Transporting car to Nice

[TP321]

Thinking of taking the car to the South of France this summer and wondering if people have any experience of car transportation companies and costs. I can drive it but I was just wondering if there is a reasonable and flexible alternative or whether cost wise it’s too prohibited.

[ted 191]

TP321 said:

Thinking of taking the car to the South of France this summer and wondering if people have any experience of car transportation companies and costs. I can drive it but I was just wondering if there is a reasonable and flexible alternative or whether cost wise it’s too prohibited.

I’ve done it a few times, personally I prefer to drive but we go in large groups and some don’t want to put miles on their cars, the last trip we had two transporters take the cars to Barcelona and pick them up in Nice 6 days later, cost was around £1600 each.
The cost for one car will be far higher, depending on how long you want to stay and if you want it brought back, last quote, 4/5 years ago was £2,500.

[Petrus1983]

I used to do this trip quite a lot. If you do end up driving you could aim for Versailles first - the Trianon Palace hotel is lovely and has a very safe car park. Then it’s an easy 7 hour drive down to Nice the next day without needing to go through Paris.

[andrew]

taking a car ferry to spain and driving around some of the wonderful empty roads ( that we paid for, after all ) appeals

[TP321]

Thanks but I am trying to keep the odd 2k miles off the car, and the risk of stone chips that come with it. Plus the 2 days of monotonous driving each way..all adds up in the end

[Petrus1983]

You could try putting something on Shiply (Shiply.com) and see who replies. I used to have someone who took a classic car all over the UK for me, he’s retired now, but that’s how I found him originally.

[TP321]

Petrus1983 said:

You could try putting something on Shiply (Shiply.com) and see who replies. I used to have someone who took a classic car all over the UK for me, he’s retired now, but that’s how I found him originally.

Good shout 👍🏻

[AinsleyB]

I drive to the south of France a lot, it doesn't have to be a waste of miles. Sure, the top bit is rubbish, but pick a nice place for lunch, then a nice route on interesting roads to your evening hotel. I can be good driving, great roads and all part of the driving adventure.

Isn't that why we own cars, to drive them.

[xcentric]

I see 3 sensible approaches:

1. Car ferry to Santander, then drive across - wonderful roads, and the long bit down down without putting miles on the car as it sits on the ferry whilst you relax above

2. Drive down through France but take the scenic, non-autoroute way and spend a few days - either down through Bordeaux and across, or east of Paris and down. Meaner through the countryside, finding wherever takes your fancy to stop

3. Buy or rent a trailer and tow it down behind a more standard car. On recent family holidays (pre Covid) we used to take a Caterham to the south of France, towing it behind a more usual car on it's trailer. Easy enough to do, not too expensive on the Eurotunnel or ferry, and ok for fuel if you didn't go too fast. Made for some fun driving from wherever we were staying down there, without the excitement of driving a Caterham for 2 whole days along an autoroute.....

[TP321]

Trailering it down sounds a cheaper alternative but then where do you store the trailer for a week if staying in a hotel?

[xcentric]

TP321 said:

Trailering it down sounds a cheaper alternative but then where do you store the trailer for a week if staying in a hotel?

We've been self-catering so it's less of an issue. But if the hotel has a car park it can probably go there without too much hassle, or find public parking close by and put it there, but with wheel clamps/hitch clamp or wheels removed for security!

[hornbaek]

Call On-time (https://www.ontime-auto.com). They will pick up the car and take it to wherever you want it in a designated closed lorry. If you are flexbile around the collection/delivery dates it will be cheeper. Cost are about 1200,00+VAT last time I used them. I find it very good value and have never had any problems. (Hasten to say that I am a customer, and not affiliated in any sense or direction).

[456mgt]

Had various people trailer cars down to/from Nice/Monaco and it's usually around £2k per leg. The main thing is that they're insured. We're using these guys to transport a car and a lot of other gear to Italy for us Ashley Wright, Wright Movements Ltd [phone].

If you're flexible on dates you may find it cheaper to use one of the big names like CARS since they're usually transporting several cars at once.

[DevonPaul]

xcentric said:

I see 3 sensible approaches:

1. Car ferry to Santander, then drive across - wonderful roads, and the long bit down down without putting miles on the car as it sits on the ferry whilst you relax above

This. Plymouth/Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander, and drive across the Pyrenees via Rioja region.

Not that much shorter, but a lot more interesting.

TP321 said:

Thanks but I am trying to keep the odd 2k miles off the car, and the risk of stone chips that come with it.

In that case fly down, hire a Fiat 500, and spend the savings getting your pride and joy PPFd, serviced, and detailed so it is in Pristine condition for the next owner.

[sparta6]

Buy a suitable property and keep it in the SoF. Your supercar will thank you for it

[MDL111]

I had a car plus some other stuff (tyres, rims, bottles) transported by Heaunique from the south of England to Munich on a covered trailer - it cost c. 3k from memory

[willy wombat]

Personally, I love the drive down to the French Riviera and/or Northern Italy and don’t find it a chore at all. Wonderful motorways that put ours to shame, Sanef tag so no stopping at the tolls. One or two overnight stops each way. We have our favourites but Harry’s road trips (Harry’s Garage videos) have good suggestions.

[Bispal]

We always drive down to the Cote d'Azure in a nice car, I would never miss the drive and stunning scenery. villages, picnics, hotels on the way, that's what life is about, not saving miles but making memories. Even if depreciation is £2 per mile its £4k on to the price of the holiday, that's well worth it and about the same as transport. Driving is a win win for me.

Eurostar to France then stay overnight at Troyes, then take the D996 to Dijon (amazing road, totally empty) then stay in Annecy (can go straight there in a day easy as well) then Route Napoleon to your chosen village on the coast.

Often the drive down and back is the highlight for me, make it part of your holiday. We barely use the car when there, the train on the Cote d'Azure is brilliant. So instead of supercars I have taken to buying a sportscar for the trip the last few times and selling when I return instead of using the McLaren, only because a supercar restricts where you can go, parking, small villages etc. last year I bought a 986 Boxster, did 3k miles down and sold for what I paid when I got back, its fun choosing a car too, the 981 spyder was a great trip car as was the 12C. This year undecided between 675LT or classic Mercedes SL.


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Edited by Bispal on Wednesday 23 February 08:54

[K50 DEL]

If you're serious about transporting it, talk to PH member Iguana.
This is his business and he's a pro.
Transported my 360 for me a few weeks ago and not long previously had taken £1m+ of Merc halfway across Europe.

He may be a few quid more but you know he's fully insured, even his trailers are properly registered for Europe with their own number plates and logbooks.

[douglasgdmw]

Can you put the car on the train, this website may help:

https://www.europeanrailguide.com/howto/taking-you...

Drove down to Italy a number of years back and took the car on the train for the way back and really pleasant experience.