Car Deliver Service-Driver

[Shademan]

Hi all

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this. Know doubt someone will tell me if it's not.

I'm retiring in a few weeks and have always fancied having a go at delivering vehicles within the UK and overseas (trade plate or otherwise). I've been researching companies in this field and many of them get poor reviews by current and ex employees. Can anyone reccomend companies I can approach or offer any advice on how to make a start.

Is there a portal where you can bid to move vehicles. I'm aware of Shiply but I can't see too many jobs that start or finish with a reasonable distance to/from the job (I'm thinking 100 miles) .

Any help/advice would be gratefully received.

Stu

[SantaBarbara]

Range Rover or Liverpool Docks

[Shademan]

Hi SantaBarbara

Many thanks for your reply. I've Googled vehicle movers around the docks area and a few names have come up I'll try. Do you know of any specific names?

Cheers

[SantaBarbara]

I used to pass Seaforth Docks frequently on the A565 and the vehicle yard for both imports and exports is clearly visible. They have loads of Range Rovers for export, but they also have a variety of assorted import vehicles

[The Mad Monk]

BCA

[Shademan]

Great, thanks. I've got a few leads for the docks are to follow up.

[Shademan]

BCA were one of those that didn't get good reviews. However, I'm in the fortunate position of having to work so it wont be the end of the world if it doesn't suit.

I'll definitely make contact and see how things go.

[rich12]

Where do you live OP?

[sgrimshaw]

Have a chat with some of the car rental firms, Europcar, Hertz etc

Quick chat with a local manager might give you some leads.

Friend of mine moves cars around for one of the big names, forget which.

Same applies to big dealers ... B-I-L does some delivery driving for Kia for example, mostly of demonstrators.

[iguana]

I did trade plates for a year, is long days for not much £ via a company.

You could set up on your own, Insurance is the killer tho, it's not cheap for decent cover, esp including EU cover- odd I know but is indeed the case.

Are various portals to bid for work, won't make you rich & some of the prices folks do stuff for are mental low.

[Shademan]

Sorry for the slow response due to the issues experienced by PH.

rich12. I'm based in Macclesfield.

sgrimshaw/iguana. It's chicken and egg I guess. It may be a case of investing some money in trade plates for six months and insurance and then have a good look around. My background is in sales and marketing so I wouldn't have any concerns on knocking on doors. What I don't fancy is knocking my pan out for a minimum wage which most of the vehicle movers seem to pay so finding my own contacts appears to be the best way to go.

[singlecoil]

If you are keen to get into this business then surely getting yourself a beavertail car transporter is a vastly better way of doing it. Especially if it's rated for 4x4s.

A guy I know did that and is never short of work, now that he is well known.

[SantaBarbara]

Place an advert in one of the Classic car mags

[Classy6]

SMH, Manheim, Lex etc - all the big lease company have thousands of self employed car drivers.

[Shademan]

I wasn't sure whether to get a truck or buy a trailer. I've got a bi-turbo (180bhp) T5 camper van, so loads of power to pull a decent size trailer and for longer hauls stay on campsites or services overnight if necessary.

Specialist mags are a good idea. Probably a bit more money in it than bog standard stuff.

[Shademan]

I wasn't sure whether to get a truck or buy a trailer. I've got a bi-turbo (180bhp) T5 camper van, so loads of power to pull a decent size trailer and for longer hauls stay on campsites or services overnight if necessary.

Specialist mags are a good idea. Probably a bit more money in it than bog standard stuff.

[TTOBES]

Do you really want to start by using your own van or buying a low loader? That's quite a commitment.

If I were you I'd contact your local car dealers to see if they need any extra drivers. It's a job I did during university holidays and loved it... working with cars without the pressure of selling them!

If you have any questions, let me know.

[Shademan]

Good advice. With the van/truck I'm just trying to cover most angles. I'm anticipating objection like; if only you had your own trade plates or trade ins policy insurance.

What's the likelihood do you think for a reasonable amount of work?

[TTOBES]

A good dealer or dealer group would simply employ you as a driver – I don’t think as you’re starting out you should work for anyone who won’t supply you with the necessary to do the job. I worked for a Fleet department so worked five days a week. If there was a quiet day or days I’d simply be “loaned out” to new or used sales to see deliveries off the transporter or fuel cars for the PDI dept.

[papa3]

TTOBES said:

A good dealer or dealer group would simply employ you as a driver – I don’t think as you’re starting out you should work for anyone who won’t supply you with the necessary to do the job. I worked for a Fleet department so worked five days a week. If there was a quiet day or days I’d simply be “loaned out” to new or used sales to see deliveries off the transporter or fuel cars for the PDI dept.

^ This would be my suggestion. We have a couple of retired guys who work ad hoc running cars for us. Some weeks they are near full time, others they get nothing from us. We pay well on a job by job basis but there is no guaranteed income, not an issue for you.

What we look for is someone with an ability to talk to customers, who is well presented and trustworthy. Our rationale is that the cost of transporting a vehicle by truck only gets it to the door where most drivers throw the keys at the customer and can't get away quick enough. Our drivers know the basics of the cars well enough to do a decent handover, complete any paperwork and represent the dealership in the manner we require.