On this page
A planned movement with one clear job description
Before arranging car transport, put the collection address, delivery address and vehicle details together. It sounds simple, but a seller's home, the place the car is stored and the address receiving the invoice may all be different. AtWheel needs the place where the car will physically be released and the place where it will physically be unloaded. For a Portchester enquiry, the full street address is as important as the postcode.
State the registration, make, model and current condition. Explain whether it runs, rolls and steers, and who has the keys. If the person booking is not the owner or seller, identify who can approve collection. The purpose is to agree one movement that everyone understands, rather than let the seller, buyer and receiving garage each work from a different assumption. Our Hampshire vehicle transport service uses these details to assess the job.
Tell us your preferred date and any real limits on it. A seller available all afternoon gives a different planning option from a workshop that releases vehicles only by appointment. Make that distinction early. Do not promise a collection time on AtWheel's behalf before availability has been discussed. A complete enquiry makes it easier to work through timing and price together.
Collecting from a Portchester home
At a private property, describe the drive and the car's parking position. Is it nose-first against a wall, behind another vehicle or beyond a narrow gate? Does the approach change slope sharply from the road? Those details matter even if the car starts normally. If it cannot move, the loading arrangement needs more careful consideration. Do not push it into the street or borrow a neighbour's access without discussing permission and suitability first.
Ask the seller for current photographs if you are buying remotely. Old advertisement pictures may show the car in a different position or before a mechanical problem developed. The useful view includes the entrance and surrounding space, as well as the vehicle itself. Photographs support the description; they do not confirm that brakes release or wheels roll. If nobody knows, state that clearly and have the uncertainty considered before booking.
Agree who will meet the collection and hand over keys. The sale and payment terms remain between buyer and seller. AtWheel cannot release a vehicle that the seller has not authorised, nor resolve a disagreement about what was sold. Give the releasing person the registration and any collection reference so the correct car is identified, especially if more than one vehicle is kept at the address.
Castle-side locations and exact site names
Castle Street connects the Portchester centre towards the castle, while the council lists Castle Small and Castle Large as separate parking sites. Wicor Recreation is another named coastal site. If a car has been left at one of these locations awaiting a planned move, identify the correct site and its current parking position. A landmark is helpful context but should not replace an exact collection point and release instructions.
Confirm any site permission and gate arrangements with the operator. A transport booking does not extend parking permission or settle outstanding parking charges. Tell AtWheel if a keyholder or site employee must attend. A car that is easy to reach during public opening hours may be inaccessible when a gate closes, so disclose those constraints before agreeing the collection window.
For routes involving nearby areas, our Fareham transport page and Cosham transport page provide related information. The actual addresses determine the route, regardless of which local page you first visit. Portchester's position at Fareham's eastern edge does not create a separate pricing rule; we calculate the job from our base via pickup to delivery.
The £3-per-mile calculation explained
AtWheel's transport route begins at PO13 8DG, continues to the collection postcode and then to the delivery postcode. The rate is £3 per mile for both legs. It is not a calculation based only on the miles your car travels after loading. There is no automatic return leg to base in the stated formula, and the recovery call-out should not be assumed to be an additional charge for a planned transport job.
As an example with illustrative distances, an approach of 15 miles and a delivery leg of 28 miles would total 43 miles. That would make a £129 mileage amount at £3 per mile. It is not a price quotation for Portchester. Your real locations determine the route, and the vehicle, access and any job extras still need checking. The transport quote form is the place to provide the postcodes and practical details.
A form submission or estimate is not confirmation of an available slot or completed payment. Include the date and any unusual loading requirements in the enquiry, then have the full arrangement confirmed. If the seller relocates the car or you choose a different receiving garage, update AtWheel. Even a change that looks small on a map can alter the route or the access on which the original quote was based.
Garage-to-garage and trade collections
When a repairer releases a car for further work elsewhere, ask about its condition after the first stage of repairs. Components may have been removed or the car may no longer move as it did on arrival. Tell AtWheel about loose parts, missing wheels, locked brakes or bodywork that needs attention during handling. The receiving garage should be told the same facts so it can prepare a suitable space.
Confirm the workshop's vehicle entrance and the person authorised to release keys. Customer opening hours are not always collection hours, particularly where handovers require a particular member of staff. For a dealer purchase, provide the stock reference and release instructions. Our dealer and auction collection guidance helps you identify what to ask for before a date is settled.
If loose components or extra wheels accompany the car, list them in advance. Do not assume a workshop will pack everything or that an additional load can be added on the day. Keep the agreed items with the handover instructions so buyer, seller and recipient have a common record. A transport quote needs to reflect the movement as it will actually happen.
Moving a non-runner or a car kept for restoration
For non-runner transport, distinguish a failure to start from a failure to move. A car with freely turning wheels and working steering has different requirements from one with a seized brake or suspension damage. Say whether keys are present, and whether the parking brake can be released using the normal controls. If these points have not been checked, we can discuss the uncertainty rather than relying on a guess.
For a classic or low car, provide details of ground clearance, modifications and any owner's handling instructions. The classic car transport page sets out useful preparation. A steep driveway lip or tight entrance can matter even on a short journey. Do not improvise a tow or force movement to make the car appear ready; describe its present condition and position so suitability can be considered properly.
If the car has just broken down on a road, use Portchester recovery for immediate assistance. A planned transport enquiry is for an agreed movement, while a roadside incident first needs its safety and location understood. Tell us which situation applies when calling, because the appropriate next step and pricing discussion depend on that distinction.
Vans, clearance and the last few metres
AtWheel can discuss vans up to 3,500 kg, with their actual load, body type and dimensions checked. Roof equipment, fitted racking and materials inside all belong in the description. For covered parking, provide the posted clearance. Our equipment can work with 2.1 m clearance, but ramps, turns and loading room still need assessment. Access below 2.1 m is not promised, and a barrier-free entrance alone does not establish a suitable route.
At delivery, choose a position where the car can remain without blocking a shared drive or business access. Arrange a recipient who can accept it and receive the keys. Call 07444 400271 with those details to discuss availability. AtWheel is part of SteelMarch Group, and we will work through the collection, route and handover so your Portchester move is agreed from end to end.