Car transport to London: getting the car you've bought delivered
More Londoners than ever buy cars they have never seen in person — from dealers, auctions and private sellers across the country — and have them delivered. Post the job free on Smart Taurus and compare quotes from verified vehicle transporters.
The best-priced car for you is rarely the one on the forecourt down the road. Online listings, nationwide dealer groups and physical auctions mean London buyers routinely purchase vehicles two or three hundred miles away — and then need them moved. That is a job for car transport, and London's position at the end of every major motorway makes it one of the busiest delivery destinations in the country.
Trade-plate driver or transporter — which should you choose?
There are two ways to get a purchased car to London, and the right one depends on the vehicle.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Trade-plate (driven) delivery | An insured driver drives the car to you on trade plates — mileage goes on the clock and the car travels exposed to weather and traffic | Everyday, roadworthy cars where a few hundred miles won't matter |
| Transporter (trailer or multi-car) | The car is loaded and carried — no added mileage, no wear, and non-runners can travel too | Low-mileage, classic, high-value or non-running vehicles |
When you post a job on Smart Taurus you can say which you prefer, or invite both kinds of quote and decide once you see prices and reviews side by side.
Will ULEZ affect the car you're buying?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone now covers all of Greater London, so check the vehicle's compliance on the TfL checker before you buy, not after. Older petrol cars (broadly pre-2006) and older diesels (broadly pre-September 2015) attract a daily charge every day they are driven anywhere in Greater London. Two delivery consequences follow:
- A non-compliant car arriving on a transporter incurs no ULEZ charge for the journey — only the transporter's own vehicle needs to be compliant, which professional operators handle as part of their costs.
- A non-compliant car driven in on trade plates would trigger the charge, so for older purchases a transporter usually makes more sense.
How do auction collections work?
Cars won at physical or online auctions — BCA, Manheim and similar sale sites — usually need collecting within a few working days before storage fees start. A transporter collecting on your behalf will need the buyer's pass or release reference, the lot details and your paid invoice; put those in your Smart Taurus job post along with the delivery postcode in London. Auction sites load vehicles all day and transporters collect from them constantly, so these are routine, well-understood jobs. If the car is listed as a non-runner, say so clearly — it changes the equipment needed, and you can read more on our vehicle recovery page.
How it works on Smart Taurus
- Post the job free — collection and delivery postcodes, the exact vehicle, whether it runs, and any auction release details.
- Compare quotes — verified transporters reply with prices; check reviews, equipment and insurance details on their profiles.
- Book, track and pay — confirm in the app, follow the delivery in real time and pay securely via Stripe.
What does delivery to London cost?
Distance, vehicle size, whether it runs and how quickly you need it are the main factors — our guide to car shipping costs covers them in detail. London benefits from constant transporter traffic: cars flow out of the capital to Manchester, Birmingham and beyond every day, and drivers filling a return leg often quote keenly. Browse more cities on the locations hub.