Table of Contents
The three options for moving cars between dealerships
Recovery truck or car transporter: when it makes sense and how much it costs
Trade plate driver: the cheapest option for short and medium routes
Professional vehicle transport platforms in Spain
What to check before booking any transport
International transport: importing and exporting cars as a car dealer
How to reduce transport costs by integrating them into the margin calculation
Dealcar and stock management with cars in transit
Frequently Asked Questions
The three options for moving cars between dealerships
Transporting a car from one point to another has three common solutions, each with its own cost and risk logic.
A recovery truck or car transporter is the most expensive option but also the one that protects the vehicle the most: the car does not roll, does not accumulate mileage, and arrives in the same condition it left. It is the correct option for vehicles that are not roadworthy, have an expired MOT, or are of high enough value that the risk of a trade plate delivery does not justify the savings.
A trade plate driver is the cheapest option for routes of less than 400 or 500 kilometres, where the cost per kilometre of a car transporter is not justified. The driver drives the car from the origin to the destination and returns on their own. The cost is significantly lower, but the car accumulates real mileage and the risk of an incident on the road falls on the person booking the service.
See also how to buy leasing cars professionally, where transport is part of the cost of the transaction.
Transport in an enclosed car transporter is the option for international imports and exports or for moving several vehicles at once inside the same truck. It is the most efficient option when moving more than 3 or 4 cars on the same route.
Recovery truck or car transporter: when it makes sense and how much it costs
A car transporter is the standard way to move cars without driving them. Open car transporters with a platform for 6 or 8 cars are the most common in professional national transport. Enclosed transporters are mainly used for luxury or classic cars where protecting the bodywork from the weather justifies the extra cost.
The estimated prices in 2026 for transport on an open car transporter in Spain are as follows. For short routes of up to 150 km, the cost per vehicle on a shared service (the transporter collects several cars from different customers on the same route) is between 80 and 150 euros. For medium routes of between 150 and 400 km, between 120 and 220 euros per vehicle on a shared service. For long routes of more than 400 km or from end to end of the mainland (Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Seville, Valencia-Bilbao), between 180 and 320 euros per vehicle on a shared service.
An exclusive service, where the transporter makes the journey only for your vehicles, is between 40% and 80% more expensive than the shared one. It only makes sense for emergencies or for vehicles that you cannot mix with others in the same load for safety or brand image reasons.
Usual delivery times for shared services are between 2 and 5 working days depending on the route and the transporter's availability. If the vehicle is urgent, a dedicated service can be done in 24 or 48 hours for an additional cost.
Read how to calculate stock ROI and integrate transport costs into the analysis.
Trade plate driver: the cheapest option for short and medium routes
A trade plate driver drives the car from the origin to the destination and returns on their own via public transport or in another vehicle. The cost of this service in 2026 is between 0.25 and 0.45 euros per kilometre, plus the driver's return expenses (train, bus, or fuel for a support car if the service includes picking up the driver at the destination).
For a 300 km route, the estimated cost is between 75 and 135 euros for the delivery plus between 15 and 40 euros for the driver's return, depending on the available transport. Total between 90 and 175 euros, compared to 150 or 220 euros for a car transporter on the same route.
The savings are real, but three factors that a car transporter does not generate must be taken into account. The first is that the car accumulates actual miles from the delivery, which are recorded on the odometer. For a car sold with exact mileage details, those miles are part of the vehicle's value. The second is insurance: check before the transfer that the car's insurance covers driving by a third party who is not the owner. In most company or dealership car insurance policies, this is covered, but it must be confirmed. The third is the condition of the car upon arrival: if the driver has an incident on the road, the claims process is more complex than with a car transporter, which has specific transport insurance.
Professional vehicle transport platforms in Spain
There are platforms and companies specialising in vehicle transport for the professional sector that offer more structured services than hiring a local recovery truck.
Eurotransteel is one of the benchmark companies in Spain for transporting vehicles between professionals, with regular national routes and a vehicle tracking service during the journey.
Ayvens Logistics (formerly ALD Logistics) offers fleet and used vehicle transport services with national and international coverage, mainly aimed at high-volume car dealers.
uShip and Shiply are transport marketplaces where hauliers bid for the job. They allow you to compare prices from several hauliers for the same route, which can generate savings of between 15% and 30% compared to booking directly. The downside is that the quality variation between hauliers is greater than with specialised companies.
BCA Logistics offers transport services linked to the BCA auction network, with negotiated rates for regular buyers at their auctions.
For recurring volumes of more than 10 or 15 cars per month on the same routes, negotiating a contract with a specialised transport company instead of booking service by service can reduce the unit cost by between 15% and 25%.
What to check before booking any transport
There are four points that should be verified before finalising any vehicle transport service, whether it is a recovery truck, car transporter, or trade plate driver.
The first is transport insurance. The vehicle must be covered during the journey by insurance that covers any damage that may occur. In the case of professional car transporters, transport insurance is usually included in the price of the service, but you must check the maximum insured amount and if there is an excess. For trade plate deliveries, check that the vehicle's insurance covers driving by a third party and, if it does not, take out specific delivery insurance (between 15 and 40 euros per journey depending on the car's value).
The second is the documented condition of the car before collection. Take photos of the exterior, interior, and dashboard (with the odometer visible) before handing the vehicle over to the transporter or driver. If it arrives with damage that was not documented before delivery, the claims process is much simpler with this documentation.
See also how to document a vehicle's condition before buying it.
The third is the legitimacy of the transporter. For vehicle transport, the haulier must have a road haulage operator's licence (valid transport card). A transporter without this authorisation is not covered by regulations and their insurance may be invalid in the event of an accident.
The fourth is the contract or delivery note. Always demand a document showing the origin, destination, vehicle (number plate, VIN), condition at the time of collection, and the price of the service. This document is the basis of any subsequent claim.
International transport: importing and exporting cars as a car dealer
Vehicle transport between Spain and other European Union countries follows the same logic as national transport, but with some additional aspects to manage.
To import a car from another EU country (Germany, France, Belgium, Portugal), the vehicle can circulate with its original registration plate until registration in Spain is processed. Transport on a car transporter avoids any insurance or documentation issues on the road.
Also read what car homologation is and when it is necessary when importing.
The estimated prices for transport on a shared car transporter from the main European markets to Spain are: from Germany (Frankfurt-Madrid), between 350 and 550 euros per vehicle; from France (Paris-Madrid), between 200 and 350 euros; from Belgium (Brussels-Madrid), between 280 and 430 euros; from Portugal (Lisbon-Madrid), between 120 and 200 euros. These prices are indicative and vary significantly with volume and negotiation with the transporter.
For importing vehicles from outside the EU, sea freight is the usual method for large volumes. The cost per vehicle in a shared container from Japan can be between 600 and 1,200 euros depending on the port of origin and volume. For one-off imports of one or two vehicles, the proportional cost rises significantly.
How to reduce transport costs by integrating them into the margin calculation
Transport cost is a direct cost attributable to each vehicle that must be included in the calculation of the net margin of each operation. A car bought in Germany for 12,000 euros with 450 euros for transport has a real entry cost of 12,450 euros, not 12,000.
See how to calculate gross and net margins on used cars to include transport in the cost price.
The most common mistake is to calculate the margin on the purchase price without including transport, which gives a more optimistic picture of the profitability of the operation than what actually materialises. If the selling price is 15,500 euros and the entry cost (purchase plus transport) is 12,450 euros, the gross margin is 3,050 euros, not 3,500.
The way to reduce the impact of transport on the margin is to negotiate volume rates with regular transporters, coordinate several vehicles on the same truck when possible (a truck with 6 cars has the same base cost as with 1, the unit cost is divided among the transported cars), and choose the correct transport method for each operation instead of always using the same service out of habit.
Dealcar and stock management with cars in transit
A car in transit is an asset that already has a cost (purchase price plus transport in progress) but cannot yet be sold. Having visibility of which cars are in transit, when they arrive, and how much that waiting period is costing allows you to calculate the real margin of each operation and plan the listing from the moment the car arrives.
Manage all your dealership's admin from a single place. More information at dealcar.io/gestoria.
From Dealcar you can register vehicles in transit with their purchase cost and transport cost as part of the entry cost, so that the margin calculated at the close of the sale reflects all actual costs. If you want to see how it works, request a demo at dealcar.io.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible if the car arrives with damage?
The transporter, if the damage occurred during the journey and is documented. To prove this, you must have photos of the vehicle's condition before handing it over to the transporter and record the damage on the delivery note at the destination. Without this prior documentation, proving that the damage is the transporter's responsibility is much more difficult.
Can I transport a car without a valid MOT using a driver?
No. A car without a valid MOT cannot be driven on public roads, even for a delivery. The only legal way to move a vehicle without an MOT is on a car transporter (the car is not driven) or by applying for a temporary circulation permit from the DGT to move it to the nearest MOT testing station, which has very specific conditions of use.
Does it make sense to buy specific transport insurance for each delivery?
For vehicles worth more than 15,000 or 20,000 euros, yes. The cost of specific transport insurance is between 15 and 50 euros per journey and covers damage during transport regardless of the vehicle's insurance or the transporter's insurance. For lower-value vehicles, checking that the transporter's insurance covers the value of the vehicle is sufficient if the insured amount is adequate.
How does coordinating several cars on the same transporter work?
To coordinate several vehicles on the same transporter on the same route, the easiest way is to contact a vehicle transport company and tell them the origins and destinations of the cars. If they coincide on the same route, the transporter groups them on the same trip and the unit cost goes down. Platforms like uShip or Shiply also allow you to post the transport of several vehicles in the same listing.
Table of Contents
The three options for moving cars between dealerships
Recovery truck or car transporter: when it makes sense and how much it costs
Trade plate driver: the cheapest option for short and medium routes
Professional vehicle transport platforms in Spain
What to check before booking any transport
International transport: importing and exporting cars as a car dealer
How to reduce transport costs by integrating them into the margin calculation
Dealcar and stock management with cars in transit
Frequently Asked Questions
The three options for moving cars between dealerships
Transporting a car from one point to another has three common solutions, each with its own cost and risk logic.
A recovery truck or car transporter is the most expensive option but also the one that protects the vehicle the most: the car does not roll, does not accumulate mileage, and arrives in the same condition it left. It is the correct option for vehicles that are not roadworthy, have an expired MOT, or are of high enough value that the risk of a trade plate delivery does not justify the savings.
A trade plate driver is the cheapest option for routes of less than 400 or 500 kilometres, where the cost per kilometre of a car transporter is not justified. The driver drives the car from the origin to the destination and returns on their own. The cost is significantly lower, but the car accumulates real mileage and the risk of an incident on the road falls on the person booking the service.
See also how to buy leasing cars professionally, where transport is part of the cost of the transaction.
Transport in an enclosed car transporter is the option for international imports and exports or for moving several vehicles at once inside the same truck. It is the most efficient option when moving more than 3 or 4 cars on the same route.
Recovery truck or car transporter: when it makes sense and how much it costs
A car transporter is the standard way to move cars without driving them. Open car transporters with a platform for 6 or 8 cars are the most common in professional national transport. Enclosed transporters are mainly used for luxury or classic cars where protecting the bodywork from the weather justifies the extra cost.
The estimated prices in 2026 for transport on an open car transporter in Spain are as follows. For short routes of up to 150 km, the cost per vehicle on a shared service (the transporter collects several cars from different customers on the same route) is between 80 and 150 euros. For medium routes of between 150 and 400 km, between 120 and 220 euros per vehicle on a shared service. For long routes of more than 400 km or from end to end of the mainland (Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Seville, Valencia-Bilbao), between 180 and 320 euros per vehicle on a shared service.
An exclusive service, where the transporter makes the journey only for your vehicles, is between 40% and 80% more expensive than the shared one. It only makes sense for emergencies or for vehicles that you cannot mix with others in the same load for safety or brand image reasons.
Usual delivery times for shared services are between 2 and 5 working days depending on the route and the transporter's availability. If the vehicle is urgent, a dedicated service can be done in 24 or 48 hours for an additional cost.
Read how to calculate stock ROI and integrate transport costs into the analysis.
Trade plate driver: the cheapest option for short and medium routes
A trade plate driver drives the car from the origin to the destination and returns on their own via public transport or in another vehicle. The cost of this service in 2026 is between 0.25 and 0.45 euros per kilometre, plus the driver's return expenses (train, bus, or fuel for a support car if the service includes picking up the driver at the destination).
For a 300 km route, the estimated cost is between 75 and 135 euros for the delivery plus between 15 and 40 euros for the driver's return, depending on the available transport. Total between 90 and 175 euros, compared to 150 or 220 euros for a car transporter on the same route.
The savings are real, but three factors that a car transporter does not generate must be taken into account. The first is that the car accumulates actual miles from the delivery, which are recorded on the odometer. For a car sold with exact mileage details, those miles are part of the vehicle's value. The second is insurance: check before the transfer that the car's insurance covers driving by a third party who is not the owner. In most company or dealership car insurance policies, this is covered, but it must be confirmed. The third is the condition of the car upon arrival: if the driver has an incident on the road, the claims process is more complex than with a car transporter, which has specific transport insurance.
Professional vehicle transport platforms in Spain
There are platforms and companies specialising in vehicle transport for the professional sector that offer more structured services than hiring a local recovery truck.
Eurotransteel is one of the benchmark companies in Spain for transporting vehicles between professionals, with regular national routes and a vehicle tracking service during the journey.
Ayvens Logistics (formerly ALD Logistics) offers fleet and used vehicle transport services with national and international coverage, mainly aimed at high-volume car dealers.
uShip and Shiply are transport marketplaces where hauliers bid for the job. They allow you to compare prices from several hauliers for the same route, which can generate savings of between 15% and 30% compared to booking directly. The downside is that the quality variation between hauliers is greater than with specialised companies.
BCA Logistics offers transport services linked to the BCA auction network, with negotiated rates for regular buyers at their auctions.
For recurring volumes of more than 10 or 15 cars per month on the same routes, negotiating a contract with a specialised transport company instead of booking service by service can reduce the unit cost by between 15% and 25%.
What to check before booking any transport
There are four points that should be verified before finalising any vehicle transport service, whether it is a recovery truck, car transporter, or trade plate driver.
The first is transport insurance. The vehicle must be covered during the journey by insurance that covers any damage that may occur. In the case of professional car transporters, transport insurance is usually included in the price of the service, but you must check the maximum insured amount and if there is an excess. For trade plate deliveries, check that the vehicle's insurance covers driving by a third party and, if it does not, take out specific delivery insurance (between 15 and 40 euros per journey depending on the car's value).
The second is the documented condition of the car before collection. Take photos of the exterior, interior, and dashboard (with the odometer visible) before handing the vehicle over to the transporter or driver. If it arrives with damage that was not documented before delivery, the claims process is much simpler with this documentation.
See also how to document a vehicle's condition before buying it.
The third is the legitimacy of the transporter. For vehicle transport, the haulier must have a road haulage operator's licence (valid transport card). A transporter without this authorisation is not covered by regulations and their insurance may be invalid in the event of an accident.
The fourth is the contract or delivery note. Always demand a document showing the origin, destination, vehicle (number plate, VIN), condition at the time of collection, and the price of the service. This document is the basis of any subsequent claim.
International transport: importing and exporting cars as a car dealer
Vehicle transport between Spain and other European Union countries follows the same logic as national transport, but with some additional aspects to manage.
To import a car from another EU country (Germany, France, Belgium, Portugal), the vehicle can circulate with its original registration plate until registration in Spain is processed. Transport on a car transporter avoids any insurance or documentation issues on the road.
Also read what car homologation is and when it is necessary when importing.
The estimated prices for transport on a shared car transporter from the main European markets to Spain are: from Germany (Frankfurt-Madrid), between 350 and 550 euros per vehicle; from France (Paris-Madrid), between 200 and 350 euros; from Belgium (Brussels-Madrid), between 280 and 430 euros; from Portugal (Lisbon-Madrid), between 120 and 200 euros. These prices are indicative and vary significantly with volume and negotiation with the transporter.
For importing vehicles from outside the EU, sea freight is the usual method for large volumes. The cost per vehicle in a shared container from Japan can be between 600 and 1,200 euros depending on the port of origin and volume. For one-off imports of one or two vehicles, the proportional cost rises significantly.
How to reduce transport costs by integrating them into the margin calculation
Transport cost is a direct cost attributable to each vehicle that must be included in the calculation of the net margin of each operation. A car bought in Germany for 12,000 euros with 450 euros for transport has a real entry cost of 12,450 euros, not 12,000.
See how to calculate gross and net margins on used cars to include transport in the cost price.
The most common mistake is to calculate the margin on the purchase price without including transport, which gives a more optimistic picture of the profitability of the operation than what actually materialises. If the selling price is 15,500 euros and the entry cost (purchase plus transport) is 12,450 euros, the gross margin is 3,050 euros, not 3,500.
The way to reduce the impact of transport on the margin is to negotiate volume rates with regular transporters, coordinate several vehicles on the same truck when possible (a truck with 6 cars has the same base cost as with 1, the unit cost is divided among the transported cars), and choose the correct transport method for each operation instead of always using the same service out of habit.
Dealcar and stock management with cars in transit
A car in transit is an asset that already has a cost (purchase price plus transport in progress) but cannot yet be sold. Having visibility of which cars are in transit, when they arrive, and how much that waiting period is costing allows you to calculate the real margin of each operation and plan the listing from the moment the car arrives.
Manage all your dealership's admin from a single place. More information at dealcar.io/gestoria.
From Dealcar you can register vehicles in transit with their purchase cost and transport cost as part of the entry cost, so that the margin calculated at the close of the sale reflects all actual costs. If you want to see how it works, request a demo at dealcar.io.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible if the car arrives with damage?
The transporter, if the damage occurred during the journey and is documented. To prove this, you must have photos of the vehicle's condition before handing it over to the transporter and record the damage on the delivery note at the destination. Without this prior documentation, proving that the damage is the transporter's responsibility is much more difficult.
Can I transport a car without a valid MOT using a driver?
No. A car without a valid MOT cannot be driven on public roads, even for a delivery. The only legal way to move a vehicle without an MOT is on a car transporter (the car is not driven) or by applying for a temporary circulation permit from the DGT to move it to the nearest MOT testing station, which has very specific conditions of use.
Does it make sense to buy specific transport insurance for each delivery?
For vehicles worth more than 15,000 or 20,000 euros, yes. The cost of specific transport insurance is between 15 and 50 euros per journey and covers damage during transport regardless of the vehicle's insurance or the transporter's insurance. For lower-value vehicles, checking that the transporter's insurance covers the value of the vehicle is sufficient if the insured amount is adequate.
How does coordinating several cars on the same transporter work?
To coordinate several vehicles on the same transporter on the same route, the easiest way is to contact a vehicle transport company and tell them the origins and destinations of the cars. If they coincide on the same route, the transporter groups them on the same trip and the unit cost goes down. Platforms like uShip or Shiply also allow you to post the transport of several vehicles in the same listing.
