How to Prepare Your Car for Collection and Delivery

When you book a car collection, most of the thinking goes into dates and drop-off points. The bit people forget is the ten minutes of prep before I arrive. That ten minutes is what turns a straightforward job into one with no questions, no delays and no disputes later.

I drive the car myself, so I see it exactly as you leave it. Getting it ready properly means I can collect it, drive it away cleanly and get on the road. Below is the checklist I send to anyone who asks what they should do before I turn up.

Documents to have ready

The main thing I need is proof you own the car and have the right to have it moved. The V5C logbook is the one that matters, and a photo of your driving licence covers who you are. If the car is still on finance or a lease, check the agreement allows third party transport, because some finance companies want written notice before the vehicle moves.

You do not need to hand the documents to me. A quick look on the day is usually enough, and I photograph what I need. The one exception is when the car is going to a dealer or an auction house, in which case they often want the V5C and service history to travel with the car. Pop those in the glovebox rather than sending them separately.

Keys, fuel and a quick check

Bring all the keys you have. If there is a spare, leave it with the car, because a single key going missing on a 300 mile job is a problem nobody wants. If two keys look the same, tag them so the one you keep and the one you hand over are obvious.

Fuel is simpler than people think. About a quarter of a tank is ideal, enough for me to reach a filling station without running the journey on fumes, and not so much that you have paid to move fuel around the country. If the car is a non-runner, make sure the battery has enough charge to unlock it and tell me in advance, because that changes how I plan the collection.

Remove personal belongings

Cars collect a surprising amount of life. Sunglasses, phone leads, parking permits, children's toys, spare change, the sat nav. Before I arrive, do one sweep of the boot, the door pockets and the glovebox. I am not insured to carry personal possessions, so anything valuable should come out.

What tends to get forgotten is the car's own kit, the locking wheel nut, the service book, any motorway tag or car park pass. Take out the things you would miss, but leave the things the car needs. If you have a dashcam fitted, take the memory card out or leave it in, but tell me which you have done.

MOT, tax and roadworthiness

I can only drive a car legally on the public road if it is taxed, insured and, where it needs one, has a valid MOT. Check the MOT and tax status a few days before the collection, because a car that fails the check on the day cannot be driven, only transported. That changes the job and the price.

If the car has sat for a while, check the basics. Tyres with tread and pressure, a battery that holds charge, brakes that release. If any of it is doubtful, tell me upfront rather than letting me find out at the roadside. I would always rather know before I set off.

Noting existing damage

Every car I collect has a history, and I need to know what was already there before I turn the key. Walk round the car and photograph any dents, scratches, scuffs and kerbed alloys. Do it in daylight and get the whole panel in shot, not just the mark.

I do the same when I arrive, and we compare. It takes two minutes and it means that if anything changes during the journey, we both know exactly what it looked like when it left you. No disagreements, no doubts. If the car is dirty, a quick wash helps, because damage hides under grime.

What I do when I arrive

When I turn up, the first thing I do is walk round the car with you and note its condition, photographing anything we agree is already there. Then I check the documents, the keys and the fuel, and we do a quick handover so you are not left wondering where anything went.

After that I drive it away. I drive the car itself, I do not trailer it and there is no support car following. That means the car is treated exactly as it would be if you were at the wheel, and I make my own way back from the drop-off. You get a text or a call when the car is safely delivered, and photos of it in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to clean my car before collection?

A wash is helpful but not essential. Damage shows up far better on clean paint, so it protects both of us when we photograph the car at handover. A dirty car will still be collected, we just note the condition as best we can.

How much fuel should I leave in the car?

Around a quarter of a tank is ideal. It is enough for me to reach a filling station safely without you paying to move fuel across the country. For a non-runner, just make sure the battery has enough charge to unlock it.

What documents do I need to hand over?

The V5C logbook and a photo ID such as a driving licence. You do not need to give me the documents, a quick check on the day is usually enough. If the car is going to a dealer or auction house, they often want the V5C and service history to travel with the car.

What if my car has existing damage?

Photograph it in daylight before I arrive, getting the whole panel in the shot. I do the same when I collect, and we compare notes before I drive away. That way we both know exactly what the car looked like when it left you.

Will my car be driven or trailered?

Driven. I drive the vehicle itself, I do not use a trailer and there is no support car following. That means it is treated the same as if you were behind the wheel, and I make my own way back from the drop-off.