When relocating between Canadian provinces, moving permits and insurance are crucial for avoiding issues. Read on to learn exactly when they are non-negotiable.
When relocating between Canadian provinces, moving permits and insurance are crucial for avoiding issues. Read on to learn exactly when they are non-negotiable for a smooth move.
Moving between provinces in Canada involves coordinating licenses and documents. Hiring a moving company in Canada simplifies logistics but certain permits remain mandatory.
We’ll overview four key times interprovincial moving permits and supplemental insurance become essential.
Transporting Alcohol Across Borders
Transporting alcohol between provinces requires notifying the destination province’s liquor control board.
- British Columbia mandates an “Interprovincial Personal Importation of Alcohol Permit” for bringing alcohol.
- Manitoba and Ontario limit personal alcohol importation.
- Quebec bans individuals from importing alcohol altogether.
Failing to acquire permissions risks confiscated goods and legal penalties.
“We crated four cases of old French wine for our move from Ontario to Quebec. The movers said nothing about provincial alcohol regulations. At delivery, officers seized it all!”* – Michel D., Ottawa
Using moving companies aware of provincial alcohol transportation laws prevents unfortunate losses.
Driving Commercial Transport Vehicles
Only licensed commercial carriers with appropriate insurance operate large moving trucks between provinces.
| Vehicle Type | Permit Required |
| 16+ foot trucks | Commercial License |
| 26+ foot moving trucks | Commercial License + Transport Canada Permit |
Regular drivers cannot transport household items in commercial vehicles. Non-compliance invites vehicle seizure and traffic fines.
“I rented a 24-foot truck for an Ottawa to Vancouver move. At the Manitoba border, officers charged me $500 for driving without an interprovincial commercial vehicle permit!”* – Alex T., Vancouver Retaining an experienced moving company simplifies regulatory logistics for interprovincial relocation.
Transporting Cannabis
Canada permits flying domestically with up to 30 grams of cannabis. Transporting cannabis between provinces by land remains illegal under the Cannabis Act.
| Origin | Destination | Result |
| Ontario | Quebec | Illegal by car |
| Alberta | Saskatchewan | Illegal by car |
| Nova Scotia | New Brunswick | Illegal by car |
Police can issue possession charges to travelers crossing provincial borders with cannabis by road.
“We assumed since cannabis was legal federally, we could bring it on our road trip to Banff. Getting arrested at a Saskatchewan border checkpoint ruined our vacation.”* – Jen W., Calgary
Avoid potential criminal charges by shipping cannabis separately through legal distributors instead of taking it along.
Insuring Valuable Goods
Interprovincial movers carry basic cargo insurance with limited household item coverage. This leaves precious belongings at risk:
- Maximum electronics coverage: $500
- Maximum jewelry coverage: $500
- Maximum art/collections coverage: $1,000
Valuables require supplemental “all-risk” insurance for sufficient protection.
| Item | Value | Extra Insurance Needed? |
| Jewelry collection | $15,000 | Yes |
| Home electronics | $2,500 | Yes |
| Antique furniture | $20,000 | Yes |
“My \”comprehensive\” moving insurance only covered $1,000 for our art collection. Unpacking to find a ruined $8,000 painting was heartbreaking.”* – Leah S., Victoria
Protect prized possessions by obtaining specialty valuables insurance before an interprovincial move.
While most moves between Canadian provinces are straightforward, following proper protocols for the above situations prevents major headaches.
Connect with a knowledgeable agent to ensure you complete key paperwork, acquire essential permits, and secure necessary specialty insurance ahead of an upcoming relocation.
