How to request a transport quote for a non-running car
Use a condition and access form to request transport for a non-running car, record unknowns and compare what each provider has actually agreed to move.
General guidance. No specialist review is claimed unless named on this page.
Request a transport quote with a description of the car's movement, damage and access at both addresses. “Non-running” is only the start. Tell the provider what is known about rolling, steering, braking and keys, then identify anything nobody has checked.
For example, Passport Transport's published FAQ requires inoperable vehicles to roll and steer, makes pickup and delivery subject to access, and treats extra parts case by case. Those are one operator's criteria. Your chosen provider must assess the actual vehicle, route and collection site before accepting the job.
Describe observations rather than assumptions
For every condition answer, give the source and date: something the seller observed, a workshop's written finding, or “not known.” A car that moved before the collision has no current movement assessment on that evidence alone.
Do not start, push or release a damaged vehicle to complete this form. Ask the operator what further assessment it needs. Loading equipment, attachment points and movement methods belong in its plan; this request does not establish that a car can be winched or driven onto a transporter.
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Send the same completed brief to each provider. Fill gaps with “not known” and name who can answer the follow-up. Share full addresses, keys arrangements and personal contact details privately.
| Field | Information to provide |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Year, make, model and body style; combustion, hybrid or electric powertrain; modifications, missing major components and a listing reference. Supply the full VIN privately when needed. |
| Route and timing | Pickup and delivery countries, state or province, city and exact location; requested collection window, receiving hours and any deadline. Identify who can release and receive it. |
| Running condition | What the seller actually knows about starting and movement under its own power, when last observed, and the reported reason it stopped. Keep a reported diagnosis attributed. |
| Roll | Whether each wheel is present; reported flat tires, locked wheels, dragging components or collapsed suspension. Record when rolling was last observed, or mark it not known. |
| Steer | Reported steering operation, column lock, wheels visibly out of alignment and missing or damaged steering components. Keep wheel position separate from an assumption that steering works. |
| Brake | Reported service-brake and parking-brake condition separately; known faults or missing parts; source and date of the information. Mark untested functions not known. |
| Keys and access controls | Keys or fobs available, who holds them, whether doors can be opened, and known electronic locks or alarms. Ask the operator about access requirements; do not improvise overrides. |
| Site access at both ends | Surface, slope, gate width, overhead clearance, restricted hours and space available around the vehicle. Include photographs and any measurements already available. Ask the operator whether its equipment can enter and work there. |
| Dimensions and weight | Available length, width, height, ground clearance and weight, with units and source. Identify estimates, lowered suspension, protruding parts and changes from factory dimensions. Leave unavailable measurements unknown. |
| Known hazards and damage | Reported leaks, flood or fire exposure, battery damage, loose panels, broken glass, missing wheels and structural damage. Identify the source; do not label a suspected hazard resolved without supporting assessment. |
| Loose parts | Separate components, their approximate dimensions and weight if known, and proposed packaging. Ask whether they are accepted and whether separate handling is required. |
| Unknowns and attachments | List unanswered questions, who can resolve them, dated photographs and relevant workshop notes you have permission to share. Ask which unknowns prevent a firm response. |
This is a description form, not a transport acceptance certificate. Avoid copying a listing's “runs” answer into every movement field. The DNF Score explanation describes the listing score's limits; it is not a transport assessment.
Flag suspected battery damage before routine booking
The US NHTSA guidance on flood-damaged vehicles warns that flooded hybrid and electric vehicles can present high-voltage shock and fire hazards, and directs owners who suspect battery damage to their dealer.
Tell the provider about flood exposure or suspected battery damage before requesting ordinary collection. Ask the manufacturer or dealer and a transport specialist what assessment and arrangements are needed. Do not treat a general non-running-car quote as acceptance of a damaged high-voltage vehicle. Local handling requirements still need a route-specific check.
Compare the scope of each response
Ask each provider to refer to the same dated brief. Request these answers in writing so you can see whether the responses describe the same job.
| Point to compare | Provider A | Provider B |
|---|---|---|
| Exact vehicle condition accepted, including unknowns | Fill in | Fill in |
| Collection and delivery access assumptions | Fill in | Fill in |
| Loading, unloading and any separate recovery responsibility | Fill in | Fill in |
| Loose parts included or excluded | Fill in | Fill in |
| Collection window, delivery window and dependencies | Fill in | Fill in |
| Included work, exclusions and circumstances requiring revision | Fill in | Fill in |
| Damage documentation, coverage terms and claim contact | Fill in | Fill in |
For a US interstate move, distinguish the arranger from the carrier. FMCSA's automobile-transporter advisory explains that a broker arranges transportation. Ask for the legal business names and relevant USDOT/MC identifiers, then use FMCSA's official lookup guidance to check the corresponding records. Request the actual carrier's identity when assigned. This US check does not establish Canadian or other countries' requirements, cargo coverage for your vehicle or acceptance of its condition.
Keep the brief current through collection
Ask for a revised response if the condition, parts load or access changes. Arrange who will document the condition at collection and delivery. The damage photography guide can help you plan the record; take only photographs you can obtain without approaching a known hazard.
DNF does not arrange transport. If the route crosses a border, use the cross-border guide for the separate paperwork questions. Browse vehicle inventory, then build a condition brief for the specific project before committing to collection.
Questions and answers
Is non-running enough information for a transport quote?
No. Provide separate, dated information about rolling, steering, braking, keys and access at both locations, with the source of each answer. Mark unchecked functions as not known.
Can loose parts travel with the car?
Ask the chosen provider whether it accepts the specific components and requires separate handling. Describe their approximate dimensions, weight and proposed packaging where known, then record what the quote includes or excludes.
What should I do if condition or site access changes after the quote?
Request a revised response describing the changed condition, parts load or access. Keep the brief current and agree who will document condition at collection and delivery.
Sources
The pages we relied on, which have the final say. Rules, fees and auction terms change, so check them before you buy, repair, register or resell a vehicle.
- Passport Transport: FAQ on inoperable vehicles, access and loose items (passporttransport.com)
- NHTSA: Hurricane- and Flood-Damaged Vehicles, wet electric-vehicle batteries (nhtsa.gov)
- FMCSA: Consumer Advisory About Automobile Transporters (fmcsa.dot.gov)
- FMCSA: Looking up interstate operating authority (fmcsa.dot.gov)
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