Note: Moving during COVID-19 requires extra precautions. Make sure to wear a mask, keep social distance and follow CDC guidelines. Read more in our post on moving during a pandemic.
Whether you plan to pack up your home yourself or you choose to have our team help, it’s a great idea to have an idea of what your movers won’t be able to transport.
While most of these are no-brainers (i.e. fuels, oils, chemicals and solvents), many people are still caught off guard on moving day with items that can’t be transported, so we recommend consulting this list early in the moving process. (Here’s a printable PDF for easy reference.)
Your official do-not-pack list:
Hazardous Materials
If you’re not sure how dispose of items that are not allowed in your shipment, visit earth911.com to find an appropriate recycling center near you.
- Aerosol cans
- Ammonia
- Ammunition
- Car batteries
- Charcoal/lighter fluid
- Chemistry sets
- Cleaning solvents
- Darkroom chemicals
- Fertilizer
- Fire extinguishers
- Fireworks
- Fuels/oils
- Household batteries
- Kerosene
- Liquid bleach
- Loaded guns
- Matches
- Nail polish
- Paint thinners
- Paints/varnishes
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Pool chemicals
- Propane tanks
- Sterno fuel
- Weed killer
Perishables
If you’re moving less than 150 miles and your items will be delivered within 24 hours of pickup, your movers may agree to transport perishables that are properly packed and require no servicing in transit. Just make sure you check with them first.
- Food without adequate preservation
- Refrigerated/frozen foods
- Open or partially used food
- Plants
- Produce
Personal Items/Valuables
While these items are technically allowed to be moved, we recommend keeping important documents and valuables with you during the move.
- Address books
- Airline tickets
- Car titles
- Cash
- Cell phones
- Checkbooks
- Computer data files/backups
- Family photos and albums
- Financial documents (stocks, bonds, CDs, IRAs, deeds, tax records, etc.)
- Insurance policies
- Jewelry and furs
- Keys (car, furniture, new home)
- Laptop computers
- Medical/dental Records
- New home documents
- Prescriptions
- School records
Let Sorensen Make Your Move Easy
If you’re looking for an experienced, reliable Florida moving company — look no further. We’ve been moving families and businesses for more than 60 years, so we know what matters to you. That’s why we offer a variety of moving services to help ensure a seamless, stress-free experience. Get a free quote today.
