Vehicle movement for dealers: a practical guide

Last reviewed 5 July 2026

Booking a vehicle movement should be as unremarkable as booking a parcel — but with a five-figure asset, evidence matters. This guide walks a dealer through the first movements: what to prepare, how pricing works, what the driver does, and what protection the proof workflow gives you.

Step 1 — describe the movement honestly

Every downstream decision hangs on two facts: where the vehicle is going, and what state it is in. A runner with a current MOT can move on trade plates; a non-runner, an accident-damaged car, or anything you would hesitate to drive belongs on a transporter. Declaring condition honestly is not bureaucracy — a driver who arrives to a "runner" that does not start is a failed collection, and failed collections cost everyone time and goodwill.

Step 2 — book at a fixed price

The platform prices the movement when you book it: distance, movement type, condition and urgency in; a fixed figure out. No waiting for quotes, no auction, no follow-up calls. Payment is confirmed before the job is released to drivers, so a vehicle is never handed over with the commercial side unsettled.

Step 3 — a vetted driver accepts

  • Drivers are manually approved with document checks before they see work.
  • The first suitable driver accepts at the fixed payout — nobody wins by undercutting.
  • Collection specifics (auction codes, contacts) go to the assigned driver only.

Step 4 — proof before the wheels turn

The driver photographs the vehicle at collection — condition, mileage, timestamps — and the job cannot progress without the required set. The same happens at delivery. This is the heart of the system: condition disputes become evidence questions.

Step 5 — follow the record, not the phone

Statuses update as the movement progresses: on the way, collected, in transit, delivered. The finished job keeps its full history. Most dealers stop ringing drivers within their first few movements — the record answers faster.

Frequently asked questions

What information do I need before booking a movement?

The vehicle (registration is enough to start), collection and delivery postcodes, when it can be collected, and an honest statement of condition — does it start, drive, brake and steer as it should? Condition decides whether the movement is driven or transported.

How is the price decided?

At booking, from the movement itself: distance, movement type, vehicle condition and urgency. The price you see is the price — there is no bidding stage and no quote spam.

Who actually moves the vehicle?

A professional driver from the vetted network — manually approved, document-checked, with trade plate documentation for driven work. You follow the job record rather than managing the driver.

What do I get at the end?

A completed job record: condition photos from collection and delivery with timestamps, the status history of the movement, and the delivery handover evidence. If a question comes up weeks later, the answer is already recorded.

What if something goes wrong mid-movement?

The job carries live status, issues are raised on the record, and disputed movements are reviewed by a person against the photo evidence — with an audited outcome, not a phone argument.

Work in the motor trade?

RouteRelay is onboarding verified dealers, drivers and transport companies in controlled phases. Apply for access and quote any movement before you book.

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