Delivery/ transport couriers

[Tea]

Good evening,

I've spent many hours trawling the internet for a reliable company to collect a car, but with little luck in choosing one from the ENORMOUS list.

Could anyone recommend a decent and trustworthy classic car company that collects/ transports/ delivers cars within the UK?

Many thanks

[mike.perry]

Just dispached a 9.5kg parcel to Canada. The cheapest I could find was £80 by post office submarine. It might arrive some time this century
You could try pushing it down the road for a mile then breaking down

[Tea]

Hahaha, I had considered that Sadly, working 7 days a week most weeks allows little time for the 500 mile round trip...

[C6Dave]

Where are you based and were is the car going to/coming from?

It will help as members may have local knowledge

[autolycus]

One of the problems you're up against these days is that various changes in regulations have driven out many of the one-man businesses, run by enthusiasts, that concentrated on classic car moving. I used to do it - but I only ever wanted to do one job every week or two, so every job was something special for me as well as the owner. Then insurance started getting ridiculously difficult - not just "goods in transit", which would cover the car I was carrying, but even the essential cover for my towing Range Rover - "use for hire or reward". Then they tightened up the tachograph rules. You thought they only applied to lorries and coaches? No, a Rangey with a car trailer needs one if it's used commercially. Try finding a tacho centre that has one that will fit, then ask them how much the annual calibration will cost. And now they've brought one-man-and-his-dog businesses under the Operator Licensing regime, so I'd have to go on courses, and, of course, pay through the nose. Let's have a round of applause for all Europhiles.

Hire a trailer and tow it yourself? Difficult to find anything to legally tow a car trailer with, and if you're younger than your thirties, your licence won't cover towing.

I've still got my Rangey and trailer, but I can't advertise, and can only do the odd job for anyone else if a) I'm prepared to take the risk of having to pay for the customer's car being written off in an accident, and b) I could come up with a really convincing story that I was helping a mate, if I got tugged.

It's not going to be cheap for the job in question. Even if the transport man is based close to one end of the journey, you're probably looking at £300-£400 - more if it's a slow journey and needs an overnight stay.

Kevin

[bmcecosse]

From where is the car to be collected - and where to be delivered? It would need to be something pretty 'special' to make the cost worthwhile. If the car is a runner - just go by train and drive back - with recovery of course....... RH insurance include that foc in the classic car policy.

[Tea]

Ah, It may be worth trying to take a couple days holiday then.

The car is North Norfolk and to be taken to Bournemouth.

So far it looks more cost effective to take a days unpaid leave.

Thanks for the advice

[bmcecosse]

Or get a friend/relative to go get it for you! Or even better - get the vendor to deliver it to you - or even meet you half way one evening at a railway station mid way between........

[Jefftav]

Retro rides has a pony express section which might be worth trying or shiply.com seems to be quite popular?
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi

[ASL642]

I Know people who have used Shiply.com. They collected the vehicle and delivered it intact. They were very easy to use.

[POMMReg]

In the same boat transportation wise.....

Need a van taking to Essex + another brought back to Glos!

Both my usual contacts have sold their trailers!

Chris

[charlie_morris_minor]

i can recommend these guys

http://www.abtrailers.co.uk/

I have used the guys to move my traveller twice and have been very happy with their timekeeping and general helpfulness.

they are based in Aldershot so just off the M3 so they are not going miles out of their way to get on and off the delivery route ( if that makes sense )

[POMMReg]

Sadly,not much good as my towing vehicle is in Glos!

Really need a trailer asap!

[autolycus]

I Know people who have used Shiply.com. They collected the vehicle and delivered it intact. They were very easy to use.

shiply.com isn't a "they". It's just a way of getting quotes from firms who subscribe to their service, so there's no guarantee that the lot who provide superb (or dreadful) service to one person will be the ones you entrust your car to.

I once sold an MG YB, and the buyer sent a much-advertised transport firm to collect it. They turned up in a battered old Transit flatbed, crudely extended to provide a semi-beaver-tail extending a hell of a distance beyond its back axle. As he prepared to drive the car up the home-made ramp, supported by a lump of wood wedged in place, I remarked that the ramp appeared rather buckled. "Ah, yes", he said, "I loaded a Silver Shadow on here last week and it bent the ramp. Then I had to take the front bumper off it to get it on far enough".

They don't all wear Stetsons.

Kevin

[BigDawgV8]

Hi,

For any car moving services I can heartily recommend Reading based Scottie at;-

http://www.movinghotrods.co.uk

He has collected 2 Minors for me and I know that he has helped others on here.

Very friendly and reliable service.

[POMMReg]

Might be worth a call!

Certainly wouldn't want to use anyone who has little regard for battered old vans!

Worry me to death thinking what they'll make of the yale locks!