Personal Effects and Relocation Services – to and from Iceland and domestic transport

Samskip provides comprehensive household relocation services for personal effects, whether the move is within Iceland or to and from Iceland. We manage door-to-door transport from the sender’s premises to the recipient’s location anywhere in the world, ensuring professional handling and secure delivery every step of the way.

Our service representatives are specialists in household removals and assist customers in finding the solution that best fits their needs. We focus on personalized service, clear communication, and a smooth, hassle-free process from start to finish.

Below, you will find an overview of our transport services and the process. Customers are also welcome to contact us at buslodir@samskip.com or reach out through our service chat if any questions arise.

Transport from Iceland

If you are moving from Iceland, you can find more detailed information here

Transport to Iceland

If you are moving to Iceland, you can find more detailed information here

Domestic transport

If you are moving within Iceland, you can find more detailed information here

Calculator to determine volume

To determine the volume and quantity of household goods to be transported in order to estimate the required size

Request an Offer for Personal Effects 

An online form to complete and request household relocation services to or from the country

Accept the quote from Samskip

Once you receive our quote, you can confirm and accept it using the option below

General Domestic Transport

You can request a quote for domestic door-to-door transport if needed

Vehicle transport – used cars

Vehicle Reception, Vessel Booking, and Storage at the Export Port

Before a vehicle is delivered to Samskip for export, the sender must contact a Samskip office to obtain a  price quote price quote for the transport. The sender is also required to book the vehicle on a vessel and submit the necessary documentation to enable the shipment.

Passenger vehicles must be delivered to Samskip no later than Tuesdays.

The sender must provide the following:

  • A copy of the sales invoice in cases where the vehicle is being sold.
    The sales invoice must include the following information in English: vehicle make and model, registration number, vehicle identification number (VIN), and year of manufacture.

  • The vehicle registration certificate. If the person in possession of the vehicle is not the registered owner, the sender must provide written export authorization from the owner.

  • The “Green Card,” which is an international insurance certificate. The sender must obtain this certificate from their insurance provider.

The sender is responsible for deregistering the vehicle with the Icelandic Transport Authority.

Once the vehicle has been booked on a vessel and the required documentation has been submitted, the sender will receive instructions on where to deliver the vehicle for loading into a container.

It is not permitted to deliver a vehicle for transport with any cargo inside, such as household goods, clothing, tools, or other items.

Samskip/Jónar Transport handles export documentation on behalf of the sender. An EUR.1 certificate can also be issued where required. The sender is responsible for providing all documentation necessary for customs clearance.

The vehicle will not be exported until export authorization has been granted by customs.

Transport charges do not include insurance to cover damage during transit. The sender must arrange and purchase insurance for the shipment.
Samskip’s service department can assist with arranging insurance if needed.

Samskip´s overseas offices will handle customs clearance of the vehicle at the foreign port. Once customs clearance is completed, the vehicle will be ready for collection. The vehicle will be stored in a warehouse or yard until the recipient collects it. If the recipient does not collect the vehicle within the specified time, storage charges will apply.

Payment for the transport must be made upon delivery of the vehicle to Samskip.

Terms and conditions

General terms and conditions for household removals with Samskip. If you require further information, we are happy to assist at buslodir@samskip.com or by phone at +354 458 8000.

The terms and conditions form part of the agreement between Samskip and its customers.

  • Samskip’s General Terms and Conditions of Transport apply to the transport of household goods and household vehicles and can be found on the Samskip website.
  • Samskip requires the owner of the household goods to insure their belongings for transport. Most customers already have home insurance for their property, and it is equally important to insure items while they are being transported by truck and vessel worldwide. Samskip staff can assist with arranging insurance.
  • The sender of the household goods is always responsible for packing. In all cases, it is important to prepare the goods properly for transport by packing items in boxes and protecting furniture and appliances with cardboard or thick plastic. All corners of larger items must be protected. Assistance with carrying or handling household goods is not included in the transport price, either in Iceland or abroad.
  • Only one household shipment may be registered per full container shipment to or from Iceland.
  • For full container exports from Iceland, the owner of the household goods is responsible for obtaining container seals (cargo security seals) from an approved provider.
  • It is not permitted to place household goods or any household items inside a vehicle being transported..
  • Household goods must be delivered to Samskip before the specified cargo closing time in each country. If the goods are not delivered by the stated closing time, they will be shipped on the next available vessel. Closing times are published on the Samskip website under Terminals and Addresses.
  • For exports from Iceland, payment for the transport must be made no later than two days before the vessel’s departure. Household goods will not be loaded onto the vessel unless payment has been received.
  • The owner of the household goods is always responsible for completing customs clearance in the destination country, as customs regulations vary by country. Information on customs rules in different countries can be found on the Samskip website and through the relevant customs authorities.
  • For imports to Iceland, authorization from customs and full payment for the transport must be in place before the shipment is released to the owner of the household goods.
  • Service standards for vessel discharge, handling, and inland transport vary by country. It is the responsibility of the owner of the household goods to monitor vessel arrivals at the destination port and to contact Samskip offices for assistance with the final steps of the transport process.
  • Samskip offers container and breakbulk transport. All transport schedules are estimated and subject to change.
  • The owner of the household goods is responsible for ensuring that the transport vehicle has access to the delivery address.
  • Loading and unloading times for containers vary by country, but are typically 1–2 hours, and pricing in each country is based on these time allowances.
  • Container rental, yard storage, and warehousing charges vary by country. In Iceland, these charges apply seven (7) days after the household goods arrive in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Effects and Relocation Services

Below are some of the most common questions and answers you may find helpful to review regarding household relocation service with us.

We begin by providing customers with a quote for the transport. To receive a quote, you will need to complete the online quote request form on our website. Please note that if your household goods are to be shipped as palletized cargo (breakbulk, not a full container), you must specify the total volume in cubic meters in the request, as pricing is based on cubic meter volume.

On our website, you can find a household volume calculator that can help give you an estimate of the size of your shipment. As a general guideline, you can also allow approximately 2 cubic meters per (Euro) pallet (0.8 × 1.2 × 2).

When booking a transport, you will need to provide the departure and destination locations, and specify whether the shipment will be a full container or breakbulk. You should also indicate whether pickup at the origin and home delivery at the destination are required. For breakbulk shipments, the volume (cubic meters) of the goods must be provided.

You can request transport quote, contact one of our service representatives or call us at +354 458 8000.

FCL is an abbreviation for Full Container Load. This refers to a full container shipment, where your household goods are loaded into either a 20ft or 40ft container for exclusive use.

LCL is an abbreviation for Less Than Container Load. This refers to a breakbulk or shared shipment, where your household goods are palletized and occupy only part of a container, which is shared with other shipments.

Yes, we offer students and senior citizens a 15% discount on sea transport between Iceland and our ports in Europe.

No discount is applied to other transport services, if applicable, such as road transport or onward transport at the beginning or end of the process (if requested).

In Iceland, trucks equipped with side loaders are used to place containers directly on the ground. Such vehicles are rare abroad, which is why this service usually incurs an additional charge. It is also possible to arrange extended loading/unloading time; however, each additional hour is typically billed as an extra cost.

For detailed information on pricing and the time available for loading/unloading abroad, please contact Samskip’s service department.

Only one household shipment may be registered per full container (FCL) shipment to and from the country.

Requirements vary by country, but an inventory (contents) list is always required. Completion of the customs declaration depends on the regulations of the destination country. For detailed guidance on the required forms, please contact a Samskip service representatives.

For shipments departing from Iceland, transport charges must be paid before the vessel leaves the country. If payment has not been received, the household goods will not be loaded onto the vessel.

For shipments to Iceland, transport charges must be paid before the household goods are released for delivery.

It varies — please contact your insurance provider to confirm whether cargo insurance is included in your home insurance policy.

What is cargo protection?
All cargo containers loaded in Iceland for export must be sealed with an approved bolt seal. For certification related to the transport of household goods, reference is made to packing companies and the Icelandic Customs Authority in Reykjavík. Samskip provides guidance and advice on these matters.

Yes. Samskip can arrange insurance for household goods and vehicles through Sjóvá. It is mandatory for household goods to be insured during transport, whether or not Samskip arranges the insurance.

If Samskip arranges the insurance, the premium is 0.75% of the total declared value of the household goods, with a minimum charge of ISK 3,000. The deductible is ISK 25,000.

Household goods are generally duty-free if the person has had permanent residence in the country of origin for at least 12 months prior to the move. If any of the household items are new, they must be declared and cleared through customs separately, and Jónar Transport can assist customers with this process.

Only items that belong to the vehicle itself may be transported inside the car. Therefore, it is not permitted to place household goods in a vehicle that is being shipped by Samskip.

If Samskip has arranged insurance for your household goods, please complete a transport damage claim at sjova.is. A representative from Sjóvá will then contact the claimant to advise on the next steps.

In most cases, no. However, please note that for loose cargo (LCL) shipments, charges are always based on the actual cubic volume measured. It can be difficult to estimate the exact volume in advance, which is why household goods are always measured at the warehouse and invoiced according to those measurements.

If a customer requests the container to be placed on the ground or requires additional time to load or unload the container abroad, extra charges will be added to the original quote. Full details of such costs are included in the quotation.

Container rental and storage charges may also apply. However, household goods customers are granted seven (7) free days from the vessel’s arrival. It is also possible to have the container delivered to the customer’s home in Iceland up to seven (7) days prior to the vessel’s departure without incurring container rental charges.

No, Samskip does not provide this service.

Samskip in Iceland can supply pallets and plastic wrap (this does not apply at foreign ports), but does not load goods onto pallets or pack containers on behalf of customers. The Customer Service team can recommend reliable third-party providers for packing and handling services.

If household goods are collected and loaded onto a transport vehicle, it is important to contact Customer Service to confirm whether the goods must be palletized and wrapped. Requirements vary depending on the destination country.

For example, in Iceland, Pökkun og flutningar ehf. can provide cargo protection for household goods containers and charges separately for this service. Please note that Samskip will not collect full household goods containers for export until the container has been sealed and cargo protection has been completed.

Before household goods can be released for delivery, customs clearance must be completed, and transport charges must be paid. For customs clearance to take place, the individual must be registered as arriving in Iceland with the National Registry of Iceland Íslands and submit a completed household goods declaration, inventory list, and arrival notice to Samskip or the Icelandic Customs Authority.

The usual processing time with customs authorities is one to two business days, although it may take longer in some cases.

You can import your household goods without registering your residence in Iceland; however, you may be required to pay customs duties on the goods.

In order for household goods to be exempt from customs duties, you must register your legal residence in Iceland.

Yes, it is possible to use your own container for international transport; however, the container must have a valid CSC certification.

This is confirmed by sending us a photo of the container’s CSC plate.

As a general rule, quotes from Samskip are valid for two (2) months from the date they are issued.

  • Customer Service for Personal Effects

    Customer Service for Personal Effects

    Customer Service Representatives

    Customer Service Representatives