Non-runner transport in Vigo

Purchases in another province, restoration projects, inherited cars that have sat in a barn for a decade — all share the same practical problem. We move non-runners in Vigo with a fixed quote, and tell you up front what we need to know so the truck arrives properly equipped.

Port activity in Vigo means a constant flow of vehicles entering and leaving the country. Plenty of moves therefore carry import or export documentation, and a paperwork error can immobilise a vehicle for longer than any mechanical fault.

Vigo: how the area shapes the job

It helps to set the context before going into detail. Vigo hosts one of Spain's largest car manufacturing plants, and its port is a European reference point for finished-vehicle export. There is a sharp height difference between the port and the upper districts, with genuinely steep streets in between.

The AP-9 links the Galician Atlantic axis and is the main route for moves towards A Coruña or the Portuguese border. There is more background on the city in its Wikipedia entry.

Before the truck arrives

Four things are worth doing beforehand: check the handbrake is not seized, clear access around the vehicle, find the keys even if it will not start, and take belongings out of the interior.

Keys matter even on a car that will not start, because they release the steering lock and allow an automatic gearbox to come out of park. Without them, loading becomes considerably harder.

What paperwork is required

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.

In Vigo it is worth distinguishing a door-to-door move from one ending inside the port area: access requirements and waiting times are nothing alike.

What counts as a non-running vehicle

A vehicle is described as a non-runner when it cannot move by itself, whatever the cause — mechanical, electrical, or simply the result of long immobility.

It is worth being precise about the condition when requesting a quote, because a car that rolls and can be pushed is not the same as one with locked wheels. That difference determines the equipment needed and therefore the price.

What the law says about moving a vehicle that cannot be driven

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.

When the car is in a basement

Difficult collections are usually difficult because of access, not the vehicle. Warehouses with narrow doors, interior courtyards, rural properties down dirt tracks and communal garages with steep ramps are the recurring cases.

In all of them the answer is the same: know in advance. With the right information the correct equipment is sent and, if necessary, the vehicle is brought out to a nearby accessible point first.

How your vehicle is covered while it is being moved

A properly run move records the vehicle's condition before loading, normally photographically, and records it again at delivery. That evidence is what settles any later disagreement quickly.

It is worth confirming the company holds the relevant transport authorisation with the Spanish Ministry of Transport and a current policy. That is the difference between a professional service and someone with a hired trailer.

Cars that have stood for years

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.

Recurring moves for the trade

For a workshop, a vehicle that does not arrive when expected disrupts the whole day's schedule. That is why predictability outweighs every other variable in trade work.

For moves to authorised treatment facilities, having the deregistration paperwork sorted before transport prevents the delivery stalling halfway.

There is more detail on non-runner transport, the full list on our services page, and you can reach us through contact for an assessment of your situation in Vigo.

Things to check before booking

Get the name and number of the driver handling the job, or at least a direct operational contact. On the day, being able to resolve a question in two minutes prevents an hour of waiting.

Battery condition matters even for a transport job. If the vehicle has to move a few metres under its own power to get out of a garage or a parking bay, a live battery saves time and avoids resorting to auxiliary equipment.

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.

If the vehicle has any quirk — lowered suspension, an automatic gearbox locked in park, a flat battery — mention it when requesting the quote so the right equipment turns up.

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

If the collection is from a building with a communal garage, tell the manager or concierge. A transporter manoeuvring on a shared ramp without warning creates avoidable friction with neighbours.

On keyless-start vehicles, remember the fob must travel with you or be handed over at the destination, but never left inside the car in transit. It is a more common oversight than you would think and leaves the vehicle locked on arrival.

If you need the vehicle by a fixed, immovable date, say so when booking rather than afterwards. With enough notice it can almost always be accommodated; with twenty-four hours, often not.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Know where the spare wheel and tools are if the vehicle carries them. On long moves, a loose item in the boot shifts during the journey and can damage the interior or the trim.

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.

Check the overall height if the vehicle is a van, a camper or a 4x4 with roof accessories. The vehicle's height plus the deck height determines what the loaded truck can pass under.

If you are selling the vehicle and the buyer arranges transport, put in writing when responsibility passes. It is normally at key handover, but both parties benefit from having it stated.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In low-emission zones, verify whether the transport truck can enter during the planned time window. Many restrictions apply to heavy vehicles even where the car being carried would itself be allowed through.

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.

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.

In summary

Car Transport 247 works across Vigo and the whole of Spain, 24 hours a day, with goods-in-transit cover for the journey and the price fixed before we start. Tell us your situation and we will give you an honest answer on how it works and what it costs.