Moving household goods from one EU country to another adds a layer of complexity that a domestic move does not have. The transport crosses borders, it may involve more than one carrier, and the company's liability for loss or damage is often governed by an international convention that caps compensation by weight — a figure that can be far below what your possessions are actually worth. Treating the contract and its insurance options as an afterthought is how people end up absorbing the cost of a damaged move themselves.
What is a Cross-Border Liability?
A cross-border moving company contract covers the packing, international transport, and delivery of household goods between EU countries. It sets the price and what it includes, the timetable, the company's liability for loss or damage, and the insurance options. For carriage of goods by road, the company's liability is frequently governed by the CMR Convention, which limits compensation to a fixed amount per kilogram of the goods lost or damaged rather than their real value. Separately, the company offers — or you arrange — transit or all-risks insurance to cover the gap. As a consumer service the contract is also subject to EU and national consumer protection law.
Red flags to watch for
Under the CMR Convention and similar terms, compensation is capped by weight, so a damaged laptop or antique may attract only a few euros despite its real value.
If full-value insurance is a separate, optional purchase, declining it — or overlooking it — can leave only the weight-based statutory minimum.
Insurance often covers only items packed by the company; boxes you pack yourself may be uninsured for damage to their contents.
If part of the journey is handed to another carrier or a local agent, the contract should make clear who is liable; gaps between carriers are where claims fall through.
Conventions and contracts often require visible damage to be noted on delivery and claims to be made within tight deadlines, defeating damage found later during unpacking.
If delivery is delayed at a border or the destination, the contract may let the company charge storage or hold the goods until extra fees are paid.
Your legal rights
For the international carriage of goods by road within and between most EU countries, the carrier's liability is commonly governed by the CMR Convention (the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road), which limits compensation for lost or damaged goods to a fixed amount per kilogram of gross weight, unless a higher value was declared and an extra charge paid. That limit is usually well below replacement value, which is why separate transit or all-risks insurance matters. As a consumer arrangement, the moving contract is also subject to EU consumer law: the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU requires clear pre-contract information and, for distance or off-premises contracts, a 14-day right of withdrawal, and the Unfair Contract Terms Directive 93/13/EEC allows a term causing a significant imbalance against a consumer to be declared non-binding. National implementing law and consumer dispute bodies, including the European Consumer Centres Network for cross-border disputes, provide further recourse.
Questions to ask before you sign
- 1Is the company's liability limited by weight under the CMR Convention, and what is the per-kilogram figure?
- 2Is full-value transit or all-risks insurance included, or an optional extra I must buy?
- 3Does the insurance cover cartons I pack myself, or only those packed by your team?
- 4Will subcontractors handle any part of the journey, and who is liable if they cause damage?
- 5What must I do on delivery, and by when, to preserve a damage claim?
- 6Can I declare a higher value for valuable items, and what does that cost?
- 7What happens — including storage charges — if delivery is delayed at a border or the destination?
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified legal professional before making decisions based on this information.