Items Movers Won't Move: What to Handle Yourself

Hazardous Materials Movers Won't Transport

This is the big one. No reputable moving company — including Up & Out — will transport hazardous materials. These items pose fire, explosion, or chemical risks inside a closed truck, especially during Montreal's hot summer months when truck interiors can exceed 50°C.

The prohibited list includes:

• Propane tanks and gas canisters (including BBQ tanks)
• Gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid
• Paints, stains, and solvents
• Fireworks and ammunition
• Cleaning chemicals like bleach and ammonia
• Pesticides and fertilizers

For disposal, Montreal offers écocentres across the city where you can drop off hazardous waste for free. There are locations in Saint-Laurent, LaSalle, Rosemont, and several other boroughs. Check the Ville de Montréal website for hours and accepted items.

Perishable Food and Plants

Movers generally won't take responsibility for perishable foods — frozen items, refrigerated goods, or opened pantry items. The risk of spoilage and mess in the truck is too high. Plan to eat down your fridge and freezer in the weeks before moving.

For your remaining perishables, pack them in a cooler with ice packs and transport them in your own vehicle. This is especially important during a Montreal summer move when temperatures can make a truck interior feel like an oven.

Houseplants are another grey area. Many movers will transport them for short local moves, but they're not covered by insurance if damaged. At Up & Out, we'll move your plants for local Montreal moves, but we recommend transporting delicate or valuable plants in your own car for safety.

Valuables and Personal Documents

While movers technically can transport valuables, you shouldn't put them on the truck. Keep the following with you personally:

• Jewelry and cash
• Important documents — passports, birth certificates, lease, immigration papers
• Laptops and hard drives with irreplaceable data
• Medications (especially prescriptions you need daily)
• Family heirlooms with sentimental value

These items are either irreplaceable or disproportionately valuable relative to moving insurance coverage limits. Pack them in a dedicated bag or box that rides in your car.

How to Plan for Restricted Items

Start planning for these items at least two weeks before your move. Drain fuel from lawn mowers and snow blowers. Use up or properly dispose of cleaning chemicals. Eat through your freezer inventory — it's a great excuse for creative cooking.

For propane tanks, many Canadian Tire locations in Montreal offer exchanges — return your full tank and pick up a new one at your destination. Some gas stations also handle tank exchanges.

If you have a gun safe or firearms, you must transport them yourself following RCMP regulations. Quebec has additional requirements under the province's firearms registry. Never put firearms in a moving truck.