What Is An Inoperable Vehicle?

Dealing with an inoperable vehicle can be frustrating for many car owners, especially when you need to have it transported from point A to point B. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether your car is truly considered ‘inoperable’.

And doing so is extremely important, as most state laws prevent you from taking an inoperable vehicle on the road. If you want to learn more about this subject, A-1 Auto Transport has prepared this short guide that can help:

Defining an Inoperable Vehicle

Usually, an inoperable vehicle is any car that:

• Has had certain parts such as the engine, wheels, or transmission removed;
• Has suffered certain alterations;
• Cannot be driven under its own power because of damage;
• Doesn’t have license plates or proof of current registration required by law.

As you can see, inoperable form from a legal standpoint does not only mean a vehicle that cannot be driven because of damage, which is what most car owners consider.

If you have a vehicle that doesn’t have its license plates up to date, or you lost its proof of registration, by law this is also considered an inoperable vehicle. Taking such a car on the road could result in a fine if you are stopped by the police.

What Can You Do with an Inoperable Vehicle That Needs to Be Moved?

There are many reasons why you might need to move an inoperable vehicle, from getting the car off the road after it broke down to transporting a vehicle you just bought to another location, and not having the right paperwork ready to drive it yet.

In these cases, you’re much better off working with an auto transport company that can help you navigate this issue with ease. Transport companies have the right resources to move the inoperable vehicle even in cases where it cannot be driven at all due to damage or missing parts.

Additionally, if you need to ship an inoperable vehicle across the country and state lines, there may be some legal matters to navigate as well, which is another area where an auto transport company can assist you.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship an Inoperable Vehicle?

Shipping rates in the auto transport industry are not as clear as you might expect. Many factors can greatly influence the rates:

• Size of the car
• Delivery location
• Shipping timeline
• Shipping season
• Insurance
• Special requirements, etc.

In some cases, shipping an inoperable vehicle may cost a bit more than shipping an operable car under the same circumstance. If you could drop off and pick up the operable car from the transporter’s hub yourself, this can lower your rates a fair bit. But with inoperable cars, you are most likely in need of door-to-door delivery since you cannot drive the vehicle yourself.

However, shipping rates can vary greatly from one company to the other. This is why we recommend asking for a free estimate for multiple companies to get a better sense of their pricing, then using these estimates to see which has rates that suit your budget the most.

A-1 Auto Transport Is Here to Help

If you are dealing with an inoperable vehicle that needs to be shipped, the A-1 Auto Transport team is here to assist you and make this process run smoothly.

Our experienced auto shipping team knows how to best approach an inoperable car and ensure it safely reaches the intended destination. We will provide you with the right combination of expertise and support to navigate all your shipping needs.

If you want to learn more, we encourage you to reach out to our friendly customer services team by calling 1-888-230-9116.