Non-runner transport in Palma de Mallorca

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

In Palma de Mallorca the timescale is set by the ship, not the road. The land legs can be done in a day, but the crossing and the loading formalities impose their own calendar, especially in peak season when space is scarce.

What makes Palma de Mallorca different

It helps to set the context before going into detail. Every vehicle move between Mallorca and the mainland goes by ship, which adds sailing schedules and specific paperwork. Tourist seasonality drives summer demand sharply upward and ferry space gets tight.

The Tramuntana range has narrow mountain roads that require a suitably sized recovery vehicle. There is more background on the city in its Wikipedia entry.

The legal position: when transport stops being optional

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.

Moving a car that has not run in 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.

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.

In Palma de Mallorca it makes sense to confirm the sailing date before committing to anything that depends on the vehicle arriving.

Transport insurance: the question always worth asking

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.

What determines the price for this kind of move

On top of distance, the price for a non-runner depends mainly on two things: whether it rolls, and how accessible the collection point is. A car that rolls, parked outside the house, is the cheapest scenario.

The other extreme is a vehicle with locked wheels in an underground garage or at the back of a rural property, which needs more time and more equipment. That belongs in the quote from the start, not at the end.

Documentation needed for the move

Moving a vehicle requires evidence of who the registered keeper is, or written authorisation from them. On non-runners, which often change hands, this is the point that most frequently causes delay.

If the vehicle is in a compound, a scrapyard or third-party premises, it is worth confirming in advance what documentation that specific location requires to release it.

The key question: does it roll?

A car that will not start is not necessarily a car that will not roll. They are different things and the distinction matters: a vehicle with no engine but free wheels loads almost like a running one.

The difficult case is a handbrake seized after months standing, very common in vehicles that have sat through a winter. It is solvable, but far better known before the truck arrives.

Garages, scrapyards and fleet management

Garages, dealerships and traders move non-runners regularly: part-exchanges, vehicles awaiting repair, cars destined for dismantling. For them the decisive factor is not the one-off price but reliability of timing.

Grouping several vehicles into one job reduces the cost per unit appreciably. Where there is recurring volume, planning moves in batches is almost always more efficient than handling them one at a time.

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 Palma de Mallorca.

Details worth keeping in mind

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Flag it if the vehicle has stood unused for a long period. Flat tyres, seized brakes or a completely dead battery all change how it has to be loaded.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In summary

Car Transport 247 works across Palma de Mallorca 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.