We move households from Manhattan to Montreal, and from Montreal back to Manhattan, with the customs paperwork prepared on both sides. About 590 km by road.
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A move between Manhattan and Montreal is an international relocation, so the goods are declared to the Canada Border Services Agency and, in the other direction, to US customs. Heading north, you file a list of everything crossing, settle your Quebec licence and health coverage, and Motion prepares the border documents from your inventory.
Household goods entering Canada are listed on the BSF186 for goods to follow and the BSF186A for accompanying goods, filed with the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry. Each item needs a description and value, and the lists should match the boxes. Motion prepares both from your inventory.
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. Confirm yours with the CBSA.
The road from Manhattan to Montreal is about 590 km. Trucks leave the city by the Major Deegan Expressway or I-278, join I-87 north, the Adirondack Northway, and cross at Lacolle-Champlain, where I-87 becomes Autoroute 15. One carrier runs the whole way.
Montreal’s lease turnover falls on July 1, so late June is the hardest time to book a truck, an elevator or street parking. Many Plateau and Mile End homes are plexes with outdoor stairs, which we plan for on the video call. Quebec licence exchange runs through the SAAQ.
Tell us your building and your date in the quote form at the top of this page and we will book the video call.
Get my free quoteRoad distances to Montreal
590 km
Manhattan ↔ Montreal
606 km
Brooklyn ↔ Montreal
602 km
Queens ↔ Montreal
585 km
The Bronx ↔ Montreal
Moving from Manhattan or a nearby city to Montreal? We pick up across the Manhattan area and the rest of New York 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 from Manhattan to Montreal means roughly 590 km north on I-87, the Adirondack Northway, to the Lacolle-Champlain crossing, where I-87 becomes Quebec’s Autoroute 15 into the city. Motion runs it with one carrier end to end, so your goods are not transferred at the border, and we prepare the customs paperwork.
Montreal has a traditional July 1 moving day, when most Quebec leases turn over, so late June and early July are the tightest weeks for trucks and elevator bookings.
Book the building first. Manhattan co-ops and condos usually ask for a certificate of insurance and a reserved freight elevator slot. Get the rules from your managing agent before you choose a date.
Plan for the Montreal end. Many Plateau and Mile End homes are plexes with outdoor staircases and tight streets. Tell us the floor and the stair type on the video call so the job is scoped correctly.
Inventory before you pack. Customs wants a typed list of what crosses. Itemize goods with values and mark which travel with you and which follow, and we turn that into the BSF186 and BSF186A.
Ask about restricted items. Firearms, plants, food and alcohol follow separate rules at the Canadian border. Raise them early.
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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 New York 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.
Your goods ride with one carrier from the Manhattan pickup to the Montreal door, with no transfer at the border.
We prepare the BSF186 and BSF186A lists for the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry.
A video call walks your apartment, so the quote reflects the stairs, elevator and volume rather than a guess.
The same service runs from Montreal to Manhattan, and trucks are filled on the return leg.
We plan around your building’s insurance and elevator requirements on the Manhattan end.
“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 GoogleThe road is only about 590 km on I-87 through Lacolle-Champlain, so timing depends mostly on your building’s loading window, customs processing and the fulfilment partner. We confirm dates after the video call.
Generally no, for used personal and household effects. Returning residents must have owned and used the goods abroad for at least six months under tariff item 9805.00.00, while first-time settlers are assessed under different conditions. Vehicles and restricted items follow separate rules, so confirm your status with the CBSA.
Two documents: the BSF186 covers goods to follow and the BSF186A lists accompanying goods, both filed with the CBSA at the port of entry. Motion prepares them from your inventory, so itemize everything accurately, with values, before pickup. Customs paperwork is handled for you.
Yes. Motion runs the corridor in both directions with one carrier and no border transfer. Northbound and southbound moves are quoted the same way, after a video call. The US side has its own entry rules, and we handle the customs paperwork for the crossing.
Usually yes, if you can avoid it. July 1 is Quebec’s traditional lease turnover day, so trucks, elevator slots and street parking are tight across Montreal. Book early or aim for a few days either side, and we confirm availability after the video call.
Walk us through your apartment and we will confirm scope and timing.
