What You Need to Know About Transporting Alcohol During a Move

Is It Illegal to Transport Alcohol Across State Lines?

So, for the main question: Can you take alcohol across state lines? The answer is a bit complicated. It's not illegal in most places, but the laws vary by state. Before you plan to take your alcohol collection with you, make sure to check out the laws in every state you're passing through (not just your origin and destination).

Federal vs. State Alcohol Laws

All the rules about transporting alcohol are based on the 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition and returned alcohol regulation to the states. As a result, individual states set their own rules.

A common one includes open container laws. If you’re planning to pack that open bottle of 25-year scotch, you should know that most states prohibit open containers in the passenger area, and only a handful allow passengers to possess them. Keeping any opened alcohol in the trunk (or other area not accessible to passengers and the driver) is generally how to comply.

On the other hand, there’s far less consensus about how much liquor you can transport across state lines. The rules can be dramatically different from state to state, so it's a good idea to look into them as you plan your route.

Use the table below to see how each state regulates alcohol transport for personal use:

This article’s representation of laws or statutes is according to the author’s best understanding at the time of publication. The author of this article holds no degree or certification in law for any state. Seek qualified legal counsel before attempting to transport any amount of wine, beer, or spirits across state lines.

Transporting Alcohol Internationally

If you’re embarking on an international move with alcohol, you'll need to follow both U.S. export law and the import laws of your new country.

To figure out what's allowed, check the customs regulations for your new country of residence. Most set limits on how much you can bring. There might also be additional rules based on where you're coming from.

If you're moving to Finland from outside the European Union (EU), for example, you can bring up to 16 liters of beer, 4 liters of wine, and 1 liter of spirits. The limits are a lot higher if you're coming from inside the EU. Some countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, don't allow you to bring any alcohol. In places like Turkey, the rules depend on the percentage of alcohol in the drink.

Once you're sure it's legal to import alcohol during a move, check if you'll need to pay taxes. Many countries allow you to bring in a certain amount duty-free. For anything above that limit, you'll need to pay the duties.

Will Movers Move Alcohol?

Movers can move alcohol, but it depends on the company's rules. Some will accept unopened bottles, while others allow you to pack alcohol, but only up to specific amounts.

In general, you should avoid loading large amounts of alcohol into a moving truck. Temperature changes aren’t kind to wine and beer, and moving trucks usually have poor climate control in the cargo areas. For the best chance of making sure your beverages are still drinkable, take them in your own vehicle.

That said, some moving companies might not let you load your alcohol into a moving truck at all. It depends on where you’re located, where you’re traveling, and the company’s policy.

Don’t be tempted to just sneak your alcohol onto the truck, either — the driver can get into hot water if pulled over. Your collection could be seized, and you might be slapped with fines or taxes. Plus, if the containers break, you’re not only stuck with a messy, booze-soaked situation and damaged belongings, but the moving company won’t pay out for any contraband-caused mess.

If you absolutely can’t transport a large alcohol collection any other way, a specialized moving truck might be in order.

The Best Way to Transport Alcohol

If you're set on moving your homebrewed beer or your collection of spirits, you'll need to pick the right vehicle or mode of transport for the job. Your personal vehicle is the best way to transport alcohol. If that's not possible, a moving truck is the next best thing.

Here are some of the other moving options available, and whether or not you can transport alcohol with them:

• Moving container: In general, it's not a good idea to put alcohol into a moving container. In fact, companies including PODS and U-Haul U-Boxes don't allow you to pack alcohol because it's flammable.
• Freight trailer: You might be able to pack alcohol into a freight trailer, but it depends on the company's rules. Keep in mind that wild temperature swings and bumpy roads can be a danger to your collection.
• Moving truck: If you're renting a moving truck and driving yourself, you can usually carry alcohol that's packed carefully. Just pay attention to the temperature, because it can get hot if you're moving in the summer.
• Airplane: Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) usually allow alcohol in your checked bags. If it's between 25% and 70% ABV, you can take up to 5 liters. Beverages with 24% ABV or less don't have limits. However, the bottles must be unopened, and you'll need to pack them very carefully to hold up to rough baggage handling.
• Mail: Services like U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx don't allow you to send alcohol through the mail unless you have a business with the right license.

Protecting Alcohol for Transport

If you’re a wine, whiskey, or cocktail enthusiast moving your collection, it’s important that every bottle makes it to your new place in one piece. Skimping on storage, packaging, and insurance makes for an expensive accident that’s easy to avoid. Keep the following in mind when transporting your alcohol.

Know (and Protect) What Your Collection Is Worth

Liquor can be expensive. As any connoisseur knows, a prized collection of rare wines and spirits can be just as costly as fine art or jewels. For example, a bottle of Emerald Isle sold for a record $2.8 million! One-of-a-kind vintage wines, rare whiskies, or exotic spirits are irreplaceable.

If you have rare or unique bottles, hire an appraiser to document their monetary worth, and moving insurance is a must. It covers transport-related loss or damage, but coverage depends on the option and policy terms. Confirm whether alcohol, temperature damage, and self-packed boxes are covered, and document bottles with photos and an itemized list.

A good policy is well worth it if any bottles have a price tag of $500 or more. You can even do by-the-bottle floater coverage, which rarely includes a deductible. Although insurance can’t compensate you for sentimental loss, it can make sure you’re not out of pocket if the unthinkable happens.

If your collection costs less than $1,000, check your homeowner’s policy. Wine and liquor collections often count as personal property for coverage.

Don’t take risks! Always hire movers with experience handling high-value goods. If your collection’s value isn’t high enough to justify the cost of specialized movers, carry it safely in your personal vehicle.

Keep Things Cool, and Consider Temperature Control

Alcohol expands when it gets hot — and no one wants a surprise cork pop in transit. Even worse, spilled alcohol in a small space becomes a fire hazard. This becomes a problem when the cargo area of a moving truck gets warm.

To keep your bottles at the right temperature, hire a thermal-controlled moving truck or stock up on thermal containers — such as coolers or insulated crates — to store your collection. Beer should be kept between 37 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and wine between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Also, keep clear and light-colored bottles in the dark. If you’ve ever opened a skunky beer, light exposure is usually to blame. Hot hops plus UV light is not a good combination. Sunlight is equally unkind to wine, whiskey, and other spirits.

Liquid Should Stay Inside the Bottles

It may sound like a no-brainer, but moving liquid increases the risk of leaks and spills. When alcohol’s involved, you’re looking at fire hazards, wasted money, and a big mess. Beer-soaked boxes and damaged furniture are the last things you want to unpack in your new home.

Obviously, opened bottles increase the leak risk even more. And, if air gets in, wine turns to vinegar, and beer tastes like old pennies.

Re-corking wine bottles is good for a night on the kitchen counter. But, when moving, use silicone stoppers to make your wines airtight. For opened bottles of spirits, the original cap should be enough to keep the contents from spilling.

All that said, keep in mind that most states have open container laws that make it illegal to carry unsealed alcohol containers anywhere except in a trunk or cargo space.

Have the Right Materials for the Job

Moving your alcohol isn’t as simple as tossing it all into a box and hitting the road. Proper packaging is key. To reduce the chance of broken bottles and prevent your alcohol from going bad, follow these steps:

• Wine moving boxes: You can find boxes designed to hold and ship wine from major retailers such as Amazon. U-Haul also provides wine shipping kits that come with extra-secure Styrofoam inserts.
• Bubble wrap: If you aren’t using a specialized shipper, plenty of bubble wrap around bottles helps protect them. Cardboard dividers also help keep bottles from clinking together.
• Thermal shipper: Specially designed box inserts help keep beverages cold while being transported.
• Ice: Pack coolers with plenty of ice to keep the contents chilled.
• Packing tape: Make sure your boxes/shippers are sealed tightly so the contents can’t break free.

How Do I Pack…?

Packing alcohol for a move takes a bit more care than boxing up kitchen items or clothes. Bottles are fragile, temperature-sensitive, and valuable. Whether you’re moving a few favorites or an entire home bar, the key is using the right materials and methods for each type of bottle or glassware.

Wine bottles

Wrap each wine bottle with bubble wrap and use packing paper or separators to keep them stable. For the VIP treatment, use dedicated wine bottle shippers. Keep bottles tightly packed in an upright position in a thermal crate or cooler.

Although experts usually say to store wine bottles tilted (to stop the cork drying out), doing this in transport is just asking for spills to happen. Instead, keep the humidity at around 70%, and you won’t have to worry about dry corks.

Beer bottles

Protect each beer bottle with packing paper or bubble wrap before nestling them in individual shippers. Alternatively, keep them snug in a padded box. Cardboard separators can further prevent clanging and breaking.

Although cans are more forgiving, make sure you give them plenty of padding so they don’t bump on the sides of the box. The less they move, the less likely they are to explode when you crack one open later on.

Liquor bottles

Liquor bottles require extra care, which includes secure caps and plenty of wrapping. Slide them tightly into the box, with extra packing paper packed around them so they don’t rattle and knock into each other. No shaking or stirring is needed in transit.

Glassware and bar equipment

Moving wine glasses or delicate glassware? Here’s where cardboard dividers are your savior. Stuff each section with plenty of packing paper or clothes to cushion the glassware during transport. You can also give pricey glasses, such as crystalware, even more care with a specialized shipper.

Because homebrewing gear and other alcohol accessories are usually made of stronger materials, you should pack them separately from the breakables. For your bar cart, remove the casters and transport it with the rest of your furniture.

Final Thoughts

Moving alcohol across state lines requires careful planning and attention to each state’s rules. So, unless you have a valuable wine or liquor stash, it might be best to wave farewell and replace your collection once you’ve settled into your new place.

However, if you’re set on taking your alcohol with you, get professional legal advice to make sure everything’s above board, and be sure to pack your bottles and equipment properly so everything arrives intact. If you take the right steps and make the right preparations, you’ll be able to have a toast with your glasses and alcohol at your new home, no problem.