What the law
guarantees you
Four concrete rights almost nobody explains before you sign.
A written quote is obligatory before the move and must state explicitly whether municipal fees and permits are included. Once accepted it is proof that the contract exists and of what it contains. You may also require an inventory before transport, the completion document is signed within 24 hours, and you have seven working days to claim for damage.
Your rights, one at a time
The fourA written quote is obligatory before the move and must state explicitly whether municipal fees and permits are included. Once accepted it is proof that the contract exists and of what it contains.
Once accepted, it proves the contract and its contentsEither party may require an inventory before transport. It is the basis of any later claim and the only way an insurer knows what it was covering.
Signed within 24 hours of the work finishing. Visible damage is noted on it, and the clock for everything else starts there.
You have seven working days from delivery to claim for damage that was not written on the completion document. After that no claim for loss or damage is admissible. It is the most useful and least published fact in this industry.
After the deadline, no claim is admissibleWhat your quote has to say
The checklistIf any of these lines is missing, ask for it in writing before you accept. The accepted quote is the proof of contract, so what it does not say does not exist.
| Must appear | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The services, itemised | Packing, dismantling, reassembly and carrying are separate line items and can all be charged separately |
| Whether municipal fees and permits are included | An express requirement, and the item that causes the most argument on the day |
| The volume in cubic metres | The most expensive quoting error in this corridor: giving the volume in cubic feet when the quote assumes cubic metres. There is a factor of 35 between them. “650 cube” can mean 18 m3 or 650 m3. |
| Floor and lift at both addresses | The stairs surcharge applies at origin and at destination |
| The insurance cover and how it is calculated | Third-party liability cover is not insurance on your furniture: it covers damage to third parties. What protects your contents is goods-in-transit cover based on a valued inventory, and items worth more than EUR 600 must be listed separately. |
| Whether it submits to the arbitration board | It may exclude it, but only if it says so expressly before the service begins |
Questions about your rights
Frequently askedIs a written quote compulsory in Spain?
Yes, before the move, and it must itemise services and costs and state expressly whether administrative fees and permits are included.
What is the accepted quote worth?
Once accepted it proves the existence of the contract and its contents. It is your most important document if there is later a dispute about price or about what was included.
Can they charge more than quoted?
For new services or undeclared volume, yes. For what was already quoted, no. That is where the written quote stops being paperwork and becomes your defence.
When do I sign the final document?
Within 24 hours of the work finishing. Inspect before signing: what you note is already claimed, and what you do not falls under the seven-working-day deadline.
What if the firm does not turn up?
That is breach of contract and the accepted quote evidences it. Claim in writing for the costs it caused you and, if there is no response, go to the arbitration board. A firm may exclude the transport arbitration board in writing, and it has to do so before the service begins. If it does not, and you are claiming under EUR 15,000, the board has jurisdiction: free, no lawyer, binding award. Look for that clause before you sign.
Can I cancel a booked move?
It depends what was agreed, which is why the cancellation terms matter before you pay a deposit. If the municipal permit is already applied for, note that Alicante allows cancellation up to 48 hours beforehand.