How Much Does It Cost to Transport a Non-Runner Car in the UK?
A car that won’t start, won’t steer or has flat tyres can’t drive itself onto a transporter, so it has to be winched, rolled or lifted on. That extra equipment and loading time is why moving a non-runner usually costs more than moving the same car when it drives.
There’s no fixed price list: each driver prices the job in front of them, so the most reliable figure is a real quote for your car and route. Below: which vehicle does the job, what moves the price, and how to get quotes you can compare. For car transport costs in general, see our UK cost guide; for breakdown cover vs a recovery firm vs a marketplace, see non-runner vehicle recovery.
Recovery truck or car transporter?
Most non-runners are moved on one of these:
- A recovery truck usually carries one vehicle, often on a tilting or sliding bed with a winch that pulls the car on. It’s the usual choice for a roadside breakdown or a single car that needs moving at short notice.
- A car transporter or trailer fitted with a winch. Some carry more than one car. If the driver has a winch — and skates or dollies for a car that won’t steer — a non-runner can go on board too, sometimes alongside other cars on the same trip.
- A crane or HIAB, occasionally, for a shell that can’t roll at all.
For the price, this means: a recovery truck sent just for your car is a whole trip for one vehicle. A driver who can fit your car around other work may quote less, but usually needs flexible dates. Neither is automatically cheaper — it depends who is available on your route.
What changes the price of a non-runner move
- Whether it rolls. A car that rolls freely on inflated tyres can be winched on fairly quickly. Seized brakes, flat or missing tyres, or a gearbox stuck in gear make loading slower and may need skates or dollies.
- Whether it steers. Locked steering — for example with no key, or when a flat battery stops an electronic steering lock releasing — means the car has to be guided on with skates or dollies.
- Keys. No keys can mean locked steering and no way to release an electronic handbrake or select neutral. Say so up front.
- Distance. Both the loaded miles and how far the driver has to travel to reach the car.
- Access. An underground car park, narrow lane or muddy field takes longer than the kerb.
- Size and weight. Vans, pickups and large 4x4s may need a bigger vehicle.
- Timing. Same-day or next-day collection can cost more; flexible dates give more drivers the chance to fit you in.
- Auction yards. Booked collection slots, release paperwork and waiting time can all affect the quote.
Why there’s no single price
A1 Transporter doesn’t publish a price list: each driver sets their own price for your job. Two things to bear in mind when you compare quotes:
- A non-runner usually costs more than the same trip for a car that drives, for the reasons above. How much more depends on how hard it is to load.
- On short trips, reaching and loading the car is much of the job, so the price per mile is usually higher than on a long run.
How to get accurate quotes
- Say what’s wrong (won’t start, seized engine, accident damage), whether it rolls, steers and brakes, whether the tyres hold air, and whether there are keys.
- Add photos, including where the car is parked.
- Describe access at both ends: height limits, gates, slopes, distance from the road.
- Give any deadline, such as an auction’s storage charges.
- Ask what the price includes: waiting time, extra equipment, and what happens if the car can’t be loaded as described.
- Compare several quotes, including each driver’s Goods in Transit cover — it should be at least the car’s value.
On A1 Transporter, posting is free and you don’t need an account to get quotes. You give the postcodes and describe the car’s condition, so drivers equipped for a non-runner can quote; checked, independent drivers send their own prices, each with their Goods in Transit cover in pounds. You can chat with drivers before booking, and there’s no obligation until you accept a quote; a booking fee is shown before you accept. We cover England, Scotland and Wales. We’re a new platform, so on some routes you may get few quotes, or none.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Be flexible on dates, so a driver can fit you around other work.
- Sort the simple things if you safely can: charge the battery, pump up the tyres, find the keys. A car that rolls and steers is quicker to load.
- Check your breakdown cover. If your policy includes recovery to where you need the car, it may already be paid for.
- Moving more than one car? Say so — one driver may be able to take them together.
FAQ
Does a non-runner always cost more than a car that drives?
Usually, because it needs a winch and more loading time. A car whose only problem is a flat battery may be simpler, so describe the fault precisely.
Is a Cat S or Cat N car priced differently?
The category matters less than the condition, size and weight. A Cat N car that drives on is loaded like any runner; a Cat S car with damaged suspension may need more care. See our Cat S and Cat N transport guide.
What if the car is harder to load than I said?
The driver may need different equipment, may not be able to load it, or may ask for more. Describe it accurately and agree the details in writing before collection.
Post a non-runner job for free and get quotes from checked drivers. Questions: [email protected]