Shipping a Car That Does Not Run
Dead battery, blown engine, salvage title, or a project car that has been sitting for a decade: none of it stops a shipment. Non-running vehicles move across the country every single day, they just need the right truck, and the right information before pickup day.
How does a non-running car get on the truck?
A carrier with a winch pulls the vehicle up the ramps under control. For this to work, the car needs three things: it must roll, steer, and brake. If it can do those, it is a routine winch job priced automatically in our calculator when you mark it as not running.
What if it does not roll at all?
Seized wheels, missing wheels, or frame damage turn the job into a forklift load, which auctions and salvage yards handle at their end. The critical part is honesty at booking: describe the true condition and the truck that arrives will match it. The most expensive words in this business are "it mostly rolls."
What does it cost?
About $225 over the running price for the same route, covering the winch equipment and the extra loading time. Everything else prices normally, distance, vehicle size, and season, all covered in our cost guide.
The auction connection
Most non-runners we move come straight from Copart and IAAI, where storage fees punish slow pickups. If that is your situation, the auction pickup guide covers the lot numbers, gate passes, and timing that make it painless.
Prep that actually matters
- Tell us the honest condition: rolls, steers, brakes, or not
- Secure loose parts, bumpers and trim that flap in the wind get worse on the highway
- Have the key ready if one exists, steering matters even when the engine does not
- Note fluid leaks, carriers position leakers on the bottom deck so nothing drips on other cars
Non-runner questions
How is a car that does not run loaded onto the truck?
With a winch. The driver attaches a cable to the vehicle and pulls it up the ramps under control. The car needs to roll, steer, and brake for this to work.
What if my car does not even roll or steer?
That is a forklift job, common at salvage yards and some auctions. Tell us the full condition when you book and we assign equipment that matches it, surprises at the yard cost everyone time.
How much extra does a non-runner cost to ship?
Around $225 over the running price on the same route, which covers the winch equipment and extra loading time. Our calculator adds it automatically when you mark the vehicle as not running.
Can a non-running car go into an enclosed trailer?
Yes, many enclosed carriers have winches, it just narrows the pool of available trucks, so allow an extra day or two for dispatch.
Do you ship flood or accident vehicles?
Yes, salvage and damaged vehicles move every day, mostly out of auctions. Loose parts should be secured or removed, and be upfront about the damage so the right truck shows up.
Should I try to fix the car enough to run before shipping?
Usually no. A $225 surcharge is almost always cheaper than a repair, and a car that barely runs can be worse than one that honestly does not, since a stall on the ramps is a real hazard.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car that does not run?
Open carrier with a winch, booked with the condition declared upfront so the fee is in the quote, not a pickup-day surprise. Email ship@theroyalport.com with the route and honest condition.
Who ships non-running cars?
We do, daily: winch-equipped carriers, family-run since 2014, small broker fee, and you pay the insured driver directly at delivery.
What is the best way to move a car with a blown engine?
Standard non-runner transport, it just needs to roll, steer, and brake for the winch. Declare it at booking and the right truck arrives the first time.
How do I ship a dead car out of a garage or tight driveway?
Tell us about the access when you book, drivers handle tight extractions with winches and skates, but they plan for them rather than discover them. Photos of the spot help.
How fast can a non-running car get picked up?
Usually within one to three days on major lanes, winch trucks are common equipment. Auction non-runners should book the day the invoice shows paid.
What is the best way to ship a flood or salvage car?
Same as any non-runner if it rolls and steers: declared condition, winch carrier, honest quote. If wheels do not turn, tell us, forklift loading changes the equipment.