Transport for a car that will not start in Ibiza

A car that will not start is not always broken — sometimes it has simply stood too long. Either way, the only way to move it is to load it. We transport non-running vehicles across Ibiza, including those that will not roll, those with seized brakes, and those that have sat in a garage for years.

In Ibiza the timescale is set by the ship, not the road. The land legs can be done in a day, but the crossing and the loading formalities impose their own calendar, especially in peak season when space is scarce.

Ibiza: how the area shapes the job

Ibiza is a regular destination for our work, and it comes with conditions of its own. Ibiza's pronounced seasonality concentrates vehicle moves around the start and end of the season. Ferry capacity tightens in peak months, so sailings are worth booking well ahead.

The streets of Dalt Vila and the old town are exceptionally narrow.

The legal position: when transport stops being optional

Driving without a current ITV carries a fine and can result in the vehicle being immobilised under the rules the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) enforces. There is a larger problem behind it: in the event of an accident, your insurer may reduce or refuse cover entirely.

Royal Decree 920/2017 governing the ITV roadworthiness test allows a limited exception for travelling to a booked inspection, but it does not permit normal use of the vehicle. Any other journey requires it to be carried on a transporter.

Recurring moves for the trade

Garages, dealerships and traders move non-runners regularly: part-exchanges, vehicles awaiting repair, cars destined for dismantling. For them the decisive factor is not the one-off price but reliability of timing.

Grouping several vehicles into one job reduces the cost per unit appreciably. Where there is recurring volume, planning moves in batches is almost always more efficient than handling them one at a time.

In Ibiza it makes sense to confirm the sailing date before committing to anything that depends on the vehicle arriving.

Long-term immobilised vehicles

Cars stored for years in garages, on land or in outbuildings usually have the parking brake seized by corrosion. It is the most common complication and the one that most often forces improvisation when it has not been mentioned.

It is also common for the vehicle to be surrounded by stored items or wedged into a space it has not left in a long time. Clearing access before the appointment saves a significant part of the job time.

Transport insurance: the question always worth asking

Before handing keys to anyone, ask one specific question: is the vehicle covered while it sits on the transporter, for how much, and against what. An operator working legally and registered with the Spanish Ministry of Transport can evidence that without difficulty.

The carrier's cover is not the same as your own motor policy. Your insurance covers driving; during transport it is the carrier's goods-in-transit policy that responds. Confusing the two is behind most of the disputes that arise.

Documentation needed for the move

The usual documents are the registration certificate and identification of the keeper, or a signed authorisation. After a recent purchase, the sale contract or receipt is worth bringing too.

A vehicle can be transported even without a valid ITV or insurance, precisely because it travels on a flatbed. What it cannot do is drive itself, and that is the whole reason the service exists.

Transport after a distance purchase

Buying a vehicle in another province without seeing it has become normal, particularly restoration projects and cars sold as non-runners. In those cases transport is the only way to take delivery.

It is worth establishing the real condition with the seller before booking: whether it rolls, whether the steering turns, and exactly where it is parked. An optimistic description over the phone is the most frequent reason a job becomes complicated.

Restoration projects and historic vehicles

A vehicle under restoration may be dismantled, without wheels, without brakes, or even without an engine. Each of those has a solution, but they need different approaches and sometimes specific lifting equipment.

Securing matters especially here. A vehicle with bodywork in progress does not have its usual anchor points available, so where to strap without deforming anything has to be worked out first.

Preparation that saves time on the day

If the vehicle has stood a long time, the state of the tyres tells you a lot. Completely flat tyres, or sidewalls that have deformed, suggest skates will probably be needed.

It is also worth checking whether the car is in neutral, or whether an automatic can be shifted to neutral. On some models without battery power that requires a specific manual procedure, better known in advance.

More on non-runner transport and on the rest of our services. If you would rather we called you, leave your details on the contact page and we will assess your case in Ibiza.

Things to check before booking

A vehicle leaking oil or fuel should be flagged before transport. It does not prevent the move, but it affects where the car sits on the deck and what protection goes underneath it.

Open transporters are the standard option and perfectly safe for most vehicles. Enclosed transport makes sense for classics, high-value cars and anything with very low ground clearance.

Before the truck arrives, take the documentation, spare keys and anything valuable out of the vehicle. It travels unaccompanied, and items left inside are not covered as luggage.

Ask whether the price includes waiting time at loading and unloading. On moves to workshops, dealerships or compounds with slow procedures, that time can stretch, and it is worth knowing in advance how it is counted.

On long moves, asking how many loading and unloading points the truck has helps explain the timescale. A truck making several stops takes longer than a direct run.

If the vehicle contains fuel cans or any flammable material, remove it beforehand. Dangerous goods transport is governed by its own regulations and cannot travel mixed in with the vehicle.

Where a tailgate or bonnet no longer closes properly after an impact, secure it before loading. A tailgate that springs open at eighty kilometres an hour is a genuine hazard to other traffic.

If the vehicle is in an underground car park, check the clearance height first. Many garages cannot take a transporter and the car has to be brought up to street level.

Flag it if the vehicle has stood unused for a long period. Flat tyres, seized brakes or a completely dead battery all change how it has to be loaded.

Make sure the alarm is disabled, or that the driver knows how to disable it. An alarm going off in transit means stopping and complicates the job for no reason.

Have the vehicle and ownership documents ready. On moves ending at a port terminal or crossing a border, that paperwork matters as much as the vehicle itself.

Photograph the vehicle before loading, including all four corners, the roof and underneath if you can. It takes two minutes and settles any later disagreement about a scratch.

On classic vehicles with carburettors or older systems, say whether the engine needs any particular starting procedure. If it has to be moved even a few metres, that information saves time.

If the vehicle has been in an accident, say what is damaged and whether the wheels still turn. A vehicle that will not roll needs a winch and sometimes dollies.

If the move is a private sale, coordinate payment and key handover clearly. The carrier moves the vehicle; it takes no part in the transaction.

Bear in mind that in peak periods — summer, or the start and end of the season — lead times stretch. Booking ahead is the simple way around it.

For vehicles with bulky modifications or accessories — roof racks, bike carriers, bull bars — mention them. They can affect the overall height of the loaded truck and whether it clears certain access points.

Before confirming, check the quote is fixed rather than an estimate subject to surcharges. Extras for difficult access or a non-rolling vehicle should be clear from the outset.

If you will not be present at collection or delivery, put in writing who hands over and who receives the keys, with a phone number. This is the single most common cause of avoidable delay.

If the destination is an ITV test station, confirm you have a booked appointment and the time. Matching the vehicle's arrival to the appointment slot avoids long waits and a second visit.

Moving several vehicles together usually works out considerably cheaper per unit than separate jobs. If you have more than one to move, it is worth quoting them as one.

Realistic timescales depend on distance and route, not optimism. A company that promises any deadline without asking where the vehicle is probably will not meet it.

Leave the fuel tank low, around a quarter. It reduces weight, follows standard transport practice, and there is nothing to gain from a full tank during the journey.

If the vehicle will sit on a public street waiting for collection, check there are no timed restrictions or scheduled clearing on that road. A car towed by the local authority while waiting for transport complicates matters considerably and adds costs nobody planned for.

Check whether your own policy covers the vehicle while it sits at a third-party workshop or compound. It is a frequent gap between the end of transport and the start of repair, and worth clarifying.

An accessible collection point saves both time and money. If the street is narrow or the garage has restricted headroom, agreeing a nearby spot where the truck can manoeuvre simplifies everything.

Agree who signs for the vehicle at the destination. If it arrives at a closed workshop or an address where nobody is present, the driver cannot simply leave it, and waiting time or a second attempt both cost money.

On moves crossing several autonomous communities, bear in mind that heavy vehicle driving restrictions vary at weekends and on public holidays. That can affect the specific delivery day.

Check the handbrake works and that the vehicle can be secured on the deck. If it cannot, there are solutions, but it is better known in advance.

In summary

In short: in Ibiza what makes the difference is a realistic timescale, a fixed price with no extras, and a move documented from start to finish. That is exactly what we provide, at any hour.