10 items you cannot put in your car during transportation
Essential guide to prohibited items during vehicle transport. Learn what you cannot ship, why these restrictions exist, and how to avoid serious complications.
10 items you absolutely cannot put in your car during transportation
Understanding what you cannot ship in your vehicle is crucial for legal compliance, safety, and avoiding serious complications at pickup. Many customers mistakenly believe their car is simply an extra storage container during shipping, but strict regulations, insurance limitations, and safety concerns prohibit numerous items. Attempting to ship forbidden items can result in pickup refusal, additional fees, confiscation by authorities, or even criminal charges for hazardous materials. Knowing these restrictions before your carrier arrives prevents delays and protects everyone involved.
The restrictions fall into three categories: federally prohibited items that are illegal to transport via commercial carrier, items excluded from insurance coverage that create unacceptable risk, and practical restrictions based on weight, security, and vehicle protection. While some carriers allow limited personal belongings (typically up to 100 pounds in the trunk), many items are strictly forbidden regardless of carrier policy. These ten categories represent items you absolutely cannot—and should never attempt to—ship in your vehicle.
1. Hazardous materials and flammable substances
Federal law strictly prohibits transporting any hazardous materials in vehicles being shipped. This includes: gasoline cans (even empty ones that retain fumes), propane tanks, lighter fluid, paint and paint thinner, cleaning solvents and chemicals, automotive fluids in containers (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid), aerosol cans under pressure, fireworks and explosives, matches and lighters, and any corrosive or toxic substances. These items create serious fire and explosion risks during multi-day transport, especially in the confined space of a carrier truck. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations make transporting hazardous materials via commercial carrier illegal—violations can result in heavy fines and criminal charges. Even 'empty' containers often retain flammable fumes and are prohibited. If inspectors discover hazardous materials at weigh stations, your entire shipment can be impounded and you face legal consequences.
2. Firearms, ammunition, and weapons
Firearms, ammunition, and weapons of any kind cannot be transported in your vehicle during shipping. This includes: handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition of any caliber, BB guns and air rifles, pepper spray and mace, knives and bladed weapons, martial arts weapons, and any other weapons. Federal and state laws strictly regulate firearm transport across state lines, requiring specific licenses and documentation that commercial auto carriers don't possess. Carriers cannot legally transport firearms, and insurance won't cover them even if carriers were willing. Additionally, theft risk during the multi-day journey when your vehicle is unattended overnight makes shipping weapons unconscionably dangerous. If you're relocating with firearms, you must transport them yourself following all federal and state laws, or use specialized firearms shipping services with proper licensing.
3. Valuables, cash, jewelry, and important documents
Never ship valuables, cash, jewelry, or important documents in your vehicle. Prohibited items include: cash and currency, jewelry and watches, collectibles and antiques, electronics (laptops, tablets, cameras), important documents (passports, birth certificates, titles, deeds), credit cards and checkbooks, prescription medications, family photos and irreplaceable memorabilia, and any items of significant monetary or sentimental value. Carrier insurance explicitly excludes all personal property left in vehicles—if these items are stolen, lost, or damaged during transport, you have zero recovery options. Vehicles sit unattended at overnight stops and transfer facilities where theft risk is substantial. Items visible through windows particularly attract thieves. For relocations, ship valuables with insured moving companies, carry important documents with you, or use secure shipping services with appropriate insurance coverage.
4. Perishable items and food
Food and perishable items cannot be shipped in your vehicle and will create serious problems during multi-day transport. Prohibited perishables include: fresh food of any kind, frozen items, refrigerated goods, opened food containers, snacks and groceries, pet food (opened bags), plants and flowers, any item requiring temperature control, and anything that can spoil, rot, or attract pests. The obvious issue is that food spoils during 5-10 day transport without refrigeration, creating terrible odors that can be impossible to remove from your vehicle's interior. Spoiled food attracts rodents and insects that can infest your car and the carrier truck. Spills from food containers damage upholstery and carpeting—damage you're responsible for since carrier insurance doesn't cover it. Even non-perishable snacks attract pests and can burst from temperature changes and pressure during highway travel.
5. Living things: Pets, plants, and organisms
No living things of any kind can be transported in your vehicle during shipping. This absolute prohibition includes: pets of any species, plants (including houseplants), insects or organisms, aquarium fish, and any other living creature or plant. Beyond obvious animal cruelty and welfare concerns, transporting living things in an unattended vehicle during multi-day transport would be fatal. Vehicles reach extreme temperatures during transport—lethal heat in summer or freezing cold in winter. No air circulation, food, or water means certain death for any animal. Plants fare no better without light and water. Even attempting to ship living things can result in animal cruelty charges. If you're relocating with pets, drive them yourself, fly them as checked pets, or use professional pet transport services. Ship plants separately with appropriate care or consider replacing them at your destination.
6. Illegal substances and contraband
This should be obvious, but attempting to ship illegal substances in your vehicle during transport is both a federal crime and grounds for immediate shipment cancellation. Prohibited items include: illegal drugs and controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, stolen property, counterfeit goods, items violating customs laws, and any contraband. Commercial carriers cross state lines and often pass through weigh stations where inspections can occur. Drug-sniffing dogs at weigh stations can detect illegal substances. If illegal items are discovered, law enforcement seizes your vehicle, you face criminal charges (potentially including trafficking charges for crossing state lines), and the carrier has no obligation to complete your shipment. Beyond legal consequences, carriers reserve the right to refuse service and ban customers who attempt to ship illegal items. There's no scenario where attempting to ship contraband is worth the severe legal and financial consequences.
7. Portable electronics and battery-powered devices
While not universally prohibited, most carriers exclude portable electronics and battery-powered devices due to their high theft risk and insurance exclusions. Items typically prohibited include: laptops and tablets, smartphones and smartwatches, portable gaming systems, cameras and video equipment, drones, power tools with batteries, GPS devices, and any expensive electronics. These items present multiple problems: they're high-value targets for theft when visible through windows, they're not covered by carrier insurance regardless of value, lithium batteries in many devices present fire risks during transport, and temperature extremes during shipping can damage sensitive electronics. If you absolutely must ship electronics, hide them completely out of sight in the trunk, understand they're uninsured, and accept full risk. Better yet, take valuable electronics with you in your personal vehicle or ship them separately with appropriate insurance.
8. Personal care products and cosmetics in large quantities
While a small toiletry bag might be overlooked, large quantities of personal care products create problems and are generally prohibited. Problematic items include: full shampoo, conditioner, and soap bottles, nail polish and remover (flammable), large quantities of cosmetics, perfumes and colognes (alcohol-based and flammable), aerosol products (hair spray, deodorant, etc.), and any pressurized containers. These items cause issues because: aerosol cans can explode under pressure changes and temperature extremes during transport, many products contain alcohol or other flammable ingredients, bottles can leak and damage your vehicle's interior during vibration and movement, and spilled liquids create permanent stains and odors. If you're relocating and need these items, pack small quantities and secure them very carefully in plastic bags within the trunk, or preferably ship them with your household goods where they can be properly packed and insured.
9. Custom or aftermarket parts not attached to the vehicle
Loose vehicle parts and accessories—even those intended for the car being shipped—generally cannot be transported inside the vehicle. This includes: loose wheels and tires, body panels and bumpers, engine components, exhaust systems, aftermarket accessories not installed, car audio equipment not installed, and any automotive parts not attached to the vehicle. These items create multiple problems: heavy loose parts add significant weight affecting carrier load calculations, parts can shift during transport and damage your vehicle's interior, they're not covered by insurance if damaged or lost, and they can become dangerous projectiles during sudden stops or accidents. If you're shipping parts separately from the vehicle, use appropriate freight shipping services. Parts that are properly installed on the vehicle can ship normally—it's only loose, unattached parts that are prohibited.
10. Oversized or overweight items exceeding carrier limits
Many carriers allow up to 100 pounds of personal items in the trunk, but exceeding this limit or shipping oversized items is strictly prohibited. Problematic items include: furniture of any kind, packed moving boxes, large appliances, sporting equipment (skis, surfboards, bikes if removable), heavy tools and equipment, and any items that substantially increase vehicle weight. Weight restrictions exist because: carriers must carefully balance loads across their multi-car trucks for highway safety, excess weight affects fuel economy and carrier operating costs, overweight loads can damage carrier equipment, and states enforce strict weight limits at weigh stations. If inspectors discover overweight loads, the entire carrier truck can be fined or prohibited from continuing. Violating weight limits can result in pickup refusal or substantial additional fees. For relocations, ship heavy items with professional moving companies designed to handle furniture and appliances.
Key takeaways
- Hazardous materials, firearms, and illegal substances are strictly prohibited by federal law—violations carry criminal penalties
- Carrier insurance never covers personal items in your vehicle regardless of value or circumstances
- Food, perishables, and living things will spoil or die during multi-day transport without climate control
- Valuables and electronics face high theft risk and should be transported separately with appropriate insurance
- Most carriers allow up to 100 pounds in the trunk but this is uninsured and limited to non-prohibited items
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