Local service guide
Moving services in London, ON: Hiring and Planning
Moving services in London, ON should match your belongings, access arrangements and move date. Get at least three written estimates covering the same work, check insurance and agree on a written contract before booking. Arrange truck parking and unwanted-furniture disposal so you know who will handle each task before the crew arrives. [1]
Compare quotes for the same moving job
Give each mover the same inventory and access information. Include both addresses, your preferred date, stairs, elevator arrangements, the distance from the truck to the entrance and furniture that needs dismantling. Identify heavy or fragile items by name and send photographs where useful. Ask the mover to inspect the belongings and access before completing the estimate.
Ontario recommends at least three written estimates and a clear description of what each company will include. Decide whether you want the crew to pack your belongings or transport boxes you pack yourself. Ask each company how it would handle a vehicle breakdown or traffic delay. [1]
For an hourly quote, ask when billing starts and stops, how many workers will attend, whether travel time counts and what minimum charge applies. For a fixed quote, ask which inventory and access assumptions support the price. Request separate amounts for packing materials, dismantling, storage and disposal. Compare the total for your requested work before comparing rates.
Request a moving quote for your actual shipment. The City's landfill fees shown below cover residential waste disposal. Use them when planning a disposal trip, and ask the mover to quote labour and transport separately. [4]
Check the contract and damage coverage
Ontario says moving companies are not licensed by the province. Its consumer guidance recommends checking references and asking about insurance, including whether coverage extends to items you pack yourself. Ask who takes responsibility for loss or damage and check whether your home insurance covers the move. [1]
For consumer moving services worth more than $50, Ontario requires a written contract. The contract must include the mover's name, address and contact information, a description of services, itemized prices, the total payment, service start and end dates, and payment terms. Ask to include the insurance provider and policy number, crew size, vehicle size and estimated hours. [1]
Include the estimate in the contract. Ontario's guidance says a mover cannot charge more than 10% above that estimate unless you need additional supplies or services and agree to the increase. Confirm any added work and price in writing before the crew starts it. [1]
Ask for the claims procedure and any exclusions before paying a deposit. Keep the estimate, contract, inventory and payment records together. Photograph furniture condition before loading, and agree on how the crew will protect floors, doorways and furniture.
Arrange access at both homes
Walk the route between the proposed truck position and each room. Measure tight doorways and stair turns for your largest pieces. Ask the building manager about elevator reservations, loading access, move hours and protective coverings. Give the mover the confirmed arrangements and identify who will meet the crew at each address.
Check street signs and arrange a lawful truck location before booking the arrival time. London's overnight parking page lists Parking Services at 519-661-4537. Contact the City about the proposed vehicle and location if street parking forms part of your plan; confirm eligibility before relying on a personal-vehicle pass. [2]
For a delayed handover, agree on where the loaded vehicle will wait, who will safeguard the belongings and how the mover will charge for waiting or storage. Ask for a contact you can reach during the move. Keep keys, medication, personal documents and items you need that night with you.
Separate disposal from transport
Mark each unwanted item before requesting estimates. Ask whether the mover will transport it to a disposal site, which site they intend to use and how they will charge for labour, transport and disposal. Request the disposal receipt. Keep the disposal list separate from belongings going to the new home.
London's EnviroDepots do not accept furniture or mattresses. The City's waste-fee page identifies the W12A Landfill Site as a disposal option with fees. For municipal curbside pickup, use the City's booking portal to confirm acceptance and schedule the items before your move. [3] [4]
Use the residential landfill fee chart to understand the City's weight-based disposal charges. Ask the mover which waste category applies to the proposed load and how they will pass on the charge. The City lists business waste separately at $75 per tonne, with a $75 minimum per transaction excluding residential and charitable-organization waste. [4]
London residential landfill fees by load weight
Local details that affect your job
Confirm overnight truck parking for a two-day move
The City says it permits overnight parking during summer and fall until November 15, 2026. Its winter personal-vehicle pass system runs between November 15 and March 31, weather permitting, and excludes commercial and oversized vehicles, boats and trailers. During snow events, the City can ban overnight street parking. If your mover plans to load one day and unload the next, confirm an appropriate overnight location before accepting that schedule. [2]
Match furniture pickup to your possession date
London requires furniture and bulky-item pickup requests at least five business days before scheduled collection. The City collects approved items on the next scheduled garbage day, with a four-item household limit. Put approved items out by 7 a.m., no earlier than 6 p.m. the preceding evening. If that collection date falls after you surrender the property, arrange another disposal method before moving day. [3]
Choose the correct utility account action
London Hydro offers account opening for people moving into its jurisdiction, cancellation for those leaving or closing an account, and transfers for moves within its jurisdiction. It also provides an application route for hydro and/or water service. Confirm which accounts you manage at each property, then submit the appropriate action with your handover details. [5]
Choose the scope before requesting quotes
| Your situation | Scope to request | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| You will pack your belongings | Transport and any agreed furniture dismantling | Insurance coverage for items you pack yourself |
| You want help with fragile items | Packing and transport with an itemized packing scope | Materials, exclusions and responsibility for damage |
| The truck must stay loaded overnight | Transport with an agreed overnight holding arrangement | A lawful location; London's winter passes exclude commercial and oversized vehicles |
| You want to discard furniture | Separate disposal work or municipal collection | City booking at least five business days ahead, four-item limit and collection date |
| You need storage between homes | Transport, storage and delivery | Visit the storage facility and confirm insurance and access arrangements |
Your hiring checklist
- Send each mover the same inventory, access photographs and requested services.
- Ask for a written estimate with travel, packing, storage and disposal charges identified.
- Check references and ask for written insurance details and the claims procedure.
- Read the contract, payment terms and change-approval process before paying a deposit.
- Confirm elevator access, keys and the proposed truck position at both addresses.
- Separate furniture for disposal and confirm its pickup or delivery arrangements.
- Arrange the appropriate utility account changes for each property.
- Photograph belongings and check the delivery inventory before the crew leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do movers need an Ontario provincial licence?
Ontario says moving companies are not licensed by the province. Check references, insurance and contract details when screening a company. Ask who will perform the work and take responsibility for your belongings. [1]
Can a mover charge more than the written estimate?
Ontario says a mover cannot charge more than 10% above the estimate included in your contract unless you need additional supplies or services and agree to an increase. Record any approved change and its price in writing. [1]
Can I take unwanted furniture to an EnviroDepot?
London's EnviroDepots do not accept furniture or mattresses. The City identifies W12A Landfill disposal with fees, or municipal curbside collection where available. Check the booking requirements and item acceptance before arranging transport. [3] [4]
What if a mover holds my belongings for extra payment?
Ontario says a mover cannot hold your belongings to pressure you into renegotiating the contract. If you pay because you feel you have no choice, its guidance advises marking the invoice paid under protest, keeping a copy and following up with the company, police or Consumer Protection Ontario. [1]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.