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Current Location

Millions of people use Shiply

Car transporter vs carrier hire

If you're looking for a way to transport your car, you have several options. You could pay a carrier, hire a trailer or rent a car transporter.

As well as the obvious cash saving and convenience, there can be other advantages in using a car transporter over a carrier.

If you're purchasing your car over the internet, paying a carrier to collect it for you means that you miss out on the chance to inspect the car yourself before taking it away. However, using a car transporter means you get the opportunity to check your car before paying.

Also, you can move the car at a time that is convenient to you. If you choose a carrier, you will have to wait until that company has one of their transporters in the area to collect your car. This could mean a delay of days or even weeks.

Lastly, with a carrier, how do you know that your car will be taken care of and will arrive at its destination in the same state it left in?

Worker with a car transporter for hire

Car transporter vs trailer hire

Driving a car transporter is similar to driving a big van. When fully loaded, its overall length is on average around seven metres, whereas the combined length of car and trailer can be up to nine metres. The extra length could cause problems in areas with restricted access.

It's not just the length of a car and fully loaded trailer that could cause you problems. The weight could be an issue also. Even if you have a towbar fitted to your car, there are legal limits as to how much weight you can tow. For example, a decent sized saloon car can typically tow up to a total of 1,800 kg. If your trailer weighs 800 kg, this means you can only carry one tonne.

Even if you have a bigger car, such as a Land Rover, which can legally tow two tonnes, you may not be legally allowed to tow with it. With a standard class B driving licence, the maximum total weight of the towing vehicle, trailer and load can not exceed 3,500 kg. If it does exceed this weight, you need to pass a class C driving licence test, unless you passed your test before January 1997.

The additional length and weight of a fully loaded trailer will mean that you are limited to how fast you can drive. Depending on the distance you have to travel, this could add a significant amount of time on to your journey.

Added to that, if you don't have a legal number plate on the back of the trailer, you could end up with a fixed penalty ticket.

So which option is best for transporting your car? Quite simply, car transporter hire is less costly, more convenient, easier, and takes less time than using either a carrier or a trailer.

Millions of people use Shiply

Fast and Easy

Fast and Easy

Complete one simple form and quotes come to you via email. Hassle-free, no phone calls required.

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Trustworthy

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Great Prices

Great Prices

As Shiply's delivery companies are already making similar trips, quotes are up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.

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Helpful

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shiply Cover My Area?

Yes! There are couriers using Shiply all over the country and abroad, so whether you need to move a sofa across town or send a car across Europe, we have got you covered.

Does Shiply Have Different Sized Vehicles?

There are thousands of couriers on Shiply, with a wide range of vehicle sizes capable of handling any delivery. Providing the rough dimensions (and pictures if possible) on your listing will allow the delivery company to get the right vehicle sent out to you.

How Can I Contact Shiply Support?

Shiply Support is available from 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday. You can send an email to .

Who Will Carry Out My Delivery?

Whoever you choose! There are thousands of rated transport providers on our platform ready to make a bid to carry out your delivery. It is up to you to decide which quote to accept.

When Will I Receive A Quote?

You will typically start to receive quotes within 30 minutes. If you are worried about the lack of quotes, try adding some more detail to your listing as transport providers may be unsure of dimensions or weight and feel unable to provide an accurate quote. If your delivery is urgent, you can try our 'featured delivery' feature which moves your listing to the top of the search page for couriers.

How Many Quotes Will I Receive?

Whilst there is no guarantee of quotes, 98% of our listings receive at least 3 quotes, so you are likely to find someone who can undertake the delivery of your items.

Does Shiply Provide Packing Materials?

If your item requires packing materials or extra care then you should make sure this is highlighted in your listing and discussed with any transport provider whose quote you are considering. Couriers on Shiply are able to provide all levels of service and can help pack your items, just ensure you inform them of your needs.

Will My Goods Be Tied Up Securely?

Transport providers will almost always tie up an item in the transport vehicle, as the risk of damage from moving around during transit is high. You should always confirm safety precautions and packing needs with transport providers before accepting a quote.

Can Items Be Taken Upstairs?

Yes, items can be taken upstairs if needed, and can also be assembled. Transport providers on Shiply are happy to provide these services, but you should ensure that you are mentioning these requirements in your listings as it may mean a second person is required for the move.

Can I Travel With My Goods?

The majority of transport providers on Shiply are only insured for the transportation of goods, however, some are also able to take people. If you need to travel with your goods, make sure to mention this in your listing and highlight this to any courier who quotes on your listing.

What If I Need To Cancel My Booking?

If you have accepted a quote and paid the deposit but wish to cancel the delivery, then you should first inform your chosen transport provider that you no longer require the delivery. You should then contact us at to have your deposit refunded.

Can I Change The Address Of The Delivery?

If you have not yet accepted a quote then you are able to change the address of your listing. Note that editing details of your listing after publishing will result in active quotes being voided, so you will have to wait for new quotes to come in. If you have already accepted a quote and need to change the address, please let your transport provider know and contact us at .

How Shiply works

How Shiply Works

How Shiply Works

  • 1

    Request quotes from our 459,219 rated transport providers.

  • 2

    Compare prices and read previous customer feedback to pick the right delivery quote for you.

  • 3

    Sit back and relax while your item is safely delivered by your chosen transport provider.

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How Shiply Helps The Environment

By utilising spare capacity of vehicles running on the road, Shiply helps reduce the number of otherwise wasteful journeys needed to transport the item.

3 1 2 1 7 6 8 0 8 Kg/CO2 Saved

Recent Testimonials

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Mark W.

"Simple and effective, will be using regularly. Good value and makes the process of moving big things around so much easier!"

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"In a matter of hours, I received an offer that matched my budget from a company with very good feedback. I love being able to rely on Shiply for getting the precious finds from eBay across the country for a reasonable price."

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John G.

"Shiply fills the gaps between getting bulky items collected and delivered and you having to go get them yourself. Used them many times, saves me lots of time and money."

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"All went very smoothly and easily and the courier whose bid I accepted were lovely, good communication, and helpful. Couldn't fault at all and would certainly use again."

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