Preparing your vehicle
Transporting a non-running vehicle: what you need to know
5 min read · last updated 2026-08-22
A non-runner is not a problem — an undeclared non-runner is. Loading a vehicle that will not roll, steer or brake needs different equipment, and a transporter who turns up without it loses the day and so do you.
Declare the condition precisely
There is a real difference between 'does not start but rolls and steers', 'no brakes', 'no steering' and 'seized wheels'. Each step up needs more equipment: a winch, then skates, then a specialist recovery unit.
Access and ground conditions
A winch needs a straight, firm pull. Gravel, mud, a garage with a tight approach or a vehicle parked nose-in against a wall all add time and sometimes make collection impossible. Send photographs of the vehicle and its surroundings if you are unsure.
Preparation checklist
- Keys available, even if the vehicle does not start.
- Handbrake off if the vehicle needs to roll; note it if it cannot be released.
- Loose parts, panels and paperwork secured inside the vehicle.
- Wheels attached and inflated where possible, or say clearly that they are not.
- Battery state noted — a jump start may be enough to make it a runner.
When recovery is the better route
If the vehicle has broken down away from home and needs moving now, a roadside recovery operator is the right call rather than a planned transport booking. Planned transport is priced on flexibility; recovery is priced on urgency.
Common questions
- Can a non-runner be moved without keys?
- Sometimes, but it restricts which transporters can take it and usually means specialist equipment. Always state up front whether keys are available.
- Does the vehicle need tax and MOT to be transported?
- No. A vehicle on a transporter is not being driven on the road, which is exactly why transport suits untaxed, un-MOT'd and unregistered vehicles.
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