Moving and shipping to LA
Container, air freight or sell everything and start over at IKEA Burbank? The trade-off, customs and the timeline.
Ship it or buy new?
A 20-foot container NL → LA costs $6,000–10,000 door-to-door and takes 6–10 weeks. Groupage (shared container) for 10–15 m³: $3,000–5,000. US furniture is cheap (IKEA, Facebook Marketplace, Costco); appliances here run on 110V and 60Hz, so leave your Dutch washing machine, Quooker and most kitchen appliances. Do bring: bikes (expensive here), mattresses if you're attached, art and anything sentimental.
Customs: Form 3299
Used household goods owned for at least a year enter duty-free via CBP Form 3299. Your mover handles it, but you must provide a detailed inventory (in English). New or less than a year old? Duties apply. Don't ship: plants, wood with bark, food, alcohol (very limited), weapons.
Choosing a mover
Get three quotes from FIDI-certified movers (e.g. Voerman, Gosselin, Schmidt Global) and compare door-to-door including customs clearance, insurance (2–3% of value) and storage in LA. Read reviews on Google and in the Facebook group 'Nederlanders in Los Angeles'. Moving within the US later? U-Haul, PODS or Mayflower.
Pets
Dogs and cats can come with a valid rabies vaccine (at least 28 days old) and a vet health certificate (within 10 days of departure). Since 2024 the CDC requires an online Dog Import Form and a microchip. KLM carries pets in the cabin (small) or in the hold; heat restrictions apply in summer.
Timeline
3 months ahead: quotes, visa done, plan deregistration. 2 months: book mover, temporary housing in LA for the first 4–8 weeks, Wise account. 1 month: cancel (rent, utilities, insurance), arrange apostilles, bring medical records. Last week: deregister from the municipality (within 5 days of departure), load container, farewell party.