What movers will not move
Researched and written by Ashley Davis · Reviewed by Emily Johnson · Last reviewed August 2026
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Three categories. Hazardous materials, which federal rules bar from a household goods shipment: flammables, aerosols, corrosives, ammunition, propane, fuel and anything under pressure. Perishables, which most companies refuse because they spoil. And irreplaceables, which movers ask you to carry yourself: documents, medication, jewellery, cash and anything with sentimental value that cannot be replaced.
What counts as hazardous?
More household items than people expect. Paint, thinners, aerosols of any kind, nail polish remover, propane cylinders including the one on the barbecue, petrol including a lawnmower's tank, charcoal lighter fluid, pool chemicals, fertiliser, ammunition, matches and lighters. Batteries above a certain size and type are also restricted. If it warns about heat, pressure or ignition on the label, assume it does not travel.
What about perishables and plants?
Most companies refuse food that spoils, and refuse plants on any move long enough that they would not survive an unlit, unventilated trailer. Several states also restrict which plants may cross their line for agricultural reasons. Check the destination state's department of agriculture for its own requirements, since they vary and change, and plan for plants to travel in the car. Moving plants covers the journey itself.
What do you do with the things they will not take?
Use it, give it away, or dispose of it properly. Paint and chemicals go to a household hazardous waste facility, which most local authorities run and which is usually free. Propane cylinders can be exchanged rather than transported. Fuel is drained from mowers and trimmers into a can and used before the move. Almost none of this can be put in a normal bin.
What should travel with you rather than on the truck?
Documents including passports, deeds, birth certificates and the moving paperwork itself. Medication and prescriptions. Jewellery and cash. Keys. Devices you need the same day. Anything irreplaceable, which usually means photographs and a small number of objects. Pack these before the crew arrives and put them somewhere the crew will not see as a box to load.
What if a crew refuses something on the day?
They are entitled to, and it is usually the right call. A crew that refuses a propane cylinder or a half-full paint tin is following the rules the company operates under. The problem is timing: a refusal on the day leaves you holding something you have no plan for. Go through the garage, the shed and the cupboard under the sink a week ahead.