Moving a non-runner or an accident-damaged vehicle requires significantly more care than a standard drive-on collection. Whether the vehicle is being recovered from a salvage yard like Copart or pulled from a private driveway, proper preparation ensures the car doesn't suffer further damage and poses absolutely no danger on the motorway.
Here is the essential checklist for securing and transporting non-runners and accident-damaged vehicles safely.
1. Secure All Four Corners (Regardless of Condition)
When a non-runner is loaded onto a transporter, it must be securely strapped down by all four wheels. However, accident-damaged vehicles often arrive with shattered alloys or completely missing wheels.
The Rule: Never leave a corner unsecured. If a wheel is missing or broken, you must still strap down that corner by wrapping your transport straps securely around what is left of the suspension arms, the axle, or the nearest solid chassis mounting point.
2. Securing the Bonnet (The Golden Rule)
Front-end collisions frequently compromise the vehicle's bonnet catch. If a bonnet flies open at motorway speeds, it will rip the hinges, smash the windscreen, and potentially cause a severe hazard to other drivers.
You must strap the bonnet down securely to prevent it from catching the wind, but how you strap it is critical.
A vehicle's suspension continues to bounce, compress, and rebound during transit, even when the wheels are strapped down. If you strap the bonnet directly to the rigid bed of your transporter, the car's natural suspension movement will forcefully pull against the strap, bending, creasing, or entirely ripping the bonnet. Always strap the bonnet directly to the vehicle's own chassis or subframe underneath.
3. Managing Loose Plastics and Debris
Accident-damaged vehicles rarely come in one clean piece. You will often encounter dragging bumpers, loose wheel arch liners, hanging undertrays, or cracked grilles.
Before moving the transporter, ensure absolutely no loose pieces can detach during transit. Use bungee cords, zip ties, or light-duty hook straps to tightly secure any flailing or loose plastics to the main body of the vehicle.
4. Safe Unloading: Brakes and Wheel Dollies
Getting the car onto the transporter is only half the battle. Unloading a non-runner safely at the destination requires communication and the right equipment.
- Rolling Vehicles: If the vehicle's wheels are intact and it rolls freely, always physically check if the vehicle's foot brake or handbrake still functions before rolling it down the ramps. A heavy non-runner without functioning brakes is incredibly dangerous on a downward incline.
- Broken or Locked Wheels: If a wheel is seized, heavily damaged, or entirely missing, do not drag the vehicle down the ramps, as this will gouge your trailer bed and cause further mechanical damage to the car. You must use heavy-duty wheel dollies (recovery skates) under the compromised corner. This allows the vehicle to glide off the transporter smoothly and safely.