Storage and Transport
Enclosed Transport, Priced by the Mile
Published rates run from 0.95 to 3.50 pounds a mile for the same service. The spread is not disagreement, it is distance: the rate falls as the journey lengthens.
Quotes for enclosed transport look inconsistent until the structure behind them is visible. Published UK rates run from 0.95 to 3.50 GBP a mile for what sounds like the same service, with short journeys starting from about 150 GBP. The spread is not a disagreement between sources. It is the same pricing model quoted at different distances.
Why the rate falls with distance
Every job carries a fixed component: getting the transporter to the collection point, loading a low car onto a covered trailer, securing it, and returning the vehicle to base afterwards. That work is the same on a 40 mile job and a 400 mile one, so spread across more miles it becomes a smaller share of each.
| Distance | Published rate per mile | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 miles | 2.00 to 3.00 | from about 150, minimum applies |
| Short to medium | 2.00 to 3.50 | varies with access |
| Longer journeys | 0.95 to 1.30 | falls as distance rises |
| General enclosed figure | 1.00 to 1.50 | mid range journeys |
Worked through, the effect is large. A 40 mile move at 2.50 a mile is 100, which the minimum lifts to about 150, so 3.75 a mile in practice. A 400 mile move at 1.15 is 460. Ten times the distance for about 3.1 times the price.
What the enclosed premium buys
Enclosed transport shields a vehicle from weather, road debris and visibility, and covered trailers carry fewer cars than open ones, which is the mechanical reason the rate is higher. For a car of this value the calculation is straightforward: a single stone chip repair on a painted panel costs more than the difference between open and enclosed on most journeys.
Two further factors specifically affect this class of car and both are worth declaring when asking for a quote:
- Ground clearance. A low car needs a low approach angle, which not every trailer has. This is a capability question, not a preference.
- Whether the car runs. A non runner needs winching, which is a different job with a different price.
Transport against driving it there
On a car whose costs are dominated by the calendar, moving it by transporter rather than driving it has an effect that runs in an unexpected direction. Using the cost model calculated elsewhere on this site, the distance based costs of driving are 0.986 a mile in fuel, clutch and brakes.
| Method | Cost | Effect on the car |
|---|---|---|
| Driven, at 0.986 a mile | 394 | 400 miles added to the odometer |
| Transported, at 1.15 a mile | 460 | no miles added |
| Difference | 66 |
The difference is 66, or 16.8 per cent, and against it sits the mileage effect on value. Auction analysis of collector cars found premiums over condition adjusted guide values falling from 88 per cent under 100 miles to 24 per cent between 1,000 and 10,000. On a car where mileage is priced that steeply, 66 to avoid 400 miles is not an indulgence, it is arithmetic.
On a car that is driven normally and valued normally, the same 66 buys nothing at all, and the transporter is a convenience rather than an investment. Which case applies is a question about the specific car, not about transport.
Questions readers ask
How much does enclosed car transport cost?
Published UK rates run about 2.00 to 3.50 GBP a mile on short journeys and 0.95 to 1.30 on long ones, with short local moves starting from about 150 GBP. A general figure of 1.00 to 1.50 a mile covers mid range journeys.
Why do quotes vary so much?
Because the fixed part of the job, getting the transporter there, loading a low car and returning to base, is the same on any distance. Spread over more miles it becomes a smaller share, so the rate per mile falls as the journey lengthens.
What does a typical journey cost?
A 40 mile move at 2.50 a mile is 100, lifted to about 150 by the minimum charge, which is 3.75 a mile in practice. A 400 mile move at 1.15 a mile is 460, so ten times the distance for about 3.1 times the price.
Is enclosed worth the premium over open?
On a car of this value, usually. Enclosed transport shields from weather, debris and visibility, and covered trailers carry fewer cars. A single stone chip repair on a painted panel costs more than the difference on most journeys.
Is transporting cheaper than driving?
No, but the gap is smaller than expected. A 400 mile journey costs about 394 driven at 0.986 a mile in fuel, clutch and brakes, against 460 transported at 1.15, a difference of 66 or 16.8 per cent.
When is that 66 worth paying?
On a car where mileage is priced steeply. Auction analysis found premiums falling from 88 per cent over guide value under 100 miles to 24 per cent between 1,000 and 10,000. On a car driven and valued normally, the same 66 buys convenience and nothing more.
Sources
- UK Vehicle Delivery, car transport costs per mile, for the 2.00 to 3.00 GBP rate under 50 miles, the fall to 0.95 to 1.30 on longer journeys and the minimum charge.
- DMT Car Transport, car transport cost guide, for the enclosed range of 1.00 to 1.50 GBP a mile, the reason covered trailers cost more and the handling requirements for low and non running cars.
- Hagerty, premium for a low mileage collector car, published 11 October 2017, for the auction premiums by mileage band used in the comparison against driving.