We move households both ways between Chicago 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 Chicago and Canada is a customs move before it is a trucking move. Your goods are declared to the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry on itemized lists, and your status as a returning resident or a first-time settler shapes how they are assessed. Motion prepares the forms and runs the truck.
Household goods entering Canada are declared on CBSA forms filed at the port of entry: BSF186 for goods to follow and BSF186A for the accompanying list. Each lists items with values. Motion prepares these for Chicago moves, so the paperwork is ready when the truck reaches the border.
Used personal and household effects are generally duty-free when relocating to Canada. Returning residents 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 status matters.
Trucks from Chicago to Ontario and Quebec normally take I-94 east through Michigan to the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit and Windsor or the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron and Sarnia, then Highway 401. Vancouver moves take I-90 and I-5 to the Pacific Highway crossing at Blaine.
Motion runs the Chicago corridor in both directions with one carrier end to end. A move from Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver into Chicago uses trucks that are already returning, and customs paperwork is handled for you rather than passed to a second carrier at the border.
Tell us about your Chicago move in the form and we will set up a video call.
Get my free quoteRoad distances from Chicago
829 km
Chicago ↔ Toronto
1,360 km
Chicago ↔ Montreal
3,552 km
Chicago ↔ Vancouver
885 km
Aurora ↔ Toronto
Moving between the Chicago area and Toronto? We pick up across the Chicago area and the rest of 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 the Chicago area and Montreal? We pick up across the Chicago area and the rest of 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 the Chicago area and Vancouver? We pick up across the Chicago area and the rest of 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 Chicago to Canada means one truck, one carrier and one customs process, whether the destination is Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. Motion loads in Chicago or the suburbs, runs the household across the border, and files the CBSA paperwork so goods are declared at the port of entry. Nothing is handed to a second carrier at the border. Ontario and Quebec are reached through Michigan and Highway 401; Vancouver is reached on I-90 and I-5.
Chicago winters set the calendar: lake-effect snow around Lake Michigan and wind on I-94 and I-90 can slow a run between November and March, so leave slack in the dates.
Check the loading access. Chicago three-flats, greystones and Loop high-rises each load differently. Confirm elevator bookings, alley access or street parking with your building before the truck arrives.
Itemize with values. List every room with replacement values before the video call. The same itemized list feeds the customs forms and keeps the quote accurate.
Declare restricted items. Firearms, plants, soil, and some food and alcohol follow their own rules at the Canadian border, so name them early and they can be handled apart from the load.
Treat the vehicle separately. A car entering Canada goes through its own import process, apart from the household goods filing, so check its admissibility before you plan the drive.
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Origin, destination, rough timeline. A specialist texts you back within five minutes, Mon-Sun, 9am-7pm ET.
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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+.
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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 Motion carrier moves the household from your Chicago door to your Canadian address, with no transfer at the border.
Motion prepares the CBSA personal effects forms, BSF186 and BSF186A, so you are not sorting paperwork at the port.
These corridors run each way, so a move from Canada into Chicago uses a truck already heading back.
A video walkthrough of your home sets the quote, so it reflects what is in the rooms rather than a guess.
Crews plan access for walk-up flats, Loop high-rises and suburban houses with basements before the truck arrives.
“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 GoogleToronto is about 830 km from Chicago, Montreal about 1,360 km and Vancouver about 3,550 km, so Vancouver takes noticeably longer. Border clearance and pickup scheduling add to the calendar.
Generally not. Used personal and household effects are usually duty-free when relocating. Returning residents 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 yours.
For Toronto and Montreal, usually the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit and Windsor or the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron and Sarnia, both reached on I-94. For Vancouver, the truck uses the Pacific Highway crossing at Blaine, Washington. The exact crossing depends on the route and the day.
You need an itemized list of goods with values, your identification, and the CBSA personal effects forms: BSF186 for goods to follow and BSF186A for accompanying goods. Motion prepares and files them at the port of entry. Your status, returning resident or settler, decides which duty rules apply.
Yes. Motion runs these corridors in both directions and fills trucks on the return, so moves from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver into Chicago use trucks already heading back. Entering the United States has its own customs steps, which Motion handles as one carrier end to end.
Show us the rooms on video and get a quote for your Chicago to Canada move.
