Shipping a Car That Will Not Start

Define the condition precisely

In dispatch terms, an inoperable vehicle is one that cannot move under its own power, but the details matter enormously. A car that rolls, steers and brakes can be winched onto a deck in minutes. A car with seized brakes, a locked steering column or missing wheels needs different equipment and sometimes a different truck entirely.

Why disclosure protects you

If a driver arrives expecting a running car and finds one that will not roll, the load can be refused at the door and the whole booking restarts. Telling us the exact condition up front means the vehicle is posted to carriers with winch-equipped trucks, priced correctly the first time, and picked up on schedule.

The surcharge for non-running vehicles typically runs one hundred to two hundred dollars over the standard rate. It reflects the equipment and the extra loading time, and it is far cheaper than a failed pickup.

What to prepare

Air the tires if they hold pressure, clear the path so a winch cable can reach, disconnect any alarm that fires when the battery is jumped, and have keys available even if the car will not start.

• Tell us whether it rolls, steers and brakes
• Note missing wheels, seized brakes or a locked column
• Ensure a flat, accessible loading area
• Keys available for steering and gear selection