Best Removal Companies in Exeter: How to Compare Your Options
/Choosing a removal company in Exeter usually comes down to a shortlist of three or four names, and the differences between them are not always clear from a website. This guide sets out five firms that move households across Exeter, Exminster, Topsham and Cranbrook, with the facts each one publishes about itself. We start with our own company. Empire Removals is a family run removal company about twenty minutes from Exeter, rated 4.9 on Google from over 75 reviews. If you would like a price for your move while you read, you can Get a Free Quote and we will arrange a survey.
Removal Companies in Exeter Compared
The details below come from each company's own website, checked in November 2026. Where a firm does not state something publicly, the table says so rather than guessing.
1. Empire Removals
Empire Removals is a family run business based at 28 Hunterswell Road in Newton Abbot, about twenty minutes from Exeter along the A380. Our crews carry out house moves, office moves, packing and house clearances across every Exeter postcode, from the city centre and St Thomas to Heavitree, Pinhoe and Alphington, and out to the villages around it, including Exminster, Topsham, Kennford, Ide and Cranbrook.
Every move starts with a free survey, either at your home or by video. If a visit is hard to arrange, a short WhatsApp walkthrough of each room works too. On the survey we look at more than the furniture. We check the parking at both addresses, the carry from the van to the door, the stairs and lifts, and anything that needs dismantling. That is what allows us to give you a fixed quote in writing, so the price you agree is the price you pay.
Free boxes and tape come with every move. If you would rather not pack, our team can pack the whole house or just the kitchen and fragile items, with every box labelled by room. Beds, wardrobes and tables are dismantled and rebuilt at the new address.
We hold an Upper Tier Waste Carrier licence, so if you are downsizing or clearing a property before a sale, the clearance can be done by the same team that moves you. Every move is fully insured, and our storage in Newton Abbot can hold your belongings if your completion dates do not line up.
For more on how we cover the city, see our removals Exeter page.
2. Bishop's Move Exeter
Bishop's Move runs an Exeter office at Windsor Court, Manaton Close, on Matford Business Park (EX2 8PF). The company describes itself as an affiliated member of the British Association of Removers. Its Exeter branch lists packing, fine art handling, transportation, storage and removals insurance among its services. Surveys are free and carried out either at home or through the company's video app, followed by a no-obligation quote. Its Exeter storage uses containerised units in purpose-built warehouses.
3. Britannia Lanes of Devon
Britannia Lanes of Devon is based on Hennock Road East at Marsh Barton (EX2 8RU) and is part of the Britannia Movers International network. The branch handles domestic and business removals, international moves and storage, and offers a confidential shredding service for office moves. Its branch page links to a British Association of Removers membership check and lists the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman and the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. It shows a Google rating of 4.7 from 258 reviews.
4. King & Kearey
King & Kearey is a family removals company working from 2 Peamore Commercial Centre in Alphington (EX2 9SL). The company says it was established in Exeter in 1921 and is now in its third generation, led by Neil Kearey. It carries out local, national and European removals, along with packing and storage, and runs regular trips across the UK. King & Kearey is a trading name of BK Moving & Storage Ltd.
5. Exeter Removers
Exeter Removers is a family run Exeter firm and a member of the British Association of Removers, and it states that it follows the association's code of practice. It offers domestic, commercial and international removals, plus storage monitored 24 hours a day. For house moves an estimator visits your home before a free quotation is given. The service includes packing, dismantling and reassembly, and a full inventory with every removal.
At a Glance: Exeter Removal Companies
| Company | Google rating | Free survey | Fixed quote | Insurance | Office moves | House clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Removals | 4.9 (75+ reviews) | Yes, home or video | Yes, in writing | Fully insured | Yes | Yes, licensed waste carrier |
| Bishop's Move Exeter | Not stated on site | Yes, home or video | Not stated | Removals insurance offered | Not stated on Exeter page | Not stated |
| Britannia Lanes of Devon | 4.7 (258 reviews) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
| King & Kearey | Not stated on site | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Exeter Removers | Not stated on site | Yes, home visit | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
"Not stated" means the firm does not mention it on the pages we checked, not that it does not offer it. Ask each company directly.
What to Check When Comparing Exeter Removal Firms
FOur checks will tell you most of what you need to know about any removal company, including ours.
Insurance. Ask what cover is in place for goods in transit and for damage at either property, and what the limit is. Get the answer in writing. If you have valuable or fragile items, ask how they are covered.
A written, fixed quote. Some quotes are fixed and some are estimates that can rise if the job runs long. Ask which one you are being given, and what would change it. A written quote should list what is included, such as packing, dismantling and materials.
A survey before the quote. A price given without seeing the property is a guess. A home or video survey lets the company see your rooms, your loft and garage, and the access at both addresses, which is where most surprises on moving day come from.
Reviews. Read recent Google reviews rather than the star rating alone. Look for comments about the crew on the day, how problems were handled and whether the final price matched the quote.
It also helps to send every company the same details: both addresses, the moving date, the number of bedrooms and any access issues. Then the quotes you get back are for the same job.
Moving Into the Cranbrook and Monkerton New-Builds
Many Exeter moves now end at the new estates on the east of the city. Most roads at Cranbrook and Monkerton take a removal van easily, but shared parking bays, roads still being finished and site traffic can limit where it can stand. Ask any firm you are considering whether they have checked the layout at your new address. Some developers also set times for moving in, so confirm those with your sales team before you book a date.
Getting a Quote for Your Exeter Move
If you are shortlisting firms for a move in or around the city, we are happy to be one of your quotes. We will arrange a free survey at your home or by video and send you a fixed price in writing. You can read more about our local service on our removals Exeter page, or see removals Newton Abbot for moves from our home town.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many removal quotes should I get in Exeter?
Three is usually enough. Send each company the same details so the quotes cover the same job, and ask whether each price is fixed or an estimate.
Do Exeter removal companies charge for a survey?
The companies in this guide that mention surveys offer them free. At Empire Removals the survey is free, at your home or by video, and it is the basis of your fixed quote.
How far ahead should I book a removal company in Exeter?
One to two weeks is usually enough, but late August and September are busy because of student and university moves. Book earlier if your move falls then or at the end of a month.
Do I need a parking permit for a removal van in Exeter?
If either address is in a residents' parking zone, the van usually needs a parking dispensation or a suspended bay. Ask your removal company to check both addresses at the survey and apply as early as you can.
Book Your Free Survey
Call us on 01626 211469 or request a quote online, and we will arrange a free survey for your Exeter move.
