You’re ready to start packing for your move. But, before you pack, make sure you understand the items movers cannot move. Here’s a list of prohibited and restricted things that professional movers can’t move.
Prohibited Items
A good rule of thumb is that if an item can’t be recycled or disposed of in a regular trash can, movers can’t move it. Movers are prohibited from moving any hazardous or flammable items or toxic substances. Prohibited items include:
- Household cleaning products
- Alkaline and lead-acid batteries (Remove batteries from remotes, toys, and radios before packing.)
- Corrosive chemicals or poisons and lawn and garden chemicals
- Flammables and explosives, including matches, fireworks, and road flares
- Live animals or plants
- Petroleum products, including gasoline cans and other storage containers if they have any fuel in them
- Compressed gas cylinders, including oxygen tanks and fire extinguishers
- Illegal items or substances, such as illegal drugs or any items prohibited under state or federal laws
- Paints, including nail polish
- Ammunition including gunpowder
- Wax candles, especially paraffin candles
- Aerosol spray cans, such as those that contain hair spray, insect repellant, or cooking spray
You may want to dispose of some of these items, such as household cleaning products and lawn and garden chemicals, and buy new ones when you arrive at your destination. In addition, you could take live animals or plants in your car with you by taking some precautions.
Restricted Items
Movers might move certain restricted items if you’ve cleared them with your moving coordinator and prepared them correctly.
- Alcoholic beverages. Movers can transport alcoholic beverages in sealed containers; however, the temperatures in the vans may adversely affect their taste. If you have a collection of fine wines, beers, or spirits, you may want to request a climate-controlled van. Also, some states charge duties on alcoholic beverages imported for personal use.
- Gel-filled batteries if cables are detached and terminals covered
- Cordless power tools powered by lithium-ion batteries if the batteries are removed and transported separately and the terminals are covered
- Scuba tanks, if empty
- Firearms, if unloaded, declared, and documented
- Clean gasoline cans and fuel storage containers if they are empty and have no odor. However, movers recommend against moving these items unless necessary.
Not Recommended
Professional movers typically recommend moving items such as wedding photographs and children’s artwork. They also recommend setting aside personal items such as passports, prescription medicines, financial forms, insurance cards, credit cards, and school records to move yourself. In addition, you should carry towels, toiletries, and a change of clothing in your first-night box.
Seasonal Considerations
Even if some items aren’t on the restricted or prohibited list, you may want to avoid movers putting them in a regular van during extremely cold or hot weather. First, do some research on temperatures along the travel route. Then consider which items will fare poorly in those temperatures and carry them in your car or a climate-controlled van.
Moving Help
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