Solihull non-runner callouts: what we do and what it costs
Between Kings Heath and Birmingham, non-runner is one of the more common reasons people ring us. In Solihull the pattern is usually suburban traffic on A34 plus tight parking, which is why we plan the approach before dispatch. Anyone who drives Solihull daily knows where A34 pinches; our drivers plan around it. Solihull is a suburban area, so day and night jobs look quite different. A 7-mile run into the centre is sometimes slower than a longer route round. Everything inside B90/B91/B92 is priced the same way, day or night.
- Cranmore
- Touchwood shopping centre
- B90 postcode area
Buying or selling a project car, a barn find, or something that's simply been sat too long to start reliably means it needs transporting rather than driven, and that's exactly the kind of job flatbed recovery is suited for, regardless of whether the car turns over at all.
What is actually going on
Vehicles that don't roll freely
A seized engine, seized brakes, or flat and perished tyres can mean a car won't roll even when pushed, which needs different loading equipment such as dollies or a winch rather than simply driving it up a ramp. Let us know if you suspect the car won't move freely so we bring the right kit.
Buying or selling at a distance
If you're buying a project car from a private seller and can't drive it home, or selling one to a buyer who needs it delivered, we can handle the collection and delivery leg so neither party needs to arrange their own trailer or worry about towing something unroadworthy.
Cars with no key or missing parts
Project cars often come without keys, a working ignition, or sometimes even seats and an interior. None of this stops us loading and transporting the vehicle, since it doesn't need to be driven onto the truck — we can winch it aboard regardless.
- Seized or non-rolling vehicles need dollies or winching, not driving
- Missing keys, seats or interior don't prevent safe transport
- Let us know the vehicle's actual condition in advance, not just 'non-runner'
- We can collect from fields, garages, storage units or private sales
Solihull in practical terms
The commercial spine of Solihull runs through Cranmore, with Touchwood shopping centre as the obvious landmark. If you can name either when you ring, the dispatcher can place you inside B90/B91/B92 immediately and brief the driver on the approach.
Nearby areas we cover for this
Solihull sits between Kings Heath and Birmingham. These neighbouring areas are on the same rota, with distances measured from Solihull.
Getting a truck to you in Solihull
Solihull is close enough to base that we quote it as a local run, not a distance job. Landmarks we use for Solihull directions: Touchwood shopping centre and Birmingham Airport nearby. Locked wheels, missing keys and flat tyres all change the kit list for a B90 job. You deal with the same operation from the first call to the drop-off.
Residential and commercial jobs differ here
A domestic non-runner job in Solihull is usually about getting one car to one garage. A commercial one is about downtime — a van off the road near Cranmore is a day's work gone, so we prioritise a roadside attempt before recovery.
- Homeowners and tenants: recovery to a local garage or your driveway
- Landlords and letting agents: vehicles blocking access at managed properties
- Fleet and courier operators: same-shift turnaround where possible
- Dealers and bodyshops around Kings Heath: stock movements
Cover and compliance for Solihull MBC jobs
- Realistic ETA based on real distance, typically 12-16 miles of running
- Driver calls ahead when they are close
- Delivery to your garage, home or storage anywhere across West Midlands
- Regular work for garages and bodyshops in and around Solihull
Recap for B90/B91/B92
Between Kings Heath and Birmingham there is usually a truck within a short run. Non-runner from here is a single-vehicle job with no hand-off. Cranmore generates a steady stream of commercial callouts; the residential side is a different job entirely. If the vehicle is in a multi-storey, tell us the level: deck height rules out some trucks entirely. We would rather turn a job down than turn up with the wrong truck. Distances we work to here: 12 miles from the Oldbury yard, 7 to the city centre.
Related faults in Solihull
Solihull questions
Which postcodes around Solihull do you cover?
B90/B91/B92 directly, plus the surrounding Kings Heath, Birmingham, Edgbaston. It all sits inside the Solihull MBC operating area we work daily, so there is no out-of-area surcharge.
What if the car has no interior or is missing panels in Solihull?
That's not a problem for transport — we secure the vehicle for the journey regardless of its cosmetic or interior condition.
How quickly can you reach Solihull?
We are based in Oldbury, about 12 miles away, and come in via M42 J5 then A34. Outside peak hours that is a short run; at rush hour add time for the A34 corridor. The dispatcher gives you a real ETA on the call rather than a standard promise.
Can you collect from a private seller's driveway or a field in Solihull?
Yes, we regularly collect project cars and non-runners from all sorts of locations, including fields, garages and private sales.
Does the car need to start or roll for you to move it in Solihull?
No, we can load vehicles that are completely seized or won't roll, using dollies or a winch rather than needing the car to move under its own power.
Do you work at night in Solihull?
Yes — 24 hours, including weekends and bank holidays. Night jobs here are often on detached family homes where nobody wants a truck idling; we keep lighting and noise sensible and load as quickly as we safely can.
One number for Solihull, Kings Heath and the rest of the Solihull MBC area
We keep a truck within reach of Solihull on every shift, including overnight.