How to Pack Your Car for a Move

Since you will be personally transporting some belongings, keep these tips in mind to help you pack your car the most efficiently way possible.

What are the Non-Allowables?

In general, you want the movers to handle as many of your personal belongings as possible and transport them on the moving truck. This means you need to understand what they will or won’t accept. You can either transport them yourself or dispose of them prior to moving day.

Non-allowables include certain hazardous materials or special items that are highly personal or valuable. These are aerosols such as spray paint, pesticides, even hairspray. Other non-allowables are plants, pets, and perishable food. Another category includes items like passports, keys, tax documents, medications, and many others that you simply need to keep and move yourself. These will be high priorities as you pack your car.

Planning the Packing Process

You have a good idea of how much space your car has, so this is your starting point. If other family members can travel in a separate car, this will allow you to use the passenger seats, floors, and back seat areas in addition to the trunk. Organize your items as you pack, setting aside those items meant for the car and those meant for the movers.

When you have all of your non-allowables separated, you can determine how they will fit into the car. Make sure you take into account passengers and pets. While this takes effort and some valuable time during your relocation, planning in advance is actually a time saver. Plus, it saves you from discovering on moving day that after packing your car, Fido or Fluffy can’t fit in. If you have too much to fit in safely, begin reducing by separating out the hazardous materials, which you can take to a recycling or processing center. You can also give them away to a thrift store, friends, family, or neighbors who might use them. If you are a one-car family and have too many items to brings, you can consider renting a second car for a one-way trip.

If you take time to plan in advance, packing your car on moving day should be a breeze. You can let your Global Van Lines professionals handle all the rest. For more information, contact us today.