We move households from Arlington to Montreal, and from Montreal back to Arlington, with the customs paperwork prepared on both sides. About 949 km by road.
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Moving between Arlington and Montreal means a customs entry at Lacolle-Champlain, whichever way you go. Northbound, you declare your goods to the Canada Border Services Agency, list them on the BSF186 and BSF186A forms, and show whether you are a returning resident or a settler. Quebec then adds its own steps, from health coverage to a driver’s licence.
Goods arriving in Canada are declared on forms filed with the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry. The BSF186 lists goods to follow, and the BSF186A lists accompanying goods. Itemize each box and large piece with approximate values, and keep copies. Motion prepares both with you.
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 confirm your status.
From Arlington the road to Montreal is about 950 km. Trucks typically run I-95 or I-81 north to the I-87 Northway, then cross at Lacolle-Champlain onto Autoroute 15. Motion’s one carrier stays with the load through the border, so there is no transfer between trucks at the crossing.
Quebec runs its own services. Health coverage through RAMQ can involve a waiting period for newcomers, and driver’s licence exchange goes through the SAAQ. Leases here commonly end June 30, so a move around July 1 means tighter access and parking. Confirm current rules with each agency.
Fill in the quote form at the top of this page and we will set up a video call.
Get my free quoteRoad distances to Montreal
949 km
Arlington ↔ Montreal
939 km
Washington, DC ↔ Montreal
880 km
Baltimore, MD ↔ Montreal
953 km
Alexandria ↔ Montreal
Moving from Arlington or a nearby city to Montreal? We pick up across the Arlington area and the rest of Virginia 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 Arlington to Montreal is about 950 km, a run up I-95 or I-81 to the I-87 Northway and across the border at Lacolle-Champlain. Motion sends one carrier the whole way, so your goods stay on the same truck through customs instead of changing hands at a transfer yard. We prepare the paperwork with you and brief you on Quebec before delivery day.
Arlington moves bunch up around summer lease turnovers, and Montreal has its own peak around July 1, when most Quebec leases end.
Book the building early. Many Arlington condos and apartments near Rosslyn, Clarendon and Crystal City need elevator reservations and a certificate of insurance. Ask your management office first, and check curb parking rules for rowhouse streets.
Plan for the climate swing. Humid Virginia summers give way to Montreal winters with snow and ice. If you arrive between December and March, tell us so we can plan for slippery entrances and cold-sensitive items.
Check Montreal access. Many Montreal homes, especially in the Plateau and Rosemont, are walk-ups with outdoor staircases. Tell us the floor and the stairs on the video call so the crew and the truck are planned correctly.
Prepare a clean inventory. Customs forms are built from a detailed list of boxes and large items, with approximate values. Start it room by room before the video call, and keep a copy for yourself.
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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 Virginia 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 stay with Motion from Arlington to Montreal, with no handover to a second carrier at Lacolle-Champlain.
We prepare the BSF186 and BSF186A with you for filing with CBSA at the port of entry, so you are not left with the forms.
Motion runs Montreal to Arlington too, and fills trucks on the return, so space is not wasted on a one-way run.
A short video call replaces a site visit; we walk the rooms with you and quote the move from what we see.
We plan elevator, dock and stair access at both ends, from Arlington high-rises to Montreal outdoor staircases.
“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 about 950 km, roughly a day of driving, but scheduling, loading and customs clearance at Lacolle-Champlain set the real timeline, and actual timing depends on the fulfilment partner.
Usually not on used 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 are assessed under different conditions, and vehicles are handled separately.
Usually Champlain, New York, into Lacolle, Quebec, where I-87 becomes Autoroute 15 into Montreal. The exact routing can change with the load and the day.
Health coverage and your driver’s licence come first. RAMQ coverage can involve a waiting period for newcomers, so check for private cover in the gap. US licence holders have a limited window to exchange with the SAAQ. Confirm current rules with each agency.
Yes, Motion runs the corridor in both directions with one carrier. Southbound goods enter the United States through US Customs and Border Protection, and we prepare the paperwork with you. Entry conditions differ by status, so tell us on the video call whether you are a citizen or a newcomer.
Show us the rooms on a short call, and we quote the move after it.
