We move households both ways between Illinois and Canada: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and the rest of the country, with the customs paperwork prepared. Written, flat quotes after a quick video call.
Brands we work with
Moving between Illinois and Canada means declaring your goods to the Canada Border Services Agency, listing every item on the right form, and meeting provincial licensing and health rules once you land. Returning residents and first-time settlers are treated differently, so your status shapes the paperwork. Motion files the customs forms and keeps one carrier on the move from your Illinois door to your Canadian one.
Goods are declared on two CBSA forms: the BSF186 lists goods to follow you, and the BSF186A lists goods arriving with you. Both are filed with the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry, and both rely on an itemized list with values. Motion prepares and files them for you.
Used personal and household effects are generally duty-free when you relocate to Canada. A returning resident must have owned and used the goods abroad for at least six months under tariff item 9805.00.00. Settlers bringing goods to Canada for the first time are assessed under different conditions, so confirm your status before you pack.
From Chicago and its suburbs, trucks heading for Ontario and Quebec normally follow I-94 through Michigan to the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit or the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron. Loads for Vancouver normally run I-90 west, then I-5 north to the Pacific Highway crossing at Blaine. Motion plans the crossing around your delivery address.
Customs clears the goods; the province governs the rest. Driver’s licence exchange, health coverage and vehicle registration are set by Ontario, Quebec or British Columbia, and health coverage can carry a waiting period. Check the rules for your destination province before you arrive, and allow time for them in your first weeks.
Fill in the quote form at the top of this page and Motion will set up your video call.
Get my free quoteRoad distances from Illinois
829 km
Chicago ↔ Toronto
1,360 km
Chicago ↔ Montreal
3,432 km
Rockford ↔ Vancouver
885 km
Aurora ↔ Toronto
Moving between Illinois and Toronto? We pick up anywhere in Illinois and deliver to Toronto, the GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, London and the rest of Ontario, or the other way round. Your move is assessed on a video call, the rate is locked in writing, and we help you prepare the customs paperwork before the truck reaches the border.
Moving between Illinois and Montreal? We pick up anywhere in Illinois and deliver to Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and the rest of Quebec, or the other way round. Your move is assessed on a video call, the rate is locked in writing, and we help you prepare the customs paperwork before the truck reaches the border.
Moving between Illinois and Vancouver? We pick up anywhere in Illinois and deliver to Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond and the rest of British Columbia, or the other way round. Your move is assessed on a video call, the rate is locked in writing, and we help you prepare the customs paperwork before the truck reaches the border.
Moving from Illinois to Canada means one carrier loads at your Chicago area, Rockford or Springfield address, crosses at Detroit, Port Huron or Blaine, and delivers in Canada with no transfer to a second carrier at the border. Eastbound loads from Chicago for Ontario and Quebec follow I-94; Vancouver loads follow I-90. Motion handles the customs paperwork, and you get a quote after a video call.
Illinois winters bring snow, ice and hard freezes, and I-94 through Michigan or I-90 across Montana can slow between December and March, so many households book late spring through early fall.
Book the building early. Chicago high-rises and condo buildings often require an elevator reservation and proof of insurance. Ask your management office for move windows before you choose a date.
Plan for snow and alleys. Snow, ice and narrow alleys can limit where a truck can stop in Chicago. Tell us about permit parking or tight access on the video call so the crew arrives with a plan.
Inventory as you pack. Customs forms need every item described with a value. Number your boxes and keep a running list so the BSF186 and BSF186A match what is on the truck.
Raise restricted items early. Firearms, alcohol, plants and some foods fall under separate Canadian rules. Mention them on the video call, not at the border, so they are planned for.
01
Origin, destination, rough timeline. A specialist texts you back within five minutes, Mon-Sun, 9am-7pm ET.
02
We assess your move accurately over a video call, no in-person visit needed, then lock your rate in writing. Klarna available on deposits $500+.
03
Picked up at your door and delivered to your new one, in Illinois or in Canada. Cargo-liability insured. Balance due after delivery, before offloading.
Sources: Canada Border Services Agency (Form BSF186, Memorandum D2-2-1) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP Form 3299). Rules depend on your situation; confirm yours with the border agency.
One carrier end to end from your Illinois address to your Canadian one, with no transfer to a second carrier at the border.
Motion prepares the BSF186 and BSF186A forms for CBSA and handles the filing at the port of entry for you.
Blue Water Bridge, Ambassador Bridge or Pacific Highway, whichever suits your destination, planned as part of the move.
Canada to Illinois moves use the same carrier and process, since our trucks run each way and fill on the return.
A video call to walk through your home, then a quote from Motion, with no figure guessed in advance.
“I was helping my daughter to relocate from New Jersey to Toronto and we worried so much about the cross border move. … The pick up in New Jersey was made so smooth that we didn't need to worry about even the packing. The shipment arrived Toronto in 3 days, without needing us to clear the customs!”
ada choungNew Jersey → Toronto · July 2026
Read the full review on Google →“Moving from Montréal to Texas felt like a lot to handle at first. … His approach was different — his communication was on point, he was thorough, and everything he said matched the reviews I read. … The team worked hard, took care of my stuff, and made the whole thing way easier than I expected.”
André LavoieMontréal → Texas · December 2025
Read the full review on Google →“We are moving to the United States and so far Charles and Brent have made our movement swift and smooth. I am sure just as the stuff was picked up on time, it will be delivered on time . Thank you for promptly answering our calls always… wishing your company the very best.”
Shilpa ThackerMoving to the United States · November 2025
Read the full review on Google →Reviews quoted word for word from Motion Transport’s Google Business Profile (5.0 from 216 reviews); … marks a shortened review.
5.0 · over 200 Google reviews
Real customers. Real moves. A moving specialist personally answers every quote.
Read all reviews on GoogleIt depends on your dates and the fulfilment partner, so Motion confirms timing on the video call.
Usually not on used personal and household effects when you are relocating. Returning residents must have owned and used goods abroad for at least six months under tariff item 9805.00.00; settlers bringing goods for the first time are assessed under different conditions. Confirm your status with CBSA.
Eastbound trucks normally cross at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit or the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron; Vancouver loads normally cross at Pacific Highway near Blaine. Motion picks the crossing to match your delivery address.
You need the BSF186 for goods arriving after you and the BSF186A for goods arriving with you, filed with CBSA at the port of entry. Both rely on an itemized list with values. Motion prepares the paperwork and files it for you.
Yes, though snow and ice can affect Chicago streets, alleys and the I-94 and I-90 corridors, so dates need more flex. Tell us about narrow access or permit-only parking on the video call. Spring to fall gives more room.
Walk us through the home on video and we quote from there.
