Frequently Asked Questions

At TheCARS - The Complete Automotive Relocation Service, based in the West Midlands, UK, we provide nationwide coverage with our team of trade plate drivers. A trade plate driver, also known as a professional driver, transports cars or vans from one location to another for various jobs. 

Many of our drivers are experienced professionals who have been delivering vehicles for years. Utilising trade plate drivers can be a cost-effective solution, often saving you up to 50% compared to traditional car transporters. Our fully insured drivers perform a pre-delivery inspection before driving your vehicle to its destination, where a post-delivery inspection and handover take place. Trade plates also allow for the delivery of untaxed or unregistered vehicles.

We work with numerous dealerships across the country and have occasionally been requested to perform urgent deliveries. In such cases, we have quoted, collected, and delivered vehicles all within the same morning, afternoon, or evening.

Typically, the time it takes to generate a quote ranges from 15 minutes to 1 hour, and it rarely exceeds this timeframe. If your quote request is received in the morning and the pickup location is within an hour's drive, with a transportation distance of 2 to 3 hours, we can usually arrange for same-day delivery.

However, if the collection is from an auction house, it may be necessary to schedule the collection for the following day, as they often require bookings a day in advance.

If you have any further questions or need clarification, please feel free to reach out.

The cost of transporting a car in the UK varies based on several factors, including the size of the vehicle and the complexity of the route. Below are the typical rates:

• Small Car: £1.50 per mile for easy routes, £2.00 per mile for difficult routes.

• Medium Car: £2.00 per mile for easy routes, £2.50 per mile for difficult routes.

• Large Car: £2.00 per mile for easy routes, £3.00 per mile for difficult routes.

• Extra Large Car: £3.00 per mile for easy routes, £4.00 per mile for difficult routes.

• Commercial Small Vehicle: £2.00 per mile for easy routes, £3.00 per mile for difficult routes.

• Commercial Large Vehicle: £2.50 per mile for easy routes, £3.50 per mile for difficult routes.

• Electric Vehicles: £2.00 per mile for easy routes, £4.00 per mile for difficult routes.

Typical Cost Examples

To give you a clearer idea of costs, here are typical examples for a 75-mile transport job:

1. Easy Route for a Medium Car:

1. Rate: £2.00 per mile

1. Calculation: 75 miles x £2.00/mile = £150

2. Difficult Route for a Medium Car:

2. Rate: £2.50 per mile

2. Calculation: 75 miles x £2.50/mile = £187.50

3. Medium Car Job Requiring Overnight Stay:

3. Route: Difficult

3. Base Rate: £2.50 per mile

3. Calculation: 75 miles x £2.50/mile = £187.50

3. Additional Overnight Hotel Cost: Approximately £80

3. Total Cost: £187.50 + £80 = £267.50

Factors Affecting Price

Several factors can influence the overall cost, including:

1. Transport Links: Accessibility to the pickup and drop-off locations for the driver can affect pricing.

2. Road Conditions: The type of roads the vehicle must travel on (e.g., country lanes) may increase the risk of damage, which can impact pricing.

3. Job Duration: If a job requires more than one day to complete, additional costs may apply for overnight accommodations for the driver, typically ranging from £60 to £100.

In some cases, drivers can collect a vehicle late today for an early delivery tomorrow while staying at their own home overnight. This arrangement, known as a “carry over,” does not incur any additional charges.

If you have specific requirements or need a detailed quote, please reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to assist you!

Once you have accepted our quote for the transportation of your vehicle, we will issue an invoice, typically requesting payment within 48 hours of the scheduled collection date. However, for urgent jobs, we will invoice you immediately and will only proceed with scheduling the collection once the payment has been processed.

We accept various payment methods, including bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and credit or debit cards. A payment link will be included in the email alongside your invoice for your convenience.

If you have any further questions regarding the payment process, please do not hesitate to ask.

No, we do not limit ourselves to driven transportation alone. We work in collaboration with a diverse network of transport companies to provide both single and multi-vehicle transporter truck services. We invite you to request a quote, and please be assured that we will oversee the entire process, ensuring you have complete peace of mind throughout.

We serve all regions of England, Wales, and Scotland, and we frequently travel between these areas to meet our clients' needs.

Absolutely! We take safety and professionalism very seriously. All of our drivers are fully licensed and insured for up to £75,000 per vehicle, and we also maintain a £1 million public liability policy for your added peace of mind. Our drivers are all over the age of 30 and have a minimum of 10 years of driving experience. Additionally, none of our drivers have had any penalty points or accidents in the past 10 years. Your safety is our top priority!

Driven (or trade plated) service involves a professional driver, typically a retired individual, arriving at the collection point on schedule to drive your vehicle to its destination. This option is often the most cost-effective for transporting a car. However, it does result in added mileage and wear and tear, and there is a risk of accidents, similar to driving the vehicle yourself. Rest assured, your vehicle is fully insured during the transport process.

Single (open) transport involves placing your vehicle on the back of a truck or trailer without any other vehicles and without a cover. This option is more expensive than having your vehicle driven, but it provides a higher level of safety and prevents additional mileage or wear and tear, aside from exposure to weather conditions and a minimal risk of stone chips. Your vehicle remains fully insured throughout the transport.

Multi-car (open) transport involves delivering your vehicle on a truck that can carry between 2 to 12 vehicles at once. This option can be more cost-effective, but it may lack flexibility if you're only transporting a single vehicle. We typically recommend this service only if you are moving multiple vehicles or if we can provide a significantly lower price. Your vehicle will be safer and will not incur additional mileage or wear and tear, aside from exposure to the weather and a slight risk of stone chips. Rest assured, your vehicle is fully insured during transport.

Your vehicle's safety and reliability are very important to us. We have an AA fleet breakdown recovery policy in place that covers vehicles transported by us. However, please note that this coverage excludes auction purchases, as they are classified as higher risk for breakdowns or malfunctions. This breakdown coverage is an optional add-on, with costs ranging between £0.35 and £1 per mile, depending on the type of vehicle, mileage, and age. We encourage you to consider this option for added peace of mind during transport.

Yes, we do! While we don’t operate storage facilities directly, we have established partnerships that allow us to offer secure storage options for cars and vans. We understand that sometimes you might not be ready to receive your vehicle right away or may be facing time constraints with sellers or auction houses that could incur hefty storage fees. We can accommodate storage on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even annual basis, with regular starts and occasional driving to ensure your vehicle remains in good health. Additionally, if your vehicle requires an MOT while in our care, we can arrange and carry that out for you. Your vehicle will be in safe hands!

Absolutely! We understand how important it is for you to know the status of your vehicle during transport. That’s why we offer live tracking for our trade plate drivers. You’ll be able to see our location while we're en route to collect your vehicle and throughout the entire transit process until it reaches its destination. Your peace of mind is our priority!

Yes, we do! When we collect your vehicle, our team conducts a thorough visual inspection to evaluate its overall condition, including checking essential elements such as water levels and tyre tread levels. We also carry out a detailed damage assessment using our state-of-the-art digital app, which allows us to capture images and accurately pinpoint any areas of concern. This assessment is documented and promptly emailed to you for your records.

Upon delivery, we perform a second inspection to confirm the vehicle's condition, and this appraisal is also sent to you. These comprehensive reports serve as proof of collection and delivery, clearly indicating the times we had custody of your vehicle and the condition it was in when we received and delivered it.

Furthermore, in the unlikely event that any speeding fines or parking charge notices arise while the vehicle is in our care, our geo-location and time-stamped appraisal reports facilitate prompt resolution of any issues. We prioritise  transparency and accountability to ensure your complete satisfaction throughout the transportation process.

You've come to the right place! At TheCARS - The Complete Automotive Relocation Service, based in Birmingham, West Midlands, we offer nationwide coverage for vehicle transportation. 

You don’t need to search elsewhere or waste time calling around for the best price. Simply fill out our Instant Quote form, and we will provide you with a competitive quote that is often lower than what you’ll find anywhere else.

If you require a specialist movement or need to transport multiple vehicles, feel free to give us a call for personalised  assistance.