Items Packers and Movers Do Not Carry
Most moving companies avoid certain items for safety and legal reasons. These are the items packers and movers do not carry, so you can plan to carry them yourself or arrange them separately.
Hazardous and flammable items
Cooking gas cylinders, petrol, paints, thinners, matchboxes, firecrackers and aerosols are typically excluded because they pose fire risks in a closed vehicle.
Perishable food and plants
Fresh food, frozen items and many plants do not survive long transit. Use up perishables before the move.
Valuables and documents
Cash, jewellery, passports, property papers and important documents should travel with you in a bag. Do not pack them in cartons.
Items that need special arrangement
Pets, fish tanks, antiques, artwork and heavy items such as pianos may need special handling. Tell us in advance so we can plan, or see our packing and unpacking service.
What to do with these items instead
Donate or dispose of flammable liquids safely before the move. Gift or consume perishable food. Carry cash, jewellery and original documents yourself. For plants, a small number can travel with you in your own vehicle. For pets, plan separate transport. Valuables such as artwork and antiques can usually travel with us when packed specially, but tell us beforehand.
Why these rules exist
The restrictions protect everyone: flammables can cause fires in a closed truck, perishables spoil, and unmarked valuables are hard to protect and insure. Clear communication before moving day avoids last-minute surprises. See our checklist for a full to-do list.
A quick reference list
| Item | What to do |
|---|---|
| Gas cylinders | Return or transfer through your gas agency |
| Paints and solvents | Use up or dispose of safely |
| Fresh food | Consume or donate |
| Cash and jewellery | Carry personally |
| Plants | Take in your own vehicle |
| Important documents | Carry in a personal bag |
Asking the right question
When in doubt, ask. A short call before you pack can save you from rejected cartons on moving day. Tell us about anything that looks unusual, such as a large aquarium, a gym machine or a collection of antiques, and we will say how it should be handled. Read our household shifting service page for what is included by default.
The reasons behind each restriction
It is easy to think that a moving company is being difficult when it declines certain items, but each restriction has a practical reason. Flammable liquids and gas cylinders can ignite or leak in a closed vehicle, endangering the crew and the rest of your belongings. Perishable food spoils, causes odours and attracts pests. Cash, jewellery and important documents are difficult to protect and are often impossible to insure in a household consignment. Live plants and pets need air, light and water, which a truck cannot provide on a long journey.
Knowing these reasons makes it easier to plan. You can use up pantry items in the weeks before the move, return cylinders through your gas agency, and give plants to friends or carry them in your own car.
Items that need special handling, not refusal
Some items are not prohibited but need care and advance notice. Heavy appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators should be emptied, secured and sometimes serviced before the move. Large televisions, glass tables and mirrors require professional packing. Antique furniture, pianos, safes and gym equipment need extra crew and sometimes special equipment. Firearms and licensed items require legal compliance and should be handled according to the law. Tell your mover in advance about any such item so that it is priced and planned correctly.
A pre-move sorting guide
| Category | Carry yourself | Give to movers | Dispose or donate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documents | Yes | No | No |
| Jewellery and cash | Yes | No | No |
| Furniture | No | Yes | If unused |
| Kitchen items | Essentials | Most items | Expired food |
| Paints and chemicals | No | No | Yes |
| Plants | Yes | No | Give away |
What to do with the items you cannot send
Plan these disposals early. Ask your gas agency about transferring a cylinder connection. Take paints and chemicals to a disposal point or give them to a trusted neighbour. Donate unopened food to a local charity. Carry plants in your own vehicle with water and cover them from sun. Keep medicines and daily-use items in your hand baggage or car. If you are unsure about any item, ask us before you pack it. Our team will tell you whether it can travel and how it should be packed.
You can also read about how we handle packing and unpacking and household shifting to understand what is included in a standard move.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pack clothes with perfume bottles? It is safer to carry perfume yourself, because glass and alcohol can break and leak. Can I send medicines with my goods? Carry essential medicines yourself, and keep non-essential ones in a sealed bag in a carton. What about a gas stove with a cylinder? The stove can be packed, but the cylinder should be returned or transferred. Can movers carry liquids such as cooking oil? Usually yes if sealed and packed upright, but check with the crew. What if I have antiques? Tell us in advance so they can be packed with extra care.
Special case: moving a home office or a business stock
If you run a business from home, separate your stock and equipment from your household items. Confidential papers, cash, cheque books and hard drives with sensitive data should be carried personally. Heavy machinery or hazardous stock may need a commercial vehicle and specific handling. Tell us about these items at the survey so that the quote and plan fit. Read our page on office relocation if your stock is large.
How to carry your valuables safely
On moving day, keep a small bag or pouch with your valuables, documents, cash, jewellery, laptops and chargers. Do not leave it unattended, and avoid placing it with household goods. If you have a lot of jewellery, consider keeping it in a bank locker during the move. For documents, make scanned copies and store them in cloud storage. Keep your phone fully charged. If you are travelling by train or bus, keep the bag within sight, and use the same care at the new home until everything is in order.
Items that are legal but sensitive
Some items need extra thought: prescription medicines, alcohol, imported goods and religious items. Medicines should be carried by you. Alcohol should be packed carefully, and you should follow the rules of the state you are moving to. Religious idols and sacred objects are packed with respect, in separate cartons, and loaded in a stable position; tell the crew if there are customs you would like them to follow. Our team treats such items with care and discusses the plan with you in advance.
What happens if you pack a restricted item by mistake?
It happens more often than people think. A bottle of nail polish remover slips into a cosmetics bag, an aerosol can hides in a bathroom cupboard, or a small gas lighter stays in a kitchen drawer. A careful crew checks cartons during loading and may ask you to open boxes that look suspicious or smell of chemicals. If an item is found, it is taken out and left with you. The best protection is a last-minute walkthrough of every cupboard and drawer a day before the move, with a bag set aside for items that need to be carried or discarded.
Telling the crew about anything unusual at the start avoids delays. We would rather answer a quick question on the phone than discover a problem on a loaded truck.
Moving business stock, chemicals and hobby supplies
People who run small home businesses or hobbies often own items that fall in a grey area: art paints, cleaning concentrates, salon products, craft glues, gardening chemicals and batteries. Some of these are fine when sealed and packed upright; others are risky. Sealed, non-flammable products can usually travel in a labelled carton. Anything flammable or corrosive should be left behind or moved by you in a private vehicle, following the label instructions. Batteries and power banks should be carried by hand, since damaged cells can heat up. Share a list at the survey, and we will tell you item by item.
For larger business stock, see our commercial relocation service and storage options.
Final tips for a clean, safe packing day
On the morning of the move, do a last walkthrough with the crew leader. Open cupboards, check balconies and storerooms, and ask: is there anything here that should not travel? Keep a small box for items you will carry yourself, and a garbage bag for items to dispose of. Hand over the keys only after the last carton has gone. A calm, organised start sets the tone for the whole day and keeps both your goods and the crew safe.
Quick answers
No. Empty and defrost the refrigerator a day before the move.
Items packers and movers do not carry: reminder
Before moving day, recheck the items packers and movers do not carry: flammables, perishables, cash, jewellery and documents. When unsure, ask us.
Ready to move? Get your free quote today
Talk to our Pune team and lock in your date before slots fill up.