When should you hire safe movers? Moving a safe is one of the most challenging tasks when moving a home and transporting household goods. A safe often contains valuables such as important documents, heirlooms, and firearms in the case of a gun safe.
Due to their weight and size and the sensitive nature of their contents, moving safes requires specialized knowledge, equipment, and careful handling. It’s recommended that you hire a professional to move a personal safe or heavy-duty gun safe.
Moving a Safe: How To
Safe Moving Equipment
Moving a safe requires specialized safe-moving equipment. A safe-moving dolly is one of the most important tools for securely transporting a heavy safe. In addition, straps, ramps, and protective padding are necessary to move a safe without damaging the safe, property, movers, or people on the property.
How to Move a Safe Yourself
If you’re hiring safe movers, they will come equipped with the appropriate equipment to transport your safe securely. If you choose to move the safe on your own, carefully follow these steps for safe transportation.
- Prepare the Area: Clear the area around the safe. Make sure there’s enough room to maneuver. Measure doorways, hallways, and stairs to ensure the safe fits through them.
- Use a Safe-Moving Dolly: Place the dolly underneath the safe, and a team of people will carefully tilt the safe and secure it on the dolly.
- Lift and Move: Slowly and steadily, move the safe to its new location using the dolly. Always use proper lifting techniques and be sure to have enough people to handle the weight.
- Transporting the Safe: If you are transporting the safe in a vehicle, use heavy-during straps to secure the safe to the vehicle and prevent shifting during transit.
- Unload and Secure: Once at the new location, unload the safe and secure it in place. Ensure it’s on the floor or on a strong, stable surface capable of supporting its weight and out of the way of foot traffic.
Local Safe Movers
Many local moving companies can assist in moving a safe. When you’re booking your move, make sure to inform the company that you need to move a safe. Be specific about the safe’s current location, its distance to where the truck is parked, and where the safe movers will place it in your new home.
For security reasons, a safe moving company typically require you to transport valuable items like cash, bonds, and jewelry yourself. Remove the contents of your safe before the move.
Professional safe movers will use specialized equipment to move the safe with care. They will use safe-moving dollies, heavy-duty straps, and additional team members for larger safes. Ask your safe movers about their specific procedures to ensure an efficient move.
Interstate & Long Distance Safe Movers
Safe moving companies require advance notice when moving a safe across state lines or over a long distance, as it impacts both the cost and the complexity of the move.
Just like local moves, removing the contents of your safe is required. Always transport valuable items like cash and jewelry yourself, and let the professional safe moving company handle the heavy lifting.
The safe will be carefully loaded onto the truck using the appropriate equipment, dollies, lifts, and straps to protect it for transport across state lines to your new location.
Moving a Gun Safe: How To
Hiring Gun Safe Movers
Moving a gun safe involves additional considerations. There are several ways to move a gun safe and firearms. Here’s a brief guide to help you choose the best option.
A. Move Your Gun Safe & Firearms with Your Moving Company
Many moving companies will move your gun safe and unloaded firearms. Be sure to check with your moving company to confirm they handle gun safe moving and ask about their policies.
B. Move Your Gun Safe With a Gun Safe Moving Specialist
Specialized gun safe movers can handle the transportation of your gun safe, firearms, and ammunition. Hiring a dedicated gun safe moving company separately from your regular mover may be the best option if your moving company doesn’t offer this service or if you have an extensive firearms collection or need to move ammunition.
C. Move Firearms and Ammunition Yourself
While your gun safe movers can move the gun safe, you may choose to transport your firearms and ammunition separately in your own vehicle.
D. Move Firearms and Ammunition With a Firearms Shipping Specialist
Working with a firearms shipping specialist is advisable for long-distance or interstate moves. This way, you can safely transport your firearms and ammunition and comply with the law. We also recommend this option if you need to fly to your destination.
Local Gun Safe Movers
Most local movers can move gun safes. However, there are specific rules and regulations you should be aware of:
- Always notify your movers about the gun safe.
- The shipper must have a license for the firearms.
- You must pack your firearms and ammunition yourself. Movers are not allowed to pack firearms.
- Ensure that your firearms are unloaded.
- Movers cannot transport ammunition. You must move the ammunition yourself or hire a gun moving specialist.
A safe moving company will use specialized equipment to move your gun safe, similar to a safe. Be sure to inform them about the gun safe during the initial survey so they can bring the necessary equipment and factor it into your quote.
Interstate & Long Distance Gun Safe Movers
Before proceeding with your gun safe move, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the gun and firearm laws of the state to which you’re relocating. While federal law allows for the transportation of firearms across state lines under certain conditions, individual states may have additional restrictions regarding firearms possession, transport, and ownership.
The primary federal law allowing the interstate transport of firearms is the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA).
Key Points of FOPA:
- FOPA (18 U.S.C. § 926A) allows for the legal transport of firearms across state lines as long as the firearms are transported from one lawful place of possession to another and the transportation complies with the laws of the states through which you are traveling.
- The firearms must be unloaded and properly stored in a container (such as a locked case).
- The firearm owner must be legally allowed to possess the firearms in both the origin and destination states.
To ensure full compliance, check the laws of your destination state through trusted resources.
It’s important to note that not all moving companies have the same policies regarding the transportation of firearms and gun safes. Some companies may not allow the transportation of firearms at all, while others have specific procedures for handling them. Always ask your mover about their firearm policies when you request a quote.
Gun Safe Moving With a Long Distance Van Line
Guardian Relocation’s van line, Atlas, is a reliable option for gun safe movers. With extensive experience safely transporting firearms, Atlas will carefully handle your gun safe move.
Here are the key steps when working with Atlas or a similar professional gun safe moving company:
- Notify the Company Early: Inform your mover during the quote phase that firearms will be part of the move. Confirm that the mover can transport the firearms.
- Unload All Firearms: All firearms must be unloaded before transport. Movers cannot move loaded firearms or ammunition.
- Ensure Legible Serial Numbers: All firearms must have visible and legible serial numbers. This is a legal requirement for transporting firearms across state lines.
- Packing in the Presence of an Atlas Professional Van Operator: To comply with federal regulations, you must pack the firearms yourself in the presence of a trained Atlas professional. This way, Atlas can verify that the firearms meet the legal standards for transport.
It’s important to note that the owner must transport handguns and ammunition. Due to legal restrictions, the moving company generally does not handle these items. It’s your responsibility to transport these items safely and in compliance with the law.
For more information about moving firearms with Atlas van lines, read the Atlas Van Lines FAQ.
Apart from the specific regulations for firearms, moving a gun safe interstate is similar to moving a regular safe. You will still need to notify your moving company in advance so they can include the gun safe in the quote and ensure they bring the appropriate tools and team to transport the safe safely over long distances.
Guardian Relocation is a Safe Moving Company
Safe Movers: Columbus, Ohio
As safe movers in Columbus, Ohio, we provide reliable services for moving safes and gun safes to, from, and within the Columbus area. Our professional team will handle your safe with care and use the right equipment to transport your belongings safely.
Safe Movers: Indianapolis, IN
For safe moving in Indianapolis, IN, Guardian especially trains our expert movers to handle moving a safe of all sizes and weights, including heavy-duty gun safes. Whether you’re relocating locally within Indianapolis or moving across the state, our team ensures a smooth and safe transition for your valuables.
Safe Movers: St. Louis, MO
If you’re looking for a safe moving company in St. Louis, MO, we offer reliable services for relocating safes and gun safes to, from, and within the St. Louis area. Our professional team will use the appropriate tools and techniques to ensure an efficient move for your valuable items and handle your safe with care.