Montreal movers and surrounding areas

Hourly pricing is the most commonly used pricing model in Montréal. It’s simple, the company will provide you with an hourly rate and charge you based on the time it takes to complete your move. The more prepared you are, the less it will cost.

In your quote, movers will provide you with an estimated labor time, so they can precisely estimate the final cost. 

Services considered in the labor time: 

• Wrapping and protecting 
• Dismantling and reassembling 
• Packing/unpacking (additional service if requested)
• Loading and unloading the truck 
• Miscellaneous requests 
• Driving from the pickup to the drop-off location (and to/from their office) 

To cover travel time and fuel, movers may charge you for the time it takes them to drive to and from their office. Alternatively, they may charge a pre-established truck fee, which will be based on the distance to be driven and the size of the truck. 

Certain services are included in the final price such as: basic insurance (release value protection), moving blankets, moving equipment and sometimes wardrobe boxes.

All moving companies in Montréal have diverse fee-related policies. Generally, packing and unloading specialty items will be an added cost to your moving bill for their fragility (extra protection required), weight (more workers required), and extra space they may take up in the truck (additional truck required). 

The moving company may charge extra fees for heavy items like sports equipment and appliances. Extra stair fees (above 2nd floor) and overnight or storage fees (if the move was not completed in one day), may be charged. Also, fuel fees could apply, especially for longer distances. 

There are two types of moving insurance protections: release value protection and full value protection. 

Release value protection covers the damages happening in the moving truck and can cover $0.60 per pound of the damaged item. The cost is typically included in the price and there is no deductible.  

Whereas, full value protection applies to damage done in the moving truck and in your home. This can cover anywhere between $5 to $10 per pound of the damaged item. Expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars for full value protection, and know that there is a deductible and that it will vary. 

The best time of the year to move in Montréal is in the fall or winter. Choosing to move during these two seasons will make you save time, but more importantly money. It’s during these times of the year that movers have more availability.

The months of the year with the lowest rates are October through May, excluding December. We recommend that you move not only during the winter, but on a weekday, Monday through Friday, where you will save hundreds of dollars compared to the summer. Please note that all moves during the Summer months are more expensive because of the higher demand.

In general, a common amount to tip movers is $5/ hour, per mover. Giving tips to movers is strongly recommended to show your appreciation of their hard work and great service. The tip is calculated depending on the amount of time it took to complete your move, so you do not need to include the transport time in your calculations.  

Keep in mind, the tip can vary depending on different factors: 

• The complexity of the move: the heavy items that need to be moved, the distance between your new home and old address, any unprecedented problems 

• The weather conditions: if there is presence of rain, strong winds, snow or snowstorm, ice or freezing rain, heat wave 

• The extras; one or more trucks, the number of movers, the extra protective packaging, the location of the materials
• The overall quality of service and of your movers; their punctuality, flexibility, politeness and if they took care of your belongings with utmost care

You can give the tip whenever you please. We strongly recommend giving it as soon as you are ready to pay for the final bill or after the move is completed, and you are satisfied. 

Discover more how much to tip your movers

Movers will be allowed to park their truck legally in front of your home if they take a free, legal, non-paying parking space at the time of the move. You cannot block any sidewalks, bike lanes or traffic. Otherwise, a permit is required.

How do I obtain a permit?

Please note that it is very possible that your mover will apply for the permit for you.

If you need to park on a street with parking meters or in a no-parking zone, you need to apply for a permit online by logging in or creating an account. There may be a fee for this permit depending on the area you are in. Make sure to apply in advance, because in some neighborhoods the demand for the permit has to be made at least 48h before the move.

If you have access to a free permit, the fee automatically charged will be refunded to you upon issuance of the permit by completing the cancellation email for your application. You also have the option to rent parking signs to keep the spot free for the truck by filling out the no-parking form.

The amount of time a move can take varies depending on several factors, including the volume of items and the numbers of movers. 

*In a packed area like Montréal, it is not recommended to send only two 2 movers for a job since they will need to leave the truck unattended, which results in a liability risk. For liability reasons, movers cannot ask you to help them move items.

As you know, living in a condominium involves many rules, especially concerning moving. Your condo manager will be able to answer your questions about the specifics. Here are a few examples of the rules in effect for moving in or out of a condo. 

Make sure to notify your condo manager, as soon as you know the moving date. This will give them time to notify the neighbors to avoid disturbing them and possibly reserve a parking spot for the truck. They will also be able to share with you any other specific rules to take into account, such as reserving an elevator or using a particular door to facilitate the move. 

Hiring movers will make your move much easier. However budget-wise, it will be more expensive than moving on your own. To reduce the cost of your move, you can opt for a basic package where only the transportation of items to your home is included. Here are some tips.

Save money on packing materials; check with your friend’s or local store to see if they have empty boxes they would like to donate. Disassemble your furniture yourself and start packing a few of your belongings to speed up the process on move-in day. Take the time to sort through your items and get rid of any clutter of things you don’t need.

Another way to lower the cost of your move is to move during the low season. In Montréal, approaching July 1st, the prices will become more competitive. Also, consider moving on a weekday instead of a weekend, as this will help you save extra money on your move.

It is better to pay after the move, a credible moving company will charge you only after the move is complete. Before moving day, we recommend that you review your moving estimates to ensure you haven’t left anything out. Additional fees may be added upon payment, if you forget to disclose any specialty or heavy items that are oversized in your inventory before the movers come to your home. 

Although it depends on each company, there are times they will require a deposit of around $100-$250. The deposit acts as a way to secure the moving date and will be deducted from the final amount.