Damaged vehicle transport in Girona

A vehicle that has taken an impact can look driveable without being so — misaligned steering, a compromised brake circuit or a deformed structure do not always show. That is why flatbed transport is the only sensible option. We work across Girona recovering damaged vehicles with winch, skates and a photographic record taken before anything moves.

In Girona it is routine to move vehicles that are crossing into another country or have just entered Spain. It pays to confirm before loading that the plates, ownership and insurance all match what is actually being done.

Moving a vehicle in Girona: what to know

International vehicle traffic on the AP-7 runs steadily all year round. The Barri Vell has very narrow medieval streets, some with steps.

Girona sits a short distance from La Jonquera, the main land border crossing into France. For general background on the area, the Girona entry on Wikipedia covers the basics.

Write-offs and where the vehicle goes

Being written off does not always mean the car is destroyed — sometimes the vehicle is simply old enough that a moderate repair exceeds its market value. In some cases the owner can retain it, and then the destination changes.

Either way, moving it requires a flatbed. A car awaiting deregistration or carrying structural damage is not in a condition to be driven.

Transport and the insurance claim

Your insurer needs to assess the vehicle, which means it has to be somewhere the assessor can reach. Moving it to the designated garage or an agreed compound is part of the process, and worth coordinating so that storage days do not pile up unnecessarily.

Keeping the transport documentation is useful: it evidences when the vehicle was moved and in what state, which can matter if there is later disagreement about the extent of the damage.

The border crossing near Girona can build up queues at certain times of year, which is worth factoring into any deadline.

Documenting condition before loading

On an already damaged vehicle, distinguishing pre-existing damage from transport damage would be impossible without a record. That is why the vehicle is photographed from several angles before loading and the condition noted on the job sheet.

The record protects both sides. It evidences the state at handover for the owner, and it defines clearly for the carrier what damage existed before anyone touched the vehicle.

The legal position: when transport stops being optional

A vehicle without a valid ITV, without insurance, or on temporary deregistration cannot legally be driven on public roads. The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) is unambiguous here, and the penalty falls on the registered keeper. Moving it by truck is not a matter of preference — it is the only lawful option.

Royal Decree 920/2017 governing the ITV roadworthiness test sets out the narrow circumstances in which a vehicle may travel to a test station, and outside that specific case driving it is prohibited. That distinction is worth understanding before assuming you can drive to the garage.

Vehicles taken to a municipal compound

When a damaged vehicle is taken to a compound, every day of storage adds cost. Getting it out promptly is almost always the economically sensible move, and doing so requires the owner's documentation and often specific authorisation.

If the vehicle is not roadworthy — and after an accident it rarely is — it has to leave the compound on a flatbed. It is worth checking the compound's opening hours, which are frequently restricted.

Response times for accident recovery

When the vehicle is obstructing the carriageway, clearance is urgent and treated as such. Once it is somewhere safe or already in a compound, the move can be scheduled with more flexibility, which usually makes it cheaper.

Distinguishing between those two situations when you call helps organise the job properly. A genuine emergency is attended immediately; a scheduled move allows the route and the cost to be optimised.

Cover and liability during transport

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.

When the damaged car is something special

Sports cars and classics usually sit low, which complicates loading even undamaged. With deformed bodywork, the approach has to be worked out before attempting to get the car onto the deck.

Enclosed transport makes sense here for more than appearance: it shields bodywork whose paint or seals may have been compromised by the impact from the weather.

More on accident vehicle recovery 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 Girona.

Details worth keeping in mind

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

On vehicles with large-diameter wheels and low-profile tyres, the approach to the ramps needs more care. It is worth mentioning so the right angle is prepared and the tyre or rim is not scuffed.

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.

Before collection, check no personal documents are left in the glovebox. It is where forgotten paperwork most often turns up, and some of it contains details you would not want travelling unsupervised.

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.

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.

If the move includes a sea crossing, check what documentation the ferry operator requires for the vehicle. The registration document and owner details are usually needed, and a missing paper means missing the sailing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Always ask whether the price covers collection and delivery at the points you need, or refers to a terminal-to-terminal move. The difference in cost and convenience is considerable.

In summary

Car Transport 247 works across Girona 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.