The short answer
Book as soon as you know your moving date and have your building's move rules. For most local moves that means a few weeks ahead. For end-of-month dates, Saturdays and summer weekends, book earlier, because those are the days every household wants at once.
There is no single right number of days. The right lead time depends on how fixed your date is, whether your building needs reservations, and how much flexibility you have on the time of day. This guide walks through each of those so you can decide.
Why some dates fill first
Leases in the GTA commonly end on the last day of the month, and closings often happen on Fridays and month-end dates. That concentrates demand on a handful of days. Weekends add to it, because many people cannot take a weekday off. Summer adds more, with school out and leases turning over.
If your move falls on one of those days, the useful question is not just whether a crew is free but whether a crew is free at the time you need it. Morning starts go first, because they leave room for the rest of the day.
- Last two days of the month and first day of the next.
- Fridays and Saturdays, especially in late spring and summer.
- Long weekends and the days around them.
What to have ready before you book
A booking goes faster, and the estimate is more useful, if you have the basics together before you call or fill in the form:
- Both addresses, including unit numbers and floors.
- Whether each building has an elevator, and whether it must be reserved.
- Where the truck can park at each end.
- An inventory of large furniture and a realistic box count.
- Any heavy or oversized items, such as safes, pianos, large appliances or stone tables.
- Your preferred date and any backup dates you could accept.
Condo residents should also book the service elevator and loading area. The condo elevator booking guide lists what to ask management.
Deposits, changes and cancellations
A FleetGo booking is secured with a $100 non-refundable deposit. To change or cancel a booking, give at least 48 hours' notice. Those two rules are the main reason not to book too early with a date you are unsure of: if your closing date or lease is still moving, wait until it is confirmed, or talk to FleetGo about how firm the date really is before paying the deposit.
The full booking conditions are in the terms. Read them before you book so there are no surprises about the deposit, billing start time or what counts as waiting time.
Booking at short notice
Sometimes a move cannot be planned weeks ahead: a lease falls through, a closing date changes, or a family situation forces a fast move. Short-notice moves are possible when a crew and truck are free, and the earlier in the day you call, the more options there usually are.
Have the same information ready as you would for a planned move. The less the crew has to discover on the day, the smoother a short-notice move goes. The last-minute moving page explains how FleetGo handles these requests.
Choosing the time of day
A morning start gives the most room for things to go wrong: an elevator that runs late, a closing that is delayed, or more boxes than expected. Afternoon starts can work well for smaller moves, but they leave less buffer before buildings close their move hours.
If you are moving between two buildings with reserved elevators, plan the start time around both reservations. The pickup slot should begin when the crew arrives, and the delivery slot should open with enough margin for loading and driving between them.
A simple booking timeline
- As soon as the date is firm: ask both buildings for their move rules and book elevators and loading areas.
- The same week: gather your inventory and request a quote.
- After you confirm the estimate: pay the deposit to secure the date.
- Two weeks before: finish decluttering so the box count stays accurate.
- At least 48 hours before: tell FleetGo about any change to the date, addresses or inventory.
- The day before: confirm parking and elevator times, and finish packing.
For the packing side of that timeline, use the week-by-week moving checklist.