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Cross-border route

Moving from Chicago to Montreal.

We move households from Chicago to Montreal, and from Montreal back to Chicago, with the customs paperwork prepared on both sides. About 1,360 km by road.

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5.0 ★ · 200+ reviews
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Owner-operated since 2005
20 years on the road
Cargo-liability insured
Your goods are covered in transit
No sub-contractors
Our own crew, both sides of the border
Flat written quote
No hidden border or brokerage fees
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Split the deposit interest-free

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Moving between Chicago and Montreal?

Moving between Chicago and Montreal means declaring your household goods to the Canada Border Services Agency and, for Quebec, settling in under provincial rules for licensing and registration. Motion prepares the customs forms and handles the border so your goods travel on one carrier.

The Rainbow Bridge arching over the Niagara River gorge at dusk, a landmark on the Canada–US cross-border moving corridor

Customs Documentation

Goods arriving with you and goods following later are both listed on one BSF186A list of imported goods, and the BSF186 Personal Effects Accounting Document is your declaration. Both are filed with the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry. Motion prepares these lists so the declaration matches your inventory.

Duty on Household Goods

Used personal and household effects are generally 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.

One Carrier, No Border Transfer

A single Motion carrier moves your goods from the Chicago area to Montreal, roughly 1,360 km by road. Nothing is handed to a second carrier at the border, so one company stays responsible for your belongings from pickup to delivery.

Both Directions

Motion runs the Chicago and Montreal corridor each way and fills trucks on the return. That means a move from Montreal back to Illinois is served by the same carrier, with the same customs support and a quote after a video call.

Use the quote form at the top of this page to book a video call and get your quote.

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Road distances to Montreal

1,360 km

Chicago ↔ Montreal

1,417 km

Aurora ↔ Montreal

1,395 km

Naperville ↔ Montreal

1,384 km

Joliet ↔ Montreal

Chicago area ↔ Quebec

From the Chicago area to Montreal.

Moving from Chicago or a nearby city to 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.

Old Montreal stone facades along the St. Lawrence River at dusk
From the Chicago area ↔ MontrealRoad distance
Chicago1,360 km (845 mi)
Joliet1,384 km (860 mi)
Naperville1,395 km (867 mi)
Aurora1,417 km (880 mi)
Waukegan1,426 km (886 mi)
Elgin1,430 km (889 mi)
Driving distance by road, city centre to city centre.

Chicago to Montreal at a glance

  • Pickup across the Chicago area and Illinois
  • Delivery to Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and the rest of Quebec
  • Video-call assessment, written flat quote
  • Customs paperwork prepared with you
  • Cargo-liability insured, Klarna on deposits of $500+
Get a Chicago to Montreal quote
More routes

More routes from Chicago.

Chicago to Canada →Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver comparedChicago to Toronto →The route in detailChicago to Vancouver →The route in detailIllinois to Canada →Every route from Illinois
Chicago routes

Chicago to Montreal moving, one carrier from Illinois to Quebec.

A move from Chicago to Montreal is roughly 1,360 km, and Motion runs it with one carrier from the Illinois pickup to the Quebec delivery. Your goods are not handed to a second carrier at the border. Customs paperwork is prepared for you, and a truck normally runs east through Indiana, Michigan and Ontario before the Quebec leg.

Because Motion runs this corridor in both directions and fills trucks on the return, space is not wasted on a one-way run, and that is what keeps a Montreal to Chicago move workable too.

Furniture wrapped and stacked inside a Motion Transport truck loaded for a long distance move

Planning tips for a Chicago to Montreal move.

Inventory before the video call. Walk through each room and list large items, books and anything fragile. A clear list lets the team scope your load accurately and quote after the call.

Plan for a Quebec winter arrival. Montreal outdoor stairs, exterior moves and narrow streets are affected by snow and ice. Tell us early if your delivery falls between December and March.

Check your Montreal building. Many Montreal apartments are walk-ups with tight staircases and outdoor access. Share floor, elevator and parking details so the crew arrives prepared.

Keep identity documents with you. Passports, permits and residency papers should travel in your own vehicle, not on the truck. Border officers ask for them when your goods are declared.

Chicago-area origins

Chicago area corridors to Montreal, mapped by pickup point.

Chicago to MontrealAbout 1,360 km. Trucks typically take I-94 and I-69 toward Port Huron, cross at the Blue Water Bridge, then follow Highway 401 to Quebec. Plan pickup around that long single run.
Aurora to MontrealAbout 1,420 km from the western suburbs. The truck picks up along I-88 toward the Tri-State, then joins the same eastern route, so crews schedule an early start for the full run.
Naperville to MontrealAbout 1,400 km. Pickup in DuPage County uses I-88 and I-55 links to reach I-94 east. Expect the border crossing and Ontario leg to be scheduled as one continuous run.
Joliet to MontrealAbout 1,380 km from the southwest. I-80 and I-94 carry the truck around the lake through Indiana and Michigan, then the Blue Water Bridge and Ontario toward Montreal.
Waukegan to MontrealAbout 1,430 km from the north shore. The truck runs south along I-94 past Chicago, then east through Michigan to the Ontario crossing, so the lakefront start adds time.
How it works

How a move between Chicago and Montreal works.

Three Motion Transport movers loading a wrapped mattress into the moving truck on a city street

01

Tell us your route

Origin, destination, rough timeline. A specialist texts you back within five minutes, Mon-Sun, 9am-7pm ET.

Motion Transport mover loading boxes into the truck

02

Size it on a video call

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+.

Motion Transport mover securing a refrigerator with a strap in a customer's home

03

Door-to-door

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.

Crossing the border

Customs between Illinois and Canada.

Moving into Canada: Form BSF186

  • The Canada Border Services Agency asks you to declare your household goods on Form BSF186, the Personal Effects Accounting Document, at your first point of arrival.
  • List what you bring with you and, separately, the goods that will arrive after you (“goods to follow”). Keep your original BSF186: it is needed when they are released.

Moving into the US: CBP Form 3299

  • Household goods shipped into the United States are declared to US Customs and Border Protection on CBP Form 3299, the Declaration of Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles.
  • We help you build the inventory before moving day and coordinate the shipment through the border.

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.

Moving truck at a land border inspection booth
What is included

Chicago to Montreal moves include one carrier and customs handling.

One carrier end to end

The same carrier moves your goods from Illinois to Montreal, with no transfer to another company at the border.

Customs paperwork handled

Motion prepares the border paperwork for your goods so you are not building the filings on your own.

Both directions covered

Motion runs this corridor each way and fills trucks on the return, so Montreal to Chicago moves are served too.

Video call quote

A short video call lets the team see your load and quote the move properly before anything is booked.

Delivery in Quebec

Your goods are delivered to the Montreal address by the same carrier that collected them in Illinois.

The Motion Transport team loading a customer's belongings into the moving truck

Chicago and Montreal, door to door.

Motion Transport at a glance

Motion Transport at a glance.

Founded
2005 · owner-operated
Warehousing
Montreal · Toronto · Vancouver
Coverage
All 10 provinces + cross-border to/from the US
Assessments
By video call, no in-person visit
Insurance & payment
Cargo-liability insured · Klarna on $500+
Reputation
5.0 · over 200 five-star Google reviews
Cross-border moves · real customers

What people who moved across the border said.

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“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

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“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

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“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

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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.

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People also ask

Common questions.

How long does a Chicago to Montreal move take?

Plan on roughly several days on the road, though actual timing depends on the fulfilment partner and your load. Border processing, weather and the pickup date all affect when the truck arrives in Montreal.

Which border crossing is used from Chicago to Montreal?

Most trucks cross at the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron and Sarnia, then drive Highway 401 through Ontario into Quebec. The Ambassador Bridge at Detroit is another option. The choice depends on routing, traffic and customs scheduling.

Do I pay duty on my belongings moving to Canada?

Used household and personal effects are generally 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.

What customs forms do I need for Montreal?

You generally need a BSF186 Personal Effects Accounting Document and a BSF186A list of imported goods covering both the goods you bring with you and any goods to follow, filed with the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry. Motion handles the paperwork.

Can Motion move me from Montreal back to Chicago?

Yes. Motion runs this corridor in both directions and fills trucks on the return. A Montreal to Chicago move uses the same single carrier and the same customs support, with the video call quote beforehand.

Related.

Cross-border overviewHow Canada to US moves workCross-border moving serviceCustoms, insurance, both waysAll routesEvery corridor we runGet a quoteWritten quote after a video call

Get a Chicago to Montreal quote after a video call.

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