While packing for your move consider which items you’ll move and which items will be moved by a moving company. There are many common items moving companies will not move. This list varies from company to company. Keep reading to discover the most common items movers will not move.
Table of Contents
High-Value Items
Most moving companies will have a list of high-value items they will not move. It’s important to note that some moving companies just highly recommend you move these items yourself and do not strictly ban them.
These items typically fall into two categories: monetarily expensive and sentimentally valuable items.
Monetarily Expensive Items
Refusing to move monetarily expensive items varies by company. These items tend to be over a certain price value. Companies won’t move these items to protect themselves from having to pay a lot of money if the item ends up damaged.
Monetarily expensive items often include the following…
- Collections (Stamps, coins, etc.)
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Collectible Art
- Cash/Checkbooks
Sentimentally Valuable Items
Moving company items often won’t move items of sentimental value. Sentimental items are irreplaceable if they’re damaged or lost. For this reason, most moving companies will require or recommend you move these items yourself. This ensures your irreplaceable items will be safe with you.
Common sentimentally valuable items include…
- Family Photographs
- Personal Documents
- Personal Files
- Family Heirlooms
- Home Videos
Live Items
Another category movers often won’t move is live items. Live items include both plants and animals. These items are too big of a liability for companies to move.
Plants
Moving plants is often prohibited by moving companies. Companies don’t want to be responsible for keeping your plant alive. During the move, they won’t have time to water your plants, even if it’s a long-distance move.
They also have to be conscious of state laws regarding moving plants. Each state has its laws about the transporting of plants across its borders. By not moving plants, moving companies don’t have to worry about these laws.
Here are different types of plants moving companies won’t move.
- Indoor Plants
- Outdoor Plants
- Exotic Plants
- Water Plants
- Air Plants
Animals
Animals are on nearly all moving company’s lists of things they will not move. This is because their safety cannot be guaranteed in a moving vehicle. Most moving vehicles aren’t climate-controlled, have no fresh air, and aren’t stable places for cages to sit. Movers also don’t have time to give animals food and water during a move.
The safest option is moving your pets with you. If this isn’t an option, consider looking into pet relocation services. Unlike moving companies, they’re fully equipped to help move your pets.
Common animals movers won’t move include…
- Farm Animals
- Aquatic Animals
- Household Pets
- Rodents
- Exotic Animals
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Perishable Items
Nearly all moving companies will refuse to move perishable food. They simply don’t have a way to keep your food cold during the move. This can cause items to spoil. Spoiled items are unsafe to eat and can create a bad smell in the moving vehicle.
Before your move, it’s best you eat or throw away all your perishable items. Your moving company will, however, most likely move any unopened nonperishable items.
Here is a list of common perishable items movers won’t move.
- Meat
- Dairy Items
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Leftover Foods
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are another thing movers can’t move. These items tend to fall into two categories: flammable items and chemicals. Both types of items can present a big risk to a moving vehicle.
It’s also important to know the laws about transporting hazardous materials. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has many regulations and laws regarding this type of transportation. These laws are in place to keep drivers, movers, and the general public safe.
Flammable Items
Flammable items are very dangerous to have in a moving vehicle. With all the jostling around, they pose too much of a risk to the movers. One wrong bump or car accident can cause an explosion or a fire to start. For this reason, flammable items are banned by nearly all moving companies.
It’s important to realize that flammable items can often be common household items. Some people may not realize just how many everyday items are considered flammable.
Here is a list of common flammable household items.
- Nail Polish
- Nail Polish Remover
- Charcoal
- Gasoline
- Propane
Chemicals
Chemicals are another thing that are banned by most moving companies. During a bumpy move, they pose too much of a risk of spilling. Spilled chemicals can damage other items in the moving vehicle.
Spilled chemicals also have the potential to mix and create bad chemical reactions. This can cause harm to the moving vehicle and the movers.
Some common household chemicals include…
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Laundry Detergent
- Fertilizer
- Household Batteries
- Weed Killer
Dangerous Items
Another category moving companies won’t move is dangerous items. Two common forms of dangerous items are firearms and fireworks. These items are dangerous to transport and pose a risk to the movers.
The transportation of these items also varies from state to state. Some states won’t allow you to bring firearms or fireworks across their state borders.
Firearms
Moving companies often won’t transport firearms. This is due to all the laws surrounding the transportation of firearms. Firearms must be stored in a certain way to follow transportation laws. Moving companies don’t always have the materials to properly transport them.
In addition, most moving companies also won’t transport ammunition. This is due to how flammable and explosive they can be.
Different types of firearms moving companies won’t transport include…
- Handguns
- Rifles
- Ammunition
Fireworks
Fireworks are another dangerous item moving companies typically won’t move. The main reason is fireworks are a flammable explosive. This can be very dangerous if the fireworks are jostled and go off in the moving vehicle.
In addition, fireworks are only legal within certain states. The transportation of fireworks over certain state lines can be illegal. For this reason, it’s easiest for fireworks to not be moved between states.
Here are different types of fireworks movers won’t move.
- Sparklers
- Bottle Rockets
- Peony Fireworks
- Roman Candles
Plan Ahead
It’s important to plan ahead for your move. Once you hire a moving company check out their list of items they won’t move. If you have additional questions don’t be afraid to contact your company and ask! This will help you plan which items need to be thrown out or stay with you during the move.
Remember, every moving company will have different rules. If your company won’t move a certain item, there may be other companies that will. Do your research and see which companies best fit the items you need moved.
Conclusion
Knowing what things movers won’t move will help you be better prepared to move. It will give you a chance to plan and decide what items need to stick with you.
Most companies won’t move items of high monetary value or sentimentally valuable items. All these items aren’t moved because they could potentially be damaged. Moving companies don’t want to be held responsible for replacing such expensive items.
They also won’t move any live plants, animals, or perishable goods. These items can’t be safely transported in a standard moving vehicle.
Companies also won’t move hazardous or dangerous materials. These items can cause damage while being transported. Some states also don’t allow these items to be moved across their state lines.
Follow this basic checklist of common items that most companies won’t move when preparing your items. However, it’s best to look ahead to see what your chosen company can’t move.
Jessica is a students at the University of Northern Iowa. She is majoring in English Education with a creative writing minor. In her free time she loves to read books of every genre, write short stories, and spend time with friends. In the future she hopes to share her love for reading and writing with her future students.
