Moving in Montreal in Winter: Snow Removal, Parking, Winter Tires and What It Costs (2026-2027)

Moving in Montreal in winter costs less per hour than in spring or summer: from October to February, CNS Logistics charges $145 an hour for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $195 for 4, with a 22-ft truck included, before tax. During snow operations, the city bans parking from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (signs installed before 8 p.m. the evening before) or from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (signs installed before 3 p.m. the same day). Winter tires are mandatory from December 1 to March 15.

How Much Does It Cost to Move in Montreal in Winter?

From October to February, a move with CNS Logistics costs $145 an hour for 2 movers, $175 for 3 movers and $195 for 4 movers, with a 22-ft truck included, before tax. Every move has a 3-hour labour minimum, and your total depends mainly on the hourly rate and the time the crew works, plus taxes.

The rate is half of the winter picture. A move that takes 3 hours in summer can take noticeably longer in winter: on outdoor staircases our crews cannot hurry, they slow down on every icy step, and the ramp of the truck gets slippery. Because a regular move is billed by the hour, that time shows up on the bill. When you compare seasons, keep both in mind: the rate is lower, and the day can run longer.

Hourly Rates by Season

These are our published rates per hour, before tax, with a 22-ft truck included. They are live on our moving prices page.

Month-end means the last 3 days of a month and the 1st of the next month. If your dates are flexible, a day outside that window keeps you on the regular winter rate. For larger homes, two 22-ft trucks with 4 movers cost $290 an hour from October to February, or $310 at month-end. A 28-ft truck adds $10 an hour and a 32-ft truck adds $15 an hour.

Compared with June 1 to 23, the October to February rate is $49 less per hour for 2 movers, $60 less for 3 movers and $83 less for 4 movers. Compared with March and April, it is $35 less per hour for 2 movers, $43 less for 3 and $63 less for 4.

Midweek and Mid-Month Savings

Two published offers can lower the cost of a winter move. You can use one of them, never both. Midweek Advantage takes 10% off moves booked Monday through Thursday, except on month-end days (the last 3 days of a month and the 1st of the next) and from June 24 to July 1. Mid-Month Savings takes 5% off when your moving date falls between the 4th and the 26th of the month. The percentage is taken on the moving subtotal before taxes and does not apply to packing materials, storage fees or third-party charges. It is applied to the final invoice. To claim it, mention it when you request a quote, or tell the estimator during the consultation. The details are on our offers page.

What a Winter Move Usually Costs

The ranges below are rough totals before tax, for illustration. Your own total depends on volume, access, distance and season.

The 3-bedroom ranges include a distance fee. What moves a total up or down is the same in every season: the size of the crew, the hours worked, the stairs, the volume of belongings, the distance and the date. In winter, snow and ice on the access add time, and on a move billed by the hour, time adds to the bill.

Taxes, Deposit and Payment

GST (5%) and QST (9.975%) are itemized on every estimate. On a move billed by the hour, the move is confirmed with a deposit of no more than $300, and the balance is paid 30 minutes before the move finishes. Our online calculator gives you an estimate from your home and your dates. That estimate shows our published rates; a Midweek Advantage or Mid-Month Savings offer is applied to the final invoice. Whoever you hire, ask for a written, itemized estimate that shows the hourly rate, the minimum and both taxes before you book. Section 9 below explains a second way to price a winter move: Firmio, the video quote.

Is Winter a Good Time to Move in Montreal?

For many people, yes, as long as you plan for it. The rates are lower: from October to February, 2 movers with a 22-ft truck cost $145 an hour, $49 less per hour than the same crew from June 1 to 23, and well below the $278 an hour that crew costs during moving week, June 24 to July 1, which our July 1 moving guide describes. You also have more choice of dates, and we move every day from December 24 to January 2, except December 25 and January 1. Our Midweek Advantage (10% off) and Mid-Month Savings (5% off), one offer per client, apply to winter dates as well; section 1 sets out the conditions.

The trade-offs are real. Days are short, outdoor staircases ice over, and a snow-loading operation declared on your street can force the truck to move in the middle of the job. Cold is a challenge of its own. Below -15°C, the work becomes much harder for the crew: movers wear several layers, start sweating as soon as they work indoors, then step outside wet into the cold, and they repeat that all day.

Where you live matters as much as the season. In the Plateau, Mile End, Rosemont, Verdun, Griffintown, downtown and Old Montreal, streets tend to be narrow and snowbanks pile up along the curb, which makes the job much harder for movers. A third-floor plex with an outdoor staircase on a narrow street and a house with a driveway in the suburbs are two very different winter jobs, even at the same hourly rate.

Our advice: choose winter for the rate and the flexibility, then settle the parking, the stairs and a backup date before anything else. The rest of this guide covers each of them.

What Happens If Snow Removal Signs Go Up on Your Moving Day?

If snow removal signs go up on your street, the parking ban applies to your moving truck like any other vehicle: a vehicle that does not respect the signs is towed, and its owner receives a ticket. In most of the city, signs for a daytime ban (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) go up before 8 p.m. the evening before, and signs for a night ban (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) go up before 3 p.m. the same day.

This is the situation that changes a winter moving day the most. Montreal receives an average of 190 cm of snow per winter and clears about 10,000 km of streets and sidewalks, with on average 5 snow-loading operations per winter. Under ideal conditions, a loading operation needs at least 4 days and 4 nights to remove 15 cm of snow, and longer with more snow, more towing than usual, breakdowns or crew rest, according to the Ville de Montréal. If your moving date falls inside an operation, the signs on your street decide where the truck can stand, and when.

The Two Ban Periods

Source: How to park your vehicle in winter, Ville de Montréal. Temporary snow removal signs take priority over permanent parking signs, so a spot that the permanent signs allow on any other day is not protected once the temporary signs apply (Ville de Montréal, snow removal signage). Some boroughs work differently. In Anjou, signs go up 8 hours before the ban. In Saint-Laurent, they are generally posted during the shift before loading, sometimes 4 hours before towing. In Pierrefonds-Roxboro, parking is banned every day from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m., from November 1 to April 1. In LaSalle and Verdun, call the number on the permanent signs to find out whether the ban is in effect.

What We Do When the Signs Are Up

Before an operation reaches a street, the snow removal crews usually tell us what time they will be working there, and we plan around that time: we move the truck before they arrive and come back once they have passed. If the signs are already up when we arrive, we start the move. When the snow removal begins, we move the truck out of the way and come back as soon as the crews are done. If you are moving yourself with a rental truck, do not leave it under temporary signs: a vehicle that does not respect them is towed, and its owner receives a ticket. In our experience, city snow removal crews coordinate with movers on the street, and their pass on a given street does not take long, even though the operation as a whole runs for days across the city.

The truck itself is the other half of the problem. Even a 22-ft truck is bigger than most people picture, and in winter the snowbanks along the curb take away space that would be free in summer. On narrow streets in the Plateau, Rosemont, Verdun and similar neighbourhoods, that can leave no room for the truck near your door. The next section explains how to reserve that space. If you leave a car on the street during an operation, fold its mirrors and do not park at an angle; towing trucks sound a warning as they pass.

Checking the Map and Finding a Towed Vehicle

The city's snow removal map and the real-time map in the 311 Montréal app show when to move a vehicle and where to park. During a loading operation, the city and the Agence de mobilité durable offer free overnight parking spaces, also shown on the map. On February 26, 2026, for example, the city declared the sixth snow-loading operation of the 2025-2026 season, starting at 7 p.m. in all boroughs, with 8,223 free night parking spaces.

If a vehicle is towed, look it up with its licence plate on Info-remorquage or call the Agence de mobilité durable at 514 868-3737. If the vehicle is at the impound lot, its owner pays the storage fees (Ville de Montréal).

Our advice: check the map the evening before your move and again in the morning, park your own car where the map says, and call us as soon as you see signs on your street, so we can plan the truck's spot with you.

Do You Need a Parking Permit for a Moving Truck in Winter?

It depends on your borough and on what the move needs from the street. Generally, you do not need a permit if you do not prohibit parking, do not block the sidewalk and the street has no parking meters. You need one to install no-parking signs, to move on a street with meters, or to block a sidewalk or bike lane (Ville de Montréal).

In winter, the real question is usually whether you need to reserve space. Clients on narrow streets in the Plateau, Rosemont, Verdun and similar neighbourhoods often forget how big the truck is: even a 22-ft truck takes a lot of room, and snowbanks take away more of the curb. Our advice: reserve at least one more parking space than you think you need, just to keep room for the truck. Reserving space means installing no-parking signs, and that is where the permit comes in.

Fees and delays vary by borough. Published minimums include $43 and $60 (taxes included) for a moving truck and equipment permit, and a $54 issue and review fee in another borough; some boroughs issue the permit free. Depending on the borough, the permit is issued within 24 hours before the occupation, within 48 hours (2 business days) or within 5 business days, and some boroughs require the request 24 or 48 hours ahead. The signs must be installed 12 to 14 hours before the occupation. In Saint-Léonard, a permit is required for moves and must be requested at least 24 hours ahead.

You apply online with a citizen account, through the city's temporary occupation permit application. Our guide to parking permits on moving day covers the procedure in more detail.

One point the city's permit page does not cover is winter: it gives no guidance on snow removal. When you apply, ask your borough what happens to your reserved space if a snow-loading operation is declared on your street that day, and get the answer before moving day rather than on the morning itself.

Our advice: apply as early as your borough allows, so that a delay of 5 business days never catches you short.

Do Moving Trucks and Rental Vans Need Winter Tires in Quebec?

Every motorized road vehicle registered in Quebec, including rental vehicles, must have winter tires from December 1 to March 15. Heavy vehicles, meaning road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,500 kg or more, are exempt, and so are vehicles registered outside Quebec. The fine for driving without the required winter tires is $200 to $300 (Gouvernement du Québec).

This matters most if you are renting a van or a small truck to move yourself, or to move part of your belongings. A rental vehicle registered in Quebec falls under the rule like any car. Besides heavy vehicles and vehicles registered outside Quebec, the exemptions include trailers, tool vehicles, farm machinery and spare wheels.

Whether a truck counts as a heavy vehicle depends on its gross vehicle weight rating, not on how big it looks. The 4,500 kg threshold comes from section 2 of the Act respecting owners, operators and drivers of heavy vehicles (CQLR c. P-30.3). If you rent a truck and are not sure which side of that line it falls on, ask the rental agency for its gross vehicle weight rating before you sign.

A tire counts as a winter tire if it carries the winter pictogram, a mountain with a snowflake, or if it has studs. Studded tires are allowed from October 15 to May 1 on passenger vehicles, taxis and commercial vehicles with a total loaded mass of 3,000 kg or less.

Our advice for a rental between December 1 and March 15: when you pick up the vehicle, walk around it and look for the mountain and snowflake pictogram on the sidewall of each tire. If a tire does not carry it and has no studs, ask for another vehicle before you leave the lot. If you are driving to or from another province, section 10 below covers what changes.

How Do You Prepare Outdoor Staircases, Balconies and Entrances in a Montreal Plex?

Before the crew arrives, clear the snow from every staircase, balcony, walkway and entrance the move will use, then treat the ice. In a Montreal plex, the outdoor staircase is the most dangerous part of a winter move, and the access you prepare decides how safely and how quickly the crew can work.

Outdoor staircases, like the steep ones common in the Plateau, become slippery in winter. The risk is greatest with heavy items: movers carry them with straps, and on frozen steps the whole weight of the item pulls downward with the movers. That is why a cleared, treated staircase matters more than anything else you can do before moving day.

Shovel a path so the movers have access from the street to your door. If you cannot, our crews can do it, and they bring salt or ice melt and shovels to winter moves, but shovelling takes time, and on a move billed by the hour, that time is on the bill. If furniture will leave through a balcony door, clear that balcony as well.

Salt melts ice between 0°C and -15°C. Below that, gravel improves traction, but the risk of falling remains (Ville de Montréal). On a very cold moving day, have gravel ready in addition to salt. The city also asks residents to keep garbage, recycling and brown bins on their property during snow operations, and to park parallel, about 30 cm from the sidewalk. On moving day, keep the bins on your property but out of the crew's path, and if your own car stays on the street, park it that way.

Who clears the staircase, the balcony and the entrance in your building is a question for your landlord or, in a condo, your syndicate. Confirm it with them before the move rather than on the morning itself. For a house with a driveway, our West Island winter moving guide covers driveways and suburban highways.

Condo Towers Downtown and in Griffintown

High-rise condos raise a different winter problem: the distance between the truck and the building. Downtown and in Griffintown, the crew often has to walk from the sidewalk to the lobby or the garage over snowbanks and chunks of ice, and that makes the job much harder. Ask the syndicate which entrance the movers should use, whether the garage can be used, and how the elevator is reserved. Our condo moving rules guide covers building rules in more detail.

How Do You Protect Furniture, Electronics, Plants and Pianos From the Cold?

Wrap and pad everything that leaves the house, carry your plants in your own heated car, and let electronics reach room temperature before you turn them on. For exact temperature limits, check each manufacturer's manual: storage and operating temperatures differ from one device to the next, so we do not give general figures.

Electronics are the items to plan around. For a TV, a computer, a game console or audio equipment, the manual gives two figures worth noting: the storage temperature, which the device tolerates while it is off and in transit, and the operating temperature, which it needs before you switch it on. After the move, leave those devices unplugged until they have reached room temperature, because moisture can form on a cold device brought into a warm room. Back up your computers before moving day.

Plants handle the cold poorly. Move them in your car with the heat on, and wrap them for the walk between the door and the car.

Snow and salt are the other risks. Wet boots and the salt they carry can mark floors and soak into rugs. Our crews bring floor runners or mats and wear shoe covers inside your home. Wrapping and padding keep furniture drier on the way to the truck in falling snow and protect corners when footing on the stairs is uncertain.

Expect the house to cool quickly while the door is open. Our crews keep the door closed between trips when they can, but they cannot open and close it on every trip, so during the busiest part of the loading it will be open often. If you have pets or young children, keep them in a closed, warm room for the day.

Pianos need particular care in the cold and on icy stairs; see our piano moving page before you book. CNS Logistics carries commercial insurance with Intact: $50,000 cargo, $2,500,000 civil liability, $500 deductible paid by CNS, never the client. Increased coverage is available on request, and our guide to insurance for valuable items explains what to check for high-value pieces. If something is damaged, we ask for written notice within 72 hours; your legal right under article 2050 of the Civil Code of Québec is 60 days of written notice. Our damage claim guide explains the steps.

What Happens If a Snowstorm Hits on Moving Day?

In ordinary snow, we still move. In a major storm, we postpone the move, and your deposit carries over to the new date.

Snow slows everything down: the stairs, the sidewalk, the truck ramp and the drive between addresses. We tell clients in advance that snow adds time, and because moves are billed by the hour, the added time costs more. That is the trade-off of keeping your date in ordinary snow, and we would rather you hear it from us when you book than discover it on the bill.

Watch the forecast in the days before the move. Environment and Climate Change Canada publishes weather warnings at weather.gc.ca, and Québec 511, the road information service of the Ministère des Transports, shows road conditions. If a warning is issued for your moving day, call your mover early rather than on the morning of the move: an early decision leaves more dates to choose from.

Whoever moves you, ask these questions when you book a winter date: what happens to the deposit if the move is postponed because of a storm, who makes the call and when, how you will be told, and how the new date is chosen. Get the answers in writing. If your building requires an elevator booking or an access window, ask the building at the same time what happens if the date changes.

The policy above applies to moves billed by the hour. A guaranteed move under Firmio, which is a move that CNS packs, that starts in Quebec, for a customer who lives in Quebec, follows clause 15 of the contract instead: when an event such as "a storm that stops traffic" prevents the move, "we set a new date with you at the same price." Section 9 covers that clause in full.

Our advice: keep a backup date in mind from the start, and tell your landlord, your building and anyone helping you that the date may move if a major storm hits.

Why Does a Video Quote Matter More for a Winter Move?

Winter adds more ways for a move to run long or to stop, and on a move billed by the hour, added time costs more. Firmio changes who carries that risk on a guaranteed move, which is a move that CNS packs, that starts in Quebec, for a customer who lives in Quebec (clause 2 of the contract).

Think back over the earlier sections: snow on the steps, temporary signs on the street, a truck parked farther from the door because of the snowbanks, a slower walk on ice, a storm. On a regular move, we tell you in advance that snow adds time, and because the move is billed by the hour, the added time costs more. On a guaranteed move, the Guaranteed Move Contract sets out what happens instead. Each point below applies to a guaranteed move, meaning CNS packs, the move starts in Quebec and you live in Quebec:

1. Hours. For a guaranteed move, clause 3 says "The price in the table is fixed. It covers the move as filmed and declared." Clause 3 adds: "We do not bill the move by the hour, and the price does not go up because the work took longer than planned."
2. Weather and traffic. For a guaranteed move, clause 5 opens a list with "We absorb, at no cost to you:" and that list includes "traffic;" and "weather;". Clause 8 says "Traffic and weather are never extras."
3. Parking and permits. For a guaranteed move, clause 10 says "The table says, for each address, where the truck parks and who takes care of it. If the city requires a permit and we get it, its cost is included in the fixed price." It adds: "If the table says CNS takes care of it, the longer walk costs you nothing." and "We do not bill you for a parking ticket."
4. Storms. For a guaranteed move, clause 15 names "a storm that stops traffic" among the events that "can be neither foreseen nor avoided", and says "If such an event prevents the move, we set a new date with you at the same price. You may also cancel; we then refund, within 10 days, everything you paid." It adds: "No time is billed for such an event."
5. The path to the truck. For a guaranteed move, clause 2 b) sets as a condition that "you filmed the path from your door to the place where the truck parks, and the building access", so we see that path on video before moving day.
6. The condition of your furniture. For a guaranteed move, clause 24.1 says "On the packing day, before the crew touches anything, the crew lead films every piece of furniture with you present."
7. Damage claims. For a guaranteed move, clause 26.3 says "It applies to claims of less than 2,000 dollars in total (clause 27 deals with larger claims), for damage you report in writing within 72 hours after delivery. Within 48 hours after we receive your complete claim, we write to tell you whether it is accepted, accepted in part or refused, and why." Separately, article 2050 of the Civil Code of Québec gives you 60 days of written notice.

Who Qualifies, and What You Do in Winter

Clause 2 says "A guaranteed move is offered for a move that CNS packs, that starts at an address in Quebec, for a customer who lives in Quebec when the contract is made. The move may end in Quebec or in Ontario." Your part in winter is set by clause 20.4: "The path is clear, inside and outside. In winter, the steps and the walkway are cleared of snow and ice before we arrive." That is the preparation section 6 describes, and it is part of the contract.

If your move does not qualify, for example because you pack yourself, Firmio gives you a quote at our hourly rates. On that move, what we said earlier applies: snow adds time, the move is billed by the hour, and in a major storm we postpone the move and your deposit carries over to the new date. Payment also works differently on a guaranteed move: for the deposit, paid by credit card, clause 16 says "It is never more than 300 dollars.", and clause 17.1 says the balance of the fixed price "is due on the move day, when the truck arrives at the destination and before we start unloading."

How Firmio Works

You fill in the form with your rooms, your access and both addresses. You then film one short video per room in your phone's browser, with no app to install. Software drafts the inventory from still images, and a CNS estimator checks it line by line. You confirm the list, and a CNS moving consultant sets the price and sends it to you in writing: a fixed price under the contract if the move qualifies as a guaranteed move, or a quote at our hourly rates if it does not. Firmio is offered as a beta with limited places, as the product page says. Filming is optional: the calculator and the phone stay available.

Our advice: if your winter move qualifies, read the contract and the terms before you film, and see how it works. To start, go to the Firmio page.

Can You Move Between Montreal and Toronto or Ottawa in Winter?

Yes. A move between Montreal and Toronto or Ottawa works in winter as long as you plan around highway conditions: check Québec 511 and Ontario 511 before departure, and leave buffer time at both ends.

On a long-distance move, the weather matters along the whole route, not just at your two addresses. Québec 511 covers road conditions in Quebec, and Ontario 511 covers the Ontario side. Check both the day before and the morning of departure, along with the Environment and Climate Change Canada warnings for both cities.

Buffer time is the practical answer to winter roads. Avoid tight key handovers, elevator bookings or closing appointments on arrival day, and if your new building gives you a narrow move-in window, ask in advance whether it can be changed if the roads close. Keep essentials, medication and important documents with you in your car rather than on the truck.

If you drive your own car, remember that Quebec's winter tire rule applies to vehicles registered in Quebec from December 1 to March 15, and does not apply to vehicles registered outside Quebec. This guide covers Quebec's rule; if you are driving in Ontario, check the rules that apply there.

A move that CNS packs, that starts in Quebec, for a customer who lives in Quebec can be a guaranteed move under Firmio even when it goes to Ontario: clause 2 says "The move may end in Quebec or in Ontario." Section 9 explains what a guaranteed move changes.

At the Montreal end, everything earlier in this guide still applies: snow removal signs, parking and stairs. Our pages on long-distance moving, moving from Montreal to Toronto and moving from Montreal to Ottawa cover those routes.

Can You Move Out in the Middle of a Lease in Winter?

In many cases, yes, by assigning your lease to another person. You send your landlord a written notice, and the landlord has 15 days to answer. Since February 21, 2024, a landlord may refuse without a serious reason, but the lease then ends on the date in your notice, as Éducaloi explains.

A winter move often means leaving before the lease ends, so this rule matters. The notice must be in writing and give the name and address of the person interested in the dwelling and the date the assignment would take effect. That date cannot come before the end of the 15-day period, so set it with that delay in mind.

The landlord has 15 days from receiving the notice to answer, and no answer counts as consent. Since February 21, 2024, the landlord no longer needs a serious reason to refuse. If the landlord refuses, the lease ends on the assignment date given in your notice: you may leave on that date, but the person you found cannot take over the dwelling. In both cases, the date in your notice is the date to plan your move around.

The rule does not cover every situation. The exceptions include student housing in an institution, low-rent housing (HLM), and a family residence when the spouse refuses the assignment.

Every lease is different, and this summary is not legal advice. For your own case, check with the Tribunal administratif du logement. Once your date is set, our change of address checklist lists who to notify.

What If Your Move-Out and Move-In Dates Do Not Match?

Put your belongings in storage between the two dates. Our Saint-Laurent facility at 4590 Henri-Bourassa Blvd W is climate-controlled year-round, and when you combine storage with a CNS Logistics move, the first month is up to 75% off, with a minimum two-month storage commitment. This storage offer counts as your one offer, so it is not combined with the Midweek Advantage or Mid-Month Savings.

In winter, a gap between two dates can come from a lease assignment, a new home that is not ready, or a purchase that closes later than planned. Climate-controlled storage keeps your belongings out of the outdoor cold for that period.

When you choose a unit, size it for what will wait in storage, not for the whole home if part of it goes straight to the new address. Our advice: book storage when you book the move, so the two plans line up. Details are on our storage page.

Winter Moving Checklist for Montreal: Six Weeks to Moving Day

Six Weeks Before

• Choose your date. Month-end dates, the last 3 days of a month and the 1st of the next, carry a higher rate, and we move every day from December 24 to January 2 except December 25 and January 1. Mention Midweek Advantage (10% off) or Mid-Month Savings (5% off), one offer per client.
• Get an estimate from our online calculator, or call us. If CNS will pack and you live in Quebec, read the Firmio contract and decide whether to film for a guaranteed move.
• If you are leaving in the middle of a lease, send the written assignment notice, keeping the 15-day period in mind.
• If your move-out and move-in dates do not match, reserve storage (two-month minimum).

Four Weeks Before

• Ask your borough whether you need a permit, and reserve at least one extra parking space if your street is narrow. Ask what happens to that space if a snow-loading operation is declared.
• Apply online; some boroughs take up to 5 business days.
• Ask your landlord or syndicate who clears the staircase, the balcony and the entrance. In a condo tower, ask which entrance to use and how to reserve the elevator.
• If you rent a van for a date between December 1 and March 15, confirm it has winter tires.

One Week Before

• Look up the storage and operating temperatures of your electronics in their manuals, and back up your computers.
• Plan to carry your plants in your car, and get salt and gravel.
• Confirm the storm arrangements with your mover: what happens to the deposit and to the date.
• Start watching Environment and Climate Change Canada warnings.

The Day Before

• Check the snow removal map or the 311 Montréal app in the evening: daytime ban signs go up before 8 p.m.
• Check the warnings and Québec 511. If a major storm is coming, call us early.
• Shovel and treat the stairs, balconies, walkways and entrance.
• Keep the bins on your property, out of the crew's path.

Moving Day

• Check the map again in the morning: night ban signs go up before 3 p.m. the same day.
• Salt again, or spread gravel if it is colder than -15°C.
• Keep pets and young children in a closed, warm room, and your plants in your car.
• On a move billed by the hour, the balance is paid 30 minutes before the move finishes.

After the Move

• Let electronics reach room temperature before you plug them in.
• Inspect your belongings. If something is damaged, we ask for written notice within 72 hours; your legal right under article 2050 of the Civil Code of Québec is 60 days of written notice.
• Work through our change of address checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost less to move in Montreal in winter?

Yes, at CNS Logistics. From October to February, our hourly rates are $145 for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $195 for 4, with a 22-ft truck included, before tax. That is $49 less per hour for 2 movers than from June 1 to 23. Snow and cold can make a move take longer, and every move billed by the hour has a 3-hour labour minimum. Midweek Advantage (10% off) or Mid-Month Savings (5% off) may apply, never both.

Can my moving truck be towed during snow removal in Montreal?

Yes. During snow operations, temporary signs take priority over permanent parking signs, and a vehicle that does not respect them is towed and its owner receives a ticket. That includes a moving truck. Signs for a daytime ban (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) go up before 8 p.m. the evening before; signs for a night ban (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) go up before 3 p.m. the same day.

How do I find my car if it was towed during snow removal in Montreal?

Search Info-remorquage at montreal.ca/info-remorquage with your licence plate, or call the Agence de mobilité durable at 514 868-3737. If your vehicle was taken to the impound lot, you pay the storage fees. To avoid it, check the snow removal map or the 311 Montréal app before you park during a snow operation.

Do moving trucks need winter tires in Quebec?

It depends on the truck's weight rating. Winter tires are mandatory from December 1 to March 15 on motorized road vehicles registered in Quebec, including rentals. Heavy vehicles, meaning a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,500 kg or more, are exempt, as are vehicles registered outside Quebec. Driving without the required winter tires brings a fine of $200 to $300.

How much does a moving truck permit cost in Montreal?

It depends on the borough. Published minimums include $43 and $60, taxes included, for a moving truck and equipment permit, and a $54 issue and review fee in another borough; some boroughs issue the permit free. Generally, you need a permit to install no-parking signs, to move on a street with meters, or to block a sidewalk or bike lane.

How long does a snow-loading operation last in Montreal?

Under ideal conditions, a loading operation needs at least 4 days and 4 nights to remove 15 cm of snow, according to the Ville de Montréal. It takes longer with more snow, more towing than usual, breakdowns or crew rest. Montreal averages 5 loading operations per winter. In our experience, the crews' pass on a given street does not take long.

Will my winter move be cancelled if it snows?

On a move billed by the hour, not in ordinary snow: we still move, and we tell you in advance that snow adds time, which costs more because the move is billed by the hour. In a major storm, we postpone the move and your deposit carries over to the new date. Watch Environment and Climate Change Canada warnings and Québec 511 in the days before.

Can I get a fixed price for a winter move in Montreal?

Yes, if it qualifies as a guaranteed move under Firmio: a move that CNS packs, that starts in Quebec, for a customer who lives in Quebec (clause 2). Clause 3 says "The price in the table is fixed. It covers the move as filmed and declared." Clause 8 says "Traffic and weather are never extras." Clause 20.4 adds: "In winter, the steps and the walkway are cleared of snow and ice before we arrive."

Can I break my lease to move in winter in Quebec?

You can assign it. Send your landlord a written notice with the name and address of the person interested in the dwelling and the date the assignment would take effect. The landlord has 15 days to answer, and silence counts as consent. Since February 21, 2024, if the landlord refuses, the lease ends on the date in your notice. Some exceptions apply, including low-rent housing (HLM).

Does salt work on icy stairs in extreme cold?

Salt melts ice between 0°C and -15°C, according to the Ville de Montréal. Below -15°C, gravel improves traction, but the risk of falling remains. On moving day, clear and treat every staircase, balcony and walkway the crew will use. Our crews also bring salt or ice melt and shovels to winter moves.

Do you move between Christmas and New Year's in Montreal?

Yes. We move every day from December 24 to January 2, except December 25 and January 1. Those dates fall in our October to February rate period: $145 an hour for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $195 for 4, before tax. The last 3 days of December are month-end dates, billed at $155, $179 and $217. December 29 to 31 carry no Midweek Advantage; December 24 and 26 fall between the 4th and the 26th.

Where can I store furniture between two moves in Montreal in winter?

Our Saint-Laurent facility at 4590 Henri-Bourassa Blvd W is climate-controlled year-round. Units cost $89/month for 5×5, $159/month for 5×10 and $259/month for 10×10. When combined with a CNS Logistics move, the first month is up to 75% off, with a minimum two-month storage commitment.

What to Do Next

To see what your winter move would cost, use our online calculator for an estimate, or call us at (514) 416-9610 to plan the date, the parking and the stairs with people who know these streets. CNS Logistics has been moving Montreal households since 2017, with 7,120+ moves completed, under NIR permit R-160041-1 (CTQ).

Sources

• Ville de Montréal, Tout savoir sur le déneigement à Montréal
• Ville de Montréal, Comment stationner votre véhicule en hiver
• Ville de Montréal, Signalisation pour les opérations de déneigement
• Ville de Montréal, Retrouver un véhicule remorqué
• Ville de Montréal, Info-remorquage
• Ville de Montréal, snow removal map
• Ville de Montréal, press release on the sixth snow-loading operation of the 2025-2026 season
• Ville de Montréal, Stationner un camion de déménagement
• Ville de Montréal, temporary occupation permit application
• Gouvernement du Québec, Winter tires
• LégisQuébec, Act respecting owners, operators and drivers of heavy vehicles (CQLR c. P-30.3)
• Éducaloi, Céder son bail : est-ce toujours possible?
• Tribunal administratif du logement
• Québec 511
• Ontario 511
• Environment and Climate Change Canada, weather warnings