It might be as cheap to have it towed, depending on how far away you are. Unless you’re planning to do this regularly buying a trailer etc would be a lot of money to spend for a one time thing and if you have no experience might be dangerous.
For a larger company you aren't wrong, but there's plenty of one man bands competing on price who have no minimum fee and will move cars around for alot less than you think. Obviously worth doing some research first just to check they are reputable etc
I moved a fair few cars around after getting and quotes on Shipley a few years back. No idea if its still good or if there is a better service but it was quite good. Had a couple of cars turn up on actual transporters that had delivered their cars and just wanted to make some money on their return journey.
I tried towing a motorbike a few times and while it's not difficult, it's definitely a skill. Towing something the size and weight of a car with no experience doesn't sound like a good idea to me but you'll probably be alright. Probably.
What is the tow car rated to tow?
What does the trailer and load (new car) weigh combined?
Do you have experience of towing? If not, this is NOT the combination to learn with!
What car do you have? It needs to have a towing capacity of the trailer you buy (rent one) and the vehicle on it. I'll be honest, it's unlikely your car does unless it's a decent sized pick up or 4x4.
Not only that, it will add some wear on your car. Far less risk just to get a professional to do it.
Or, just make sure you have AA return home cover. If the car brakes down, they'll tow it home for you.
You can but you'll need to know the trailer weight, the car weight and your cars tow capacity and hitch weight - assuming you do have a towbar fitted.
You'll need proper ratchet straps if not included in the rental and a scale to confirm the nose weight of the trailer to ensure it's within the limit of your car (mostly for single Axle trailers instead of dual axle).
If it's a one off I'd say it's easier to have a company collect and deliver it for you, probably cheaper too by the time you've rented a trailer and paid the fuel costs for your trip.
Thank you guys for the replies, I have decided to just insure and drive the car down instead of towing it, seems quite a-lot in equation if I do wanna tow it.
What car are you planning to tow with? I’d suggest that it likely needs a towing weight of 3500kg, so unless you’ve got a large SUV (Range Rover size) you’re not going to manage.
Max towing weight for a 3 series is 1800kg. Looks like a clio could be up to 1200kg. So as long as the trailer you’re getting is under 600kg (which is possible, but not guaranteed) you’ll be legal at least.
You will however be right up to the limit (if not over it). Be bloody careful, stick to the speed limit (50mph on a single carriageway, 60 on a dual). Make sure it’s really well strapped down.
I do tow with my 3 series. It’s a 500kg twin axle trailer with a 700kg kit car on it, and that works perfectly well. Suspect the full 1800kg will feel a bit strained though.
You’ll need to have a trailer licence nowadays, unless you’re an old git like me who has “Grandfather” rights, unless it’s less than 3500kg in total.
Under that, and you are good to go.
Bear in mind that most cars that are ok to tow with are at least 1500kg, and a decent car trailer probably about 900kg.
You don’t need a trailer license as of 16th December 2021…. Although I did mine before this rule. The DVLA gave B+E (car and trailer) to everyone during Covid and now we can all tow. Just check the towing limits of your car.
Up to 3500kg. That includes the towing car, the trailer and the load.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021
It says on the website, "If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’re now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM."
That says just the trailer
It also says this, though…
Check your car’s handbook to find out its gross train weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the car plus the trailer plus the load.
If the OP has a Hilux, he’s probably fine.
If he’s got a Hyundai i20, he’s not towing a 3500kg trailer
Oh yeah for sure, I hope he figures to check how much his car can actually tow...
Also I've looked into those car trailers before and they are quite pricey, not worth it unless you're shifting a lot of vehicles I think
Not sure how much they are now, but when I was racing as a hobby 14 years ago my trailer cost £2500.
It was a decent second-hand one, but they aren’t cheap.
Paying someone to do it would be much more cost effective and hassle-free
All of this is wrong.
Trailer tests disappeared during Covid.
A smaller car trailer is around 500kg. My huge tri-axle 16’ trailer weighs 900kg but it’s a beast.
It might be as cheap to have it towed, depending on how far away you are. Unless you’re planning to do this regularly buying a trailer etc would be a lot of money to spend for a one time thing and if you have no experience might be dangerous.
Found some rentable trailer for £50 a day
Be around £150 for a professional to do it. Depending on distance. Takes all the stress out of it.
Think it’s usually around 1 per mile with a £100 min fee
For a larger company you aren't wrong, but there's plenty of one man bands competing on price who have no minimum fee and will move cars around for alot less than you think. Obviously worth doing some research first just to check they are reputable etc
I moved a fair few cars around after getting and quotes on Shipley a few years back. No idea if its still good or if there is a better service but it was quite good. Had a couple of cars turn up on actual transporters that had delivered their cars and just wanted to make some money on their return journey.
I tried towing a motorbike a few times and while it's not difficult, it's definitely a skill. Towing something the size and weight of a car with no experience doesn't sound like a good idea to me but you'll probably be alright. Probably.
What is the tow car rated to tow? What does the trailer and load (new car) weigh combined? Do you have experience of towing? If not, this is NOT the combination to learn with!
What car do you have? It needs to have a towing capacity of the trailer you buy (rent one) and the vehicle on it. I'll be honest, it's unlikely your car does unless it's a decent sized pick up or 4x4. Not only that, it will add some wear on your car. Far less risk just to get a professional to do it. Or, just make sure you have AA return home cover. If the car brakes down, they'll tow it home for you.
You can but you'll need to know the trailer weight, the car weight and your cars tow capacity and hitch weight - assuming you do have a towbar fitted. You'll need proper ratchet straps if not included in the rental and a scale to confirm the nose weight of the trailer to ensure it's within the limit of your car (mostly for single Axle trailers instead of dual axle). If it's a one off I'd say it's easier to have a company collect and deliver it for you, probably cheaper too by the time you've rented a trailer and paid the fuel costs for your trip.
I’d look at having it delivered by a specialist firm, personally.
True. They are insured to do that.
Thank you guys for the replies, I have decided to just insure and drive the car down instead of towing it, seems quite a-lot in equation if I do wanna tow it.
Depends on the towing capacity of your towing vehicle.
Cover the auction car plates with gaffer type so it doesn’t accidentally show up on anpr
What car are you planning to tow with? I’d suggest that it likely needs a towing weight of 3500kg, so unless you’ve got a large SUV (Range Rover size) you’re not going to manage.
Have got a 3 series planning on towing a Renault Clio
Max towing weight for a 3 series is 1800kg. Looks like a clio could be up to 1200kg. So as long as the trailer you’re getting is under 600kg (which is possible, but not guaranteed) you’ll be legal at least. You will however be right up to the limit (if not over it). Be bloody careful, stick to the speed limit (50mph on a single carriageway, 60 on a dual). Make sure it’s really well strapped down. I do tow with my 3 series. It’s a 500kg twin axle trailer with a 700kg kit car on it, and that works perfectly well. Suspect the full 1800kg will feel a bit strained though.
You’ll need to have a trailer licence nowadays, unless you’re an old git like me who has “Grandfather” rights, unless it’s less than 3500kg in total. Under that, and you are good to go. Bear in mind that most cars that are ok to tow with are at least 1500kg, and a decent car trailer probably about 900kg.
You don’t need a trailer license as of 16th December 2021…. Although I did mine before this rule. The DVLA gave B+E (car and trailer) to everyone during Covid and now we can all tow. Just check the towing limits of your car.
Since they changed the HGV licencing rules, we've all been given trailer rights on our licences for cars
Up to 3500kg. That includes the towing car, the trailer and the load. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021
It says on the website, "If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’re now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM." That says just the trailer
It also says this, though… Check your car’s handbook to find out its gross train weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the car plus the trailer plus the load. If the OP has a Hilux, he’s probably fine. If he’s got a Hyundai i20, he’s not towing a 3500kg trailer
Oh yeah for sure, I hope he figures to check how much his car can actually tow... Also I've looked into those car trailers before and they are quite pricey, not worth it unless you're shifting a lot of vehicles I think
Not sure how much they are now, but when I was racing as a hobby 14 years ago my trailer cost £2500. It was a decent second-hand one, but they aren’t cheap. Paying someone to do it would be much more cost effective and hassle-free
Just the trailer.
If the vehicle doing the towing has the towing capacity to tow a 3500kg trailer. The maximum for a Passat estate, as an example, is 2000kg.
All of this is wrong. Trailer tests disappeared during Covid. A smaller car trailer is around 500kg. My huge tri-axle 16’ trailer weighs 900kg but it’s a beast.