Online marketplaces have become a common way to arrange vehicle transport in the UK. Instead of contacting transport companies one by one, you can post a job once and compare quotes from several drivers.
But which option is best for you? Platforms and providers differ in how they set prices, what insurance they require, what they include and how they handle problems — and those details change over time.
The A1 Transporter team here. A1 Transporter is our own platform, so we’re not a neutral reviewer. Rather than rate our competitors, this guide explains the main types of provider, sets out the facts about A1 Transporter, and gives you the checklist we’d use to compare any of them.
This guide covers A1 Transporter, other online marketplaces (such as Shiply and AnyVan), traditional transport companies, and informal couriers found on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.
| Option | How the price is set | Insurance | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Transporter | Each driver sends their own quote. To book, you pay a deposit (our booking fee, shown before you accept a quote); the rest goes to the driver directly, on the payment terms shown with their quote | Every driver must hold goods-in-transit insurance, checked before approval; the amount is shown in pounds on each quote | The driver’s price, cover amount and note |
| Other online marketplaces (e.g. Shiply, AnyVan) | Varies by platform — check their website | Check each platform’s requirements | Fees, insurance and cancellation terms |
| Traditional transport company | The company quotes its own price | Check the company’s goods-in-transit limit and exclusions | What’s included, and timing |
| Facebook / Gumtree couriers | Agreed privately with the individual | Often unclear — ask to see a certificate | Insurance, identity and a written agreement |
If you only have 30 seconds: compare several quotes, check the driver’s goods-in-transit cover is at least your vehicle’s value, and be very careful with informal couriers who can’t show you their insurance.
Type: UK online marketplace
Coverage: Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
Web: a1-transporter.co.uk
App: A1 Transporter, on iPhone and Android
We think it’s a good fit if you want to compare several drivers’ prices and insurance cover in one place and see our booking fee before you book. But we’re biased — this is our own platform — so compare it with other options before you decide.
Type: online platforms for arranging transport
Web: shiply.com, anyvan.com and others
We don’t make claims here about other platforms’ fees, insurance, driver numbers, features or reviews — those details are theirs to state, and they change over time. Check each provider’s own website for its current terms.
Worth comparing. Posting the same job on more than one platform is a simple way to see the range of prices for your move.
Type: companies that quote you directly and send their own or contracted drivers
Coverage: varies by company
Worth considering for large or regular volumes where a negotiated contract makes sense. For a one-off move, compare their quote with marketplace quotes.
Type: informal individual couriers
Coverage: local, sometimes long-distance
Be very careful. A small saving isn’t worth risking the vehicle’s full value. If you do use one, see their goods-in-transit certificate first and take your own photos at both ends.
| Feature | Why it matters | On A1 Transporter |
|---|---|---|
| Goods-in-transit cover | Pays out if your vehicle is damaged or lost in transit | Required; certificate checked before approval; amount shown in pounds on each quote |
| Driver checks | Tells you who is behind the quote | V5 (vehicle log book), motor insurance and goods-in-transit certificate checked before approval |
| Condition photos | Evidence if there’s a dispute about damage | Driver takes at least 5 photos at pickup and 5 at delivery in the app |
| Several quotes | Lets you see the range of prices | Independent drivers send their own quotes |
| Driver’s note | Tells you what’s included and when they can do it | Each quote can carry a note from the driver; you can ask more in the chat |
| Chat before booking | Lets you check equipment, timing and access | Yes — contact details stay hidden until the deposit is paid |
| Clear fees | No surprises | Deposit = our booking fee, shown before you accept a quote; the rest to the driver directly, on the payment terms shown with their quote |
| Non-runners | Needs the right equipment | You state the condition; drivers equipped for it can quote |
| Support | Somewhere to turn if something goes wrong | Email: [email protected] |
| UK company | Who you’re dealing with | A1 Transporter App Ltd, Companies House 17158649 |
Get quotes early. Post the job with the yard, your postcode and the vehicle’s condition, and check the auction’s collection deadline and storage fees. On A1 Transporter you can compare drivers’ prices, cover and notes, and chat about the collection before booking.
Use your breakdown cover first if you have it (AA, RAC or another provider) — check what your policy includes. If you don’t have cover, or it won’t take the car where you need it, post a breakdown recovery job on A1 Transporter and describe the problem so drivers equipped for it can quote. Timing isn’t guaranteed.
Get quotes for both. A1 Transporter covers home removals and vehicle transport — post them as separate jobs and compare quotes for each. Some removals firms may also be able to move both; ask them.
Check transport cost before you bid. Post the job with the seller’s area and your postcode to get an idea of the cost. Once you’ve won, confirm the collection address and date with the seller before you book a driver.
A traditional transport company with a negotiated contract may suit this better. A marketplace works job by job, so large scheduled volumes can be harder to coordinate.
Keep the transport cost in proportion. Compare several quotes on a marketplace and choose an insured driver whose price makes sense for the car’s value.
Describe the condition clearly (won’t start, locked steering, no keys, etc.) when you post the job. Drivers equipped for non-runners can quote, and you can check their equipment in the chat before booking. Allow extra time on a long route.
Transport it rather than driving it. Tell drivers it’s Cat S, whether it runs, and whether the steering and brakes work, so they bring the right equipment.
We haven’t run an independent test of other platforms, so we won’t quote results. The fairest test is your own job. Post the same move on two or three platforms and compare:
If you book elsewhere, remember to cancel or close your other job posts so drivers aren’t left waiting.
If you’re a UK auction buyer or dealer, compare several insured drivers’ quotes before the auction’s free collection period runs out. A marketplace makes that straightforward — A1 Transporter is one option; compare it with others.
If you’re a general consumer doing a one-off move, a marketplace lets you compare prices from one job post. Try more than one platform if you like.
If you’re moving house + car together, get quotes for both — A1 Transporter covers removals and vehicle transport as separate jobs, and some removals firms can do both.
If you have a fleet contract, negotiate with a traditional transport company.
If you’re considering Facebook Marketplace couriers, check their insurance and identity very carefully — a small saving is rarely worth the risk.
For most one-off moves in 2026: post your job, compare several quotes — price, cover and the driver’s note — and pick the driver who suits you.
Yes. Nothing stops you posting the same job on more than one platform and comparing the quotes. If you book elsewhere, cancel your other job posts so drivers aren’t left waiting.
There’s no fixed answer. On a marketplace, the price is set by each driver’s quote, and it depends on the route, the vehicle, its condition and your timing. Compare several quotes for your own job.
Driver numbers vary by platform and by region, and headline figures don’t tell you much about your route. What matters is how many suitable, insured drivers quote for your job.
Try them and see which you prefer. On A1 Transporter you can post a job without an account, compare quotes, and chat with drivers before booking, and the driver records at least 5 photos at pickup and 5 at delivery in the app.
A1 Transporter’s support is by email: [email protected]. For other providers, check the support options on their websites.
Not always. On A1 Transporter every driver must hold goods-in-transit insurance, we check the certificate before approval, and each quote shows the amount — choose a driver whose cover is at least your vehicle’s value. With informal couriers there may be no cover at all. Always check before booking.
On A1 Transporter you can post a motorbike move as a vehicle transport job — describe the bike so drivers with the right equipment can quote. For other platforms, check their websites.
Full disclosure: A1 Transporter App Ltd is the author’s company. We’ve tried to be fair to other providers and haven’t made claims about their prices or features. If you see anything inaccurate, email [email protected] and we’ll correct it.
Post a job: a1-transporter.co.uk