Car Transport Cost UK 2026
Moving a car by transporter costs £150–£600 in 2026, depending on distance, vehicle and how flexible your dates are. Per mile that works out at £0.90–£3.00 — and the rate falls sharply with distance, from £2.00–£3.00 a mile under 50 miles to £0.90–£1.30 over 150 miles. A typical 200-mile move such as London to Manchester runs £250–£370.
Why the per-mile rate falls with distance
Short moves are expensive per mile because the fixed costs — getting the transporter to you, loading, securing, unloading — are the same whether the journey is 20 miles or 200. Under 50 miles expect £1.50–£3.00 a mile; between 50 and 150 miles, £1.30–£2.00; and above 150 miles it drops to £0.90–£1.30.
In absolute terms the working range is £150–£600. The commonly quoted benchmark is a 200-mile move for a standard roadworthy car with flexible collection dates, at £250–£370.
Flexibility is the biggest discount available. Transporters fill return legs and combine loads; if you can accept a collection window of several days rather than a fixed morning, you are buying spare capacity rather than a dedicated run, and the difference is substantial.
Transport costs by journey
Sources: Airtasker UK 2026 car transport cost data, UK Vehicle Delivery, CDS Car Movements, DeliverMyMotor and VanBoys 2026 pricing guides.
What moves the quote
Vehicle size and weight. SUVs, vans and pickups take more space on a multi-car transporter, so fewer vehicles fit on the same run and each costs more to move.
Running or not. A non-runner needs winching and specialist handling. Say so when quoting — a driver arriving expecting to drive the car onto the deck and finding it will not start is a wasted journey you may be charged for.
Open versus enclosed. Open transporters are standard. Enclosed is materially dearer and is for classics, supercars and freshly restored paint where road grit and weather matter.
Access at both ends. A large transporter cannot get down a narrow lane or into a tight car park. If either end is awkward, expect either a smaller vehicle at higher cost or a meeting point nearby.
Transport, recovery and where insurance sits
An important distinction. Pay-per-use recovery — calling someone out to move a broken-down car on the day — is an ordinary commercial service and is what this page covers. Breakdown cover is a subscription insurance product, FCA-regulated, and if you already hold it a recovery may be included at no extra cost. Check your policy before paying for a one-off recovery; see our breakdown cover guide for what that market charges.
The car is insured by the transporter while in transit, under their goods-in-transit or motor trade policy — not by you. Ask to see evidence of it and confirm the sum insured is adequate for your vehicle, particularly for anything valuable. A cut-price operator without proper cover is a serious risk on a car worth thousands.
Photograph the car thoroughly before collection and immediately on delivery, including wheels, sills and roof. Transit damage is uncommon but disputes about pre-existing marks are not, and dated photographs settle them. And note that a vehicle being transported does not need to be taxed or MOT'd — which is precisely why transport is the correct route for a car that cannot legally be driven.
Car transport — common questions
£150–£600 in 2026 depending on distance, vehicle and flexibility. Per mile that is £0.90–£3.00, with short journeys costing the most per mile. A 200-mile move such as London to Manchester typically costs £250–£370 with flexible collection dates.
Because the fixed costs — travelling to you, loading, securing and unloading — are the same regardless of distance. Under 50 miles the rate is £1.50–£3.00 a mile; over 150 miles it falls to £0.90–£1.30 as those fixed costs spread across more miles.
Yes, but tell the company when you book. A non-runner needs winching onto the transporter and specialist handling, which costs more. A driver arriving expecting to drive the vehicle onto the deck and finding it will not start is a wasted journey, and you may well be charged for it.
By the transport company, under their goods-in-transit or motor trade policy — not by your own motor insurance. Ask for evidence of cover and check the sum insured is adequate for your vehicle before booking, especially for anything valuable. This is the main reason not to choose purely on price.
No. A vehicle carried on a transporter is not being driven on the road, so it needs neither. That is exactly why transport is the right answer for a car that has failed its MOT, been declared SORN, or is otherwise not legal to drive to its destination.
No. Pay-per-use recovery is a one-off commercial service, which is what this page prices. Breakdown cover is a subscription insurance product and is FCA-regulated — and if you hold it, recovery may already be included. Always check your existing cover before paying separately for a one-off recovery.
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