Trade Plate Delivery ServiceDriven Vehicle Movements for Dealers, Traders & Fleets
Rapid Vehicle Delivery provides trade plate delivery across mainland UK for dealer stock, sold vehicles, part-exchanges and fleet movements. We hold our own trade plates and move suitable roadworthy vehicles by driving them directly between the collection and delivery points.
Around 95% of our movements are driven. Vehicles are inspected and condition-recorded before they move, with comprehensive cover up to £60,000 on driven deliveries.
What Trade Plate Delivery Actually Is
A trade plate is issued by the DVLA to registered motor traders and allows a vehicle to be driven for specific motor-trade purposes without taxing that individual vehicle for the journey. In practical delivery work, that can include moving stock between sites, delivering a sold vehicle to a customer, or taking a vehicle to a workshop, inspection or preparation facility.
The rules still matter. Trade plates are for business use, they apply to one vehicle at a time, and a vehicle that cannot legally or safely be driven should not be forced into a driven movement. Where the vehicle is a non-runner, has no valid MOT without an applicable legal exemption, or is otherwise unroadworthy, we move away from the driven option and quote the appropriate transported method instead.
Rapid Vehicle Delivery performs the movement using its own plates rather than lending or hiring plates to the customer. For the official rules and current requirements, see the DVLA trade licence plate guidance.
Trade Plate Vehicle Movements We Handle
The work is not one generic “car delivery” job. Dealer stock, customer deliveries and fleet movements each have different contacts, handovers and timing requirements.
Dealer stock transfers
Vehicle movements between branches, preparation sites, compounds, storage locations and forecourts. This can be a single transfer or several planned moves across the day.
Customer deliveries
Delivery of a sold vehicle from the dealership to the end customer at home or work. For repeat dealer-to-customer work, see fleet and dealer movements.
Part-exchange collections
Collection of the customer’s old vehicle as part of a delivery plan, either on the same visit where practical or as a separate movement.
Auction collections
Won stock can be collected from the auction compound and delivered to the forecourt. Release times and paperwork are handled as part of the job. See auction collection.
Repair, MOT and preparation runs
Moves to or from bodyshops, workshops, inspection sites and vehicle preparation facilities where the vehicle is suitable for a driven movement.
Fleet and leasing movements
De-fleet work, driver changeovers, end-of-lease returns and operational movements where the route can be planned efficiently around the vehicles involved.
Why Use a Trade Plate Delivery Company?
For a single roadworthy vehicle, a driven movement can avoid waiting for a transporter route to be built around several other vehicles. The job is planned around one vehicle, one route and the collection and delivery points.
Direct route planning
The movement is quoted against the route rather than waiting for a transporter slot. That suits dealer stock and sold vehicles that need to keep moving.
Condition recorded
Rapid Vehicle Delivery is run by Darryl Bosworth, with 15 years of vehicle inspection and delivery experience. Condition is recorded around collection and handover, giving the movement a clear record.
We do not force the method
If a vehicle is a non-runner, cannot legally be driven, or adding mileage is unsuitable, the right answer is transported delivery rather than pretending a driven job fits.
Trade Plate Delivery Prices
Single driven movements are priced on the route. Regular dealer and fleet work is different because volume, repeated routes and scheduling can change the commercial rate.
Cars start from £70 + VAT (£84 including VAT). Vans start from £80 + VAT, with suitable vehicles up to 7.5 tonne starting from £140 + VAT. The distance element changes by route length rather than using one flat rate for every mile.
For several movements each week, use the quote form or call to discuss repeat work instead of relying on a one-off calculator figure.
Practical Guidance Around Trade Plates
These supporting guides answer the questions that sit around the delivery service without forcing all of that information onto one commercial page.
Trade Plate Delivery Across Mainland UK
Rapid Vehicle Delivery is based in the East Midlands and covers mainland UK, including longer routes to Scotland and the North East. The service is planned around the collection and delivery postcodes rather than requiring the customer to be close to our base.
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are not currently covered. For the location structure and current coverage information, see Areas We Cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers before you book this type of vehicle movement.
Do you hold your own trade plates?
Can I hire or borrow your trade plates?
Can a vehicle be driven on trade plates without an MOT?
Is the vehicle insured during a trade plate movement?
How many vehicles can you move in a day?
Do you work with dealer groups on contract?
What happens if the vehicle is not roadworthy at collection?
How quickly can you collect?
Do you deliver sold cars directly to customers?
Do you cover Scotland?
Price a Trade Plate Movement or Discuss Regular Work
Use the calculator for a straightforward one-off driven job. For dealer groups, repeated routes, several vehicles or anything that may need transported delivery, send the details through the quote form.