Recommendations for a Car Collection Service -Portugal to UK
Discussion
I wasn't sure which forum space to post this but hoping you knowledgeable crowd can help.
Here's a short version of the story. My parents were on a long holiday in Northern Portugal and due to illness had to fly back to the UK.
The problem is they had their UK registered Ford Focus with them and this is now still in Portugal - and although on the mend, my Father is not up to flying out and driving it back.
It is now in being stored in a garage out there and looked after by a local Portuguese friend, but we are all well aware that they need to get it back to the UK over the coming months for 2 reasons:
one being they don't want it out there for more than 6 Months (although laws are a bit confusing this is the benchmark we're using) but the other reason, and more pressing, is the MOT will run out in a few months so it really needs to be back in the UK for that.
So, my work pressures mean I can't fly out and bring it back myself, so the option we are beginning to explore is to pay a recommended company to bring it back for them. Ideally on a low-loader but possibly being driven back by a trusted company.
Whilst remembering this is 6.5 year old Ford Focus (not an ST or anything!) and so not wanting to pay the moon, a good service is better than saving a few quid here or there - after all they would be saving the actual cost of flying out and bringing it back themselves.
Any recommendations for companies who offer a car collection service, Europe to UK? Costs, what happened, any good/bad stories?
Thanks all.
Here's a short version of the story. My parents were on a long holiday in Northern Portugal and due to illness had to fly back to the UK.
The problem is they had their UK registered Ford Focus with them and this is now still in Portugal - and although on the mend, my Father is not up to flying out and driving it back.
It is now in being stored in a garage out there and looked after by a local Portuguese friend, but we are all well aware that they need to get it back to the UK over the coming months for 2 reasons:
one being they don't want it out there for more than 6 Months (although laws are a bit confusing this is the benchmark we're using) but the other reason, and more pressing, is the MOT will run out in a few months so it really needs to be back in the UK for that.
So, my work pressures mean I can't fly out and bring it back myself, so the option we are beginning to explore is to pay a recommended company to bring it back for them. Ideally on a low-loader but possibly being driven back by a trusted company.
Whilst remembering this is 6.5 year old Ford Focus (not an ST or anything!) and so not wanting to pay the moon, a good service is better than saving a few quid here or there - after all they would be saving the actual cost of flying out and bringing it back themselves.
Any recommendations for companies who offer a car collection service, Europe to UK? Costs, what happened, any good/bad stories?
Thanks all.
Thanks for your replies (apart from RedAndy's !)
Just to clarify, I'm not looking for someone to offer to do this for them - just a recommendation on the reliability of car moving companies.
I'll certainly give Shipley a go to see how it looks compared to their budget. Failing that the option to try and do it myself later in the year (before the MOT runs out!) will be the only other possibility.
Cheers.
Just to clarify, I'm not looking for someone to offer to do this for them - just a recommendation on the reliability of car moving companies.
I'll certainly give Shipley a go to see how it looks compared to their budget. Failing that the option to try and do it myself later in the year (before the MOT runs out!) will be the only other possibility.
Cheers.
Have done this a few times with Shiply. No major problems although I put a pinpointpal in the car (worldwide gps tracker) for extra security if it's high value. I'd expect it to cost you about £1200 for that distance. only problem I had was one time the driver used rubbish quality straps and the metal part cut in to the sidewalls of 2 tyres as the car bounced along on a trailer. Tyres were going to be changed so I didn't argue too much but such carelessness was still annoying.
DippedHeadlights said:
Have done this a few times with Shiply. No major problems although I put a pinpointpal in the car (worldwide gps tracker) for extra security if it's high value. I'd expect it to cost you about £1200 for that distance. only problem I had was one time the driver used rubbish quality straps and the metal part cut in to the sidewalls of 2 tyres as the car bounced along on a trailer. Tyres were going to be changed so I didn't argue too much but such carelessness was still annoying.
Ah Thanks Dipped Headlights - really useful info. Not a high value car so tracker not essential but a smart idea. Agree that thing with the tyres is so annoying - sort of, 'you had one job' but not the end of the world even if that was the worst to happen...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff