only your belongings. You pay when the job is done, in cash or by bank transfer, and the VAT invoice is issued by the partner carrier that does the job. How payment works in detail is explained in how to pay for a move in Spain, and all rates are on the prices page.
To get your quote, send us both addresses, the floor and whether there is a lift, the date, and a list or photos of what needs moving.
