Car Packing Tips From the Moving Pros

If you don’t carefully plan how you pack your belongings during a move, you could end up with cracked electronics crushed under heavy boxes or important documents lost in the chaos. Even if you’re using a moving company, it’s ideal to know how to pack your car for moving so you can use your vehicle safely and efficiently during the move.

How to Pack Your Car for Moving

To prepare your car for packing and moving, first, use sturdy packing materials and clear your car of any unnecessary items. For an efficient loading of your belongings, utilize every available space, like the trunk and backseat, and consider using an overhead carrier to create more space. Place heavy items at the bottom to maintain visibility, and secure loose and fragile items by keeping them close to you.

With our professional packing team, you can take advantage of our expert packing services and big, shiny moving truck. Even if you hire our professional movers, you might still need to pack a few boxes in your vehicle. Here are moving tips and practical advice on loading moving boxes in your car to protect valuables and promote safe driving as you head to your new address.

Things to Do Before Packing the Car

It’s best to put some thought into your car packing strategy at least a few days before you move to your new home. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of our top car packing hacks and tips that work for short and long-distance moves.

1. Gather Necessary Packing Supplies

With the right packing supplies, you can protect your fragile and valuable items and maximize the storage space in your car.

• Collect a variety of high-quality moving boxes, along with strong packing tape and scissors for easy assembly.
• Prepare protective materials like bubble wrap and packing paper to cushion your items and prevent damage inside the car.
• Get bungee cords and straps to securely pack items in place, preventing them from shifting while in transit.
• Use vacuum bags for clothes and linens to compress them, freeing up significant space to pack more items.
• Grab a permanent marker to label boxes with their contents and the room they belong in, making for an easier unpacking process.

2. Create a Packing Plan and Inventory List

Packing boxes and items into your car without thinking about where everything is going can waste valuable space and probably lead to something getting broken.

• Make a detailed packing inventory list and a comprehensive moving checklist to track your belongings and make sure nothing is left behind.
• Create a list of the people and/or pets you know you’ll need to transport in your car.
• Organize your items into logical categories — like clothing, toiletries, and electronics — to make packing more efficient and simplify unpacking at your destination.
• Consider the weight distribution to maintain the car’s stability.
• Identify spots to put specific boxes to protect fragile items.

3. Clean Out Your Car

When there’s less junk in your car, there’s more room for packing. 

• Declutter personal car belongings and other items you won’t need for the trip, like receipts, old papers, and miscellaneous stuff from the glove compartment and console.
• Throw away trash and empty out any loose items from the door pockets and seat organizers to create additional space in your car.
• Take everything out of the trunk, then store the spare tire where you can access it easily while giving more room to pack items.
• Use storage bags or packing containers to organize the car belongings you want to keep, and put them aside to be sorted later.
• Vacuum the interior of the entire car, including the floor mats and seats, for a clean and tidy start to your car trip.

4. Disassemble Larger Items and Use Vacuum Bags to Pack Bulky Items

Packing disassembled items and using vacuum bags for bulky stuff saves significant space and protects your belongings, making your road trip more organized and efficient.

• Disassemble bulky items like furniture and bicycles, packing screws and hardware in a labeled bag to prevent loss and simplify reassembly.
• Pack with vacuum bags for bulky bedding, blankets, and pillows to compress them, creating much more space in your car.
• Take apart anything you can, from lamps to tables, to fit your heavy belongings and other stuff into smaller, more manageable packing boxes.
• Break down large entertainment centers, bookcases, and modular furniture into their individual panels and shelves.
• Pack bulky electronics and appliances in their original boxes, as they are custom-fit to protect the device from damage during the move.

5. Pack Smart With Plastic Bags and Small Boxes

Space saver bags are ideal for car packing since they can be crammed just about anywhere. This gives you more options for configuring everything so that it fits together as tightly as possible.

• Prioritize plastic bags for non-breakable items like clothing, linens, and soft accessories since they can squeeze into irregular storage spaces.
• Use small paper boxes strategically for fragile items that need structure yet won’t take up excessive trunk space, and wrap them with bubble wrap for extra protection.
• Create a stress-free packing system by designating specific plastic bags for different categories (toiletries, electronics, documents) so you can quickly locate items.
• Focus on packing things that aren’t rigid and don’t hold their shape to have more packing capabilities in a confined space.
• Save the big cardboard boxes for the truck and focus on packing small boxes or bags in your car. 

6. Use Sturdy Containers to Pack Fragile and Valuable Items

For a safe and stress-free car trip, use sturdy packing containers to protect fragile and valuable items from damage.

• Use hard-shell cases or plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes.
• Wrap each breakable item individually with bubble wrap or packing paper before placing it in the container.
• For delicate items, use packing peanuts or soft materials to fill any empty space, preventing them from shifting inside the container.
• Secure container lids tightly and consider using packing tape around the edges to prevent spills inside the car.
• Label each container clearly with “fragile” or “delicate items” for careful handling during your car trip.

Ways to Pack Your Car and Maximize Storage Space

To make sure you won’t compromise safety for your road trip, we’re sharing tips on how to utilize car space during packing. This lets you pack a lot of things you need for the journey while maintaining clear visibility, whether it’s a short or long drive.

1. Utilize Available Storage Areas

Make use of every available storage space inside your car for maximum efficiency and comfort.

• Lower the back seats to create a single, large area for packing bulky items like luggage or sports equipment.
• The car trunk is your primary storage space; pack heavy objects first and low to the floor for better balance and a lower center of gravity.
• Utilize the available storage space on the backseat and front seats for frequently accessed items like snacks, electronics, and a first aid kit.
• Use the floor space in the backseat to store soft bags or smaller boxes that won’t shift during travel.
• Invest in seat-back organizers and hanging pouches to create additional storage space for small items, keeping them off the seats and floor.

2. Keep Heavy Items Low and Out of Sight to Improve Road Visibility and Weight Distribution

Balanced payloads and a 10% vehicle mass reduction result in a 2% improvement in fuel consumption for most vehicles. This means it’s best to get the weight distribution right to drive safely and efficiently.

• Start packing by keeping things below the headrests to keep lines of visibility open.
• Place large items like furniture or appliances against the sides of the car to keep the car balanced.
• Put other bulky items on the floor of the car and place them as far forward or centered as you can.
• Position items strategically around the driver’s seat to maintain easy access to controls while keeping heavier objects toward the center of the car for optimal balance.
• Use the passenger seat area for medium-weight items that won’t obstruct your view, although avoid placing anything loose that could shift during sudden stops or turns.

3. Keep Essential Items and Important Documents Close

Place important items and documents close to you in your car for easy access and peace of mind, especially when dealing with unforeseen circumstances or transitions.

• As you start packing, set aside legal documents, passports, birth certificates, and medical records in a designated, easily accessible bag or folder.
• Create a first-night box with toiletries, a change of clothes, and other necessities to avoid rummaging through your luggage after a long journey.
• Pack fragile and valuable items like family heirlooms separately in a small, well-padded bag that you can carry with you.
• Dedicate additional space in the cabin for these packing bags and boxes containing your prized possessions.
• Store the first aid kit in an easily accessible location inside your car, like the glove box or under a seat, not buried in the trunk.

4. Secure Loose Items With Straps and Fill Gaps With Smaller Items

About 81% of road crashes involve unsecured loads on passenger vehicles, so keep loose items secured to prevent them from flying around the cabin of your car.

• Take the time to properly pack your belongings in your car to keep everything in place, making the entire car trip much smoother.
• Start packing your car by securing large, heavy stuff with straps or bungee cords to prevent shifting and provide added stability.
• Use other items, like blankets or clothes, to fill in any empty spaces between the larger cargo, which helps to maximize space.
• For irregularly shaped items, use a combination of packing straps and soft items to contour the cargo, making sure no sharp edges or loose ends are exposed.
• Use extra straps to keep crates of pets secured to the seats.

5. Consider Cargo Carriers if You Need Extra Space

Cargo carriers could be a good investment, especially if you want to maximize space beyond your car’s interior. Plus, it will give you extra cargo space on future road trips.

• Maximize your vehicle’s existing storage areas with carriers that complement your car’s design for efficient loading, like rear-mounted carriers for SUVs or roof-mounted ones for sedans.
• Use an overhead carrier or a small cargo box to add up to 12 cubic feet of storage space to vehicles.
• Opt for hitch-mounted cargo carrier options to provide sturdy platforms for heavier items.
• Connect a U-Haul trailer to your car for maximum storage capacity when moving large quantities or bulky items. 
• Use cargo nets and straps if you will use open carriers to prevent shifting.

Car Trip Safety Tips for a Local or Cross-Country Move

As you start packing for your new home, here are final car trip safety tips to prevent mistakes that compromise safety on the road, whether it’s for a local or cross-country move.

• Decide what you’ll pack in your car for your new home and what to leave for the professional movers.
• Know the best ways to pack more in your car to maximize space.
• Use vacuum-sealed containers to protect stuff from moisture, dust, and odors during the move.
• Don’t pack items in the driver’s footwell, as it could cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
• Be sure to properly protect fragile items by wrapping them in bubble wrap or using sturdy containers.
• Keep the car windows clear so you have perfect visibility of what is happening behind and around the vehicle.
• Avoid making multiple car trips to transport everything.

Related Questions

Conclusion

Now that you know how to pack a car for moving, you can maximize vehicle space and secure your belongings. For your packing, moving, and transport needs, our moving coordinators will provide personal assistance and tips every step of the way. Schedule an in-home estimate or use the online form to receive an instant moving quote!