Items that cannot (or should not) be transported by removal companies in France

Moving between properties can be stressful from updating your vehicle registration to changing the address on your bills and the actual move itself.

Most people opt to use professional removal companies however there are rules about what they can transport for you. 

Items banned for safety / value reasons

Even if you have packed the boxes yourself with the movers only stacking them in their lorry alongside moving larger pieces of furniture certain items should not be included.

If there is an issue in transporting any of the banned goods (such as a breakage) or an accident caused by transporting them (a fire, etc) then the movers may not be held responsible and you may be liable for the issue. 

The banned items generally fall into two main categories, for safety reasons and due to the risk of damage to the object themselves. 

Items banned because they are dangerous include: 

• Acids

• Aerosols

• Items that are potentially explosive

• Fireworks

• Some types of paint

• Glues

• Products containing ammonia

• Certain cleaning products (check their labels to see if they can be transported)

• Gas cylinders

• Antifreeze

• Gasoline

• Bleach

There is a risk with these products including fire, particularly on long journeys or in hot weather. 

‘Precious’ objects that should not be put into cardboard boxes include: 

• Antiques

• Valuable goods including jewelry, silver and gold objects, precious stones, etc

• Works of art

• Objects that could be subject to trafficking laws (furs, ivory, etc)

These items are often high-value, and removal companies will state they are not liable to any loss or damage to them. 

By declining to transport them companies also lessen the risk of being targeted by thieves for the goods inside removal lorries.

General removal companies also do not transport living animals, perishable foodstuffs, weapons, bullets, and of course anything else that is illegal such as certain drugs and narcotic medicines. Specialist companies can assist with animal transport and certain products. 

Transport yourself – or find specialists

Items such as plants and some standard cleaning products may be authorised by the removal company, depending on the circumstances of the move (number of items, length of journey, weather,). 

Discuss this in advance with the company to obtain authorisation. In general, if you are in doubt about any object, ask for clarification from the company. 

For other items – including other cleaning products, food, pets, plants, and smaller valuables – you can transport these in your own vehicle, providing you are not putting yourself or other drivers at risk. 

Otherwise, for antiques and high-value goods, there are specialist removers who can deal with these objects.

If you are moving internationally make sure to check the rules in both countries as these may differ.

This is particularly the case between EU and non-EU countries, as rules on ‘importing’ items such as plants can vary greatly.