Some items are better left out of the moving truck. Whether it’s for legal reasons, safety concerns, or peace of mind, knowing what not to pack when moving is just as important as knowing what to bring. And trust us — overlooking this step can lead to fines, damage, or even ruined valuables.
This guide covers the most common items that professional removalists in South East Queensland recommend you handle personally — including flammable substances, perishable food, sentimental heirlooms, and essential documents.
If you’re working through your packing phase, don’t forget to read our tips for packing fragile items safely and our essential box labelling guide to keep things organised.
Want to save time and avoid the hassle altogether? Our team also offers packing services and expert advice to take the pressure off.
Let’s explore the must-not-pack list — and how being selective with your boxes leads to a safer, smoother move.
Speak with a Packing ExpertNot everything should go into a moving box — even if you think it will fit. When you're planning a move across Brisbane, Redland City, or the Sunshine Coast, it's critical to know what items removalists can’t legally or safely transport. Some things can cause damage, delays, or even danger during your move.
At Bay City Removals, we guide you through every step of your relocation — including what to leave out. Here’s what our home moving services recommend keeping separate, discarding, or personally transporting.
This includes paint, fuel, bleach, aerosols, gas bottles, pesticides, and cleaning fluids. These are considered dangerous goods and cannot be moved by your removalist company due to safety and insurance regulations. If you're unsure, ask our team for a full list of non-transportable items — we’ll help you dispose of or store them responsibly before moving day.
Food that requires refrigeration or is already opened can spoil or leak during transport. This includes frozen goods, dairy, and leftover pantry items. Our professional movers recommend you eat down your fridge/freezer contents in the final week and donate or bin anything that won’t survive the journey. Non-perishables should be sealed in containers and packed last.
Never pack passports, wills, ID, legal documents, or jewellery into boxes for the moving truck. These should stay with you during the move. At Bay City Removals, we always advise customers to prepare a personal carry bag with critical items, including chargers, medication, and sensitive electronics — things no furniture transport service can replace.
Live animals and potted plants don’t belong in the back of a truck. Changes in temperature, lack of airflow, and vibrations during transit can cause serious harm. Our home movers advise transporting pets in your own vehicle and keeping plants upright and shaded. For larger or delicate plants, we offer guidance on preparation and short-distance handling within the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions.
When it comes to moving home, not everything should go in a box. At Bay City Removals, we help clients across South East Queensland understand exactly what items can (and can’t) be safely loaded into a removalist truck. Knowing what not to pack doesn’t just protect your belongings — it protects our team, your family, and the success of your entire relocation.
Hazardous items like fuel, gas cylinders, flammable liquids, and cleaning chemicals can’t be transported in our trucks for legal and safety reasons. Likewise, perishables, opened food containers, and plants often cause damage, spoilage, or pest issues during long-distance removals. Our removalists will walk you through the full list of restricted items before move day so you can plan accordingly.
For anything valuable, irreplaceable, or sensitive — like jewellery, legal documents, cash, or prescription medications — we always recommend keeping them with you rather than packing them with the main load. If you’re unsure what qualifies, we’ll help you separate personal carry-on items from general household goods during the pre-packing phase.
Our goal at Bay City Removals is to help you avoid common pitfalls and delays caused by last-minute re-packing. Whether you’re moving locally or interstate, we provide clear guidance, detailed moving checklists, and direct advice tailored to your home and situation. It’s all part of our full-service approach to making your move efficient, compliant, and stress-free.
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