The Cost of Moving to the Channel Islands
The removal is only one line in the budget. Here is everything a move from the UK to Jersey or Guernsey costs, from the freight to the first GP visit.
DJS Moves plans removals from the UK to Jersey and Guernsey, and the families who budget well are the ones who look past the removal quote. A move to Jersey or Guernsey also brings travel, island paperwork, duty on your car and, for buyers, property taxes that work differently from UK stamp duty. None of it is hard to plan for once you can see it all in one place.
Below is the full picture, island by island, using the official fees and published fares for 2026.
Get a Fixed Removal QuoteYour moving budget at a glance
The main costs to plan for, and where Jersey and Guernsey differ.
| Cost | Jersey | Guernsey |
|---|---|---|
| The removal | Priced on volume, packing and freight. Fixed after a survey | Priced on volume, packing and freight. Fixed after a survey |
| Tax on belongings | 5% GST, with relief on items owned six months or more | None until 2029 |
| Residency paperwork | Registration card £88.15 | Certificate £50, or permit £120 to £700 |
| Bringing a car | Inspection and registration £83.80, plus emissions duty unless relief applies | First Registration Duty £121 to £2,853 |
| Driving licence | £70 to exchange | Exchange within 12 months |
| Buying a home | Stamp duty or land transaction tax in bands | Document Duty from 2.25% |
| Health cover gap | GP fees in full for six months | GP visits around £75 |
What decides the price of the removal
There is no honest flat price for an island move, because no two loads take the same space on the ferry. Four things set the figure.
How much you are moving
Freight is charged on the space your load takes, so volume matters far more than distance.
Packing
Export packing for the crossing is a service in its own right. A full pack costs more than packing yourself but protects everything at the port.
Sailings and timing
Freight runs to set schedules. A fixed date in a busy month can cost more than a flexible one.
Storage and access
Storage at either end, narrow lanes, steps or a long carry all add time and handling.
Ways to bring the removal cost down
Small decisions before moving day make a real difference to the final quote.
Clear out first
Every item you sell or donate is space you do not pay to send across the sea.
Be flexible on dates
A few days either way lets your load travel on the most suitable sailing.
Ask about part loads
Smaller moves can share freight space instead of paying for a whole vehicle.
Keep receipts
In Jersey, proof you owned items for six months avoids five per cent GST on them.
Getting yourselves across
Your furniture travels as freight, so you will make your own way over. Published one-way fares start at around these levels, and rise in school holidays.
Car and two passengers, Portsmouth to St Helier with DFDS. Foot passengers from £50.
Car and two passengers from Poole or Portsmouth with Condor, depending on the date.
One way from Gatwick to Jersey. Flights to Guernsey with Aurigny tend to start a little higher.
Island fees, side by side
The official charges you will meet in your first weeks. Most are one-off.
One point catches out car owners. Jersey offers relief from emissions duty if you have owned the car for six months and lived off the island for a year, so most people moving a family car pay little or nothing. Guernsey has no equivalent relief, so check your car's band before you decide whether to bring it.
If you are buying a home
Neither island has UK stamp duty, but both tax property purchases in bands.
Stamp duty, or land transaction tax on share transfer flats, rises in bands from 0.5% to 11% on the most expensive homes, plus a small fixed fee. First-time buyers pay nothing up to £350,000. Average prices run from about £326,000 for a one-bed flat to £797,000 for a three-bed house.
Document Duty starts at 2.25% up to £300,000 and rises in bands to 7% above £5 million. The Local Market average is around £609,000, while Open Market homes, the ones available without a work permit, have a median closer to £2 million.
Your advocate will confirm the exact duty on your purchase. Our guides to moving to Jersey and moving to Guernsey explain who can buy what on each island.
Living costs in your first year
Day-to-day costs run higher than in most of the UK. These are the figures to build into a monthly budget.
That last figure matters. New residents pay for GP visits, and full hospital cover in Jersey only starts after six months of living and working there. Many families take out private health insurance to bridge the gap, so include it in your first-year sums. If your new home is not ready on arrival, short-term storage on the islands starts from around £2 a day.
Know your removal cost before you plan the rest
Tell us what you are moving and where to. We will survey your home and give you a fixed price for packing, freight, customs and delivery, so you know exactly what the move itself will cost.
Cost questions we are asked
How much does a removal to Jersey or Guernsey cost?
It depends on volume, packing and sailing dates rather than distance, so the only reliable figure comes from a survey. DJS Moves gives a fixed price with no hidden extras once we know what you are moving.
Is it cheaper to move to Guernsey than Jersey?
The removal costs are similar. Guernsey has no GST until 2029 but no relief on car duty, while Jersey charges GST with relief for a home move. Housing costs depend far more on which market you can buy or rent in.
Can I save money by sharing a load?
Yes, for smaller moves. A part load shares freight space with other customers, which cuts the cost but needs some flexibility on timing.
Do I need to budget for storage?
Only if your dates do not line up. Storage on either side of the crossing can bridge a gap between leaving your UK home and getting the keys on the island.
Planning the move itself? Read how removals to the Channel Islands work, or see our Channel Islands removals service.