Moving a non-running car in Bilbao

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 Bilbao with a fixed quote, and tell you up front what we need to know so the truck arrives properly equipped.

In Bilbao the port sets the rhythm. Ro-ro traffic and vehicle terminals run to time windows, and matching collection or delivery to those windows is half the job. The other half is remembering that port access needs prior accreditation.

What makes Bilbao different

It helps to set the context before going into detail. Bilbao's port runs a regular ferry link to the UK, which produces a steady flow of foreign-plated vehicles in both directions. The valley terrain and steep gradients in some districts dictate what size of recovery truck can actually reach an address.

It is the Cantabrian coast's natural gateway to the central plateau via the AP-68. There is more background on the city in its Wikipedia entry.

Garages, scrapyards and fleet management

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.

How your vehicle is covered while it is being moved

Cover is the detail most often skipped when booking a move. It is not enough for a company to say it is insured — the scope matters, and it should appear on the job documentation alongside the vehicle's condition at the point of loading.

Road haulage is a regulated activity requiring authorisation, overseen by the Spanish Ministry of Transport. An informal operator without authorisation or a transit policy simply shifts the whole risk onto the owner.

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

Preparation that saves time on the day

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 the law says about moving a vehicle that cannot be driven

Spanish law draws a clear line between a vehicle fit for the road and one that is not. Where the ITV has lapsed, insurance has ended, or the vehicle is on temporary deregistration, driving it stops being legal and the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) can penalise it.

Beyond Royal Decree 920/2017 governing the ITV roadworthiness test, road transport of vehicles is subject to operating requirements overseen by the Spanish Ministry of Transport, including transport authorisation and goods-in-transit insurance.

The key question: does it roll?

When arranging transport for a stationary vehicle, the first thing we ask is whether the wheels turn freely, whether the steering moves and whether the handbrake is off. Those three answers determine what equipment is needed.

A vehicle that rolls goes onto the truck by winch without complication. One with locked wheels needs skates — rolling platforms placed under each affected wheel — and that adds time to the job.

Moving a car that has not run in years

A vehicle that has stood for years accumulates specific problems: tyres deflated or flat-spotted from prolonged loading, brakes seized by corrosion, a completely dead battery and, usually, degraded fluids.

None of that prevents transport, but it changes the approach. Deflated tyres can stop the vehicle rolling up the ramps, and that is exactly where skates solve the problem without damaging the wheels.

Transport after a distance purchase

Auction purchases of damaged or seized vehicles usually come with a collection deadline, after which storage charges accrue. Arranging transport in advance avoids that cost.

In a private sale it is worth having the change of ownership and insurance resolved before or immediately after the move. The carrier moves the vehicle but plays no part in those formalities.

Transporting a partly dismantled vehicle

Classic cars under restoration typically travel between specialists — bodywork, paint, trim, mechanicals. That means several moves over the life of the project, and it is worth having a carrier who knows the vehicle.

If the vehicle is partly dismantled, loose parts should be secured or boxed before transport. Anything loose inside the vehicle will move during the journey.

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 Bilbao.

Practical advice for your move

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.

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.

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.

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.

Keep the job reference or delivery note. If you later need to evidence the move to an insurer, a workshop or the authorities, that document proves when and how the vehicle was moved.

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.

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.

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 vehicle is on rural land or at the end of an unsurfaced track, state the distance from the tarmac road. An articulated truck cannot enter every lane, and sometimes the car has to be brought out to a meeting point.

Be wary of quotes well below market rate. In vehicle transport, a low price usually means no goods-in-transit insurance, no operating authorisation, or neither.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Keep the job documentation recording the vehicle's condition. It is the reference point if a question about damage and its timing comes up later.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

In summary

Car Transport 247 works across Bilbao 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.