Trade plate vehicle movements in Harwich and Dovercourt

Off the peninsula on the A120

The A120 is the only dual carriageway off the peninsula, and it carries our drivers all the way to the A12 at Marks Tey. When it closes, everything on the peninsula waits, so we plan around it rather than gambling on the B1352 through Wrabness and Manningtree with ferry traffic queuing behind.

Local hops are as welcome as long runs. Collecting in Dovercourt and delivering in the old town is one job, and so is collecting in Harwich and delivering to Glasgow. Manningtree, Walton-on-the-Naze, Clacton and Colchester are all close neighbours.

The town has three stations: Harwich Town in the old town, Dovercourt and Harwich International at the port. International is handy for a driver heading home after a Parkeston job, and we work out which one suits each delivery.

Auction collections from Manheim Frating

There is no auction site in Harwich, so most local buyers collect from Manheim Frating, a short run along the A120. BCA Chelmsford is the Essex BCA, and BCA Enfield sits further in if that is where your lot was bought.

We confirm with Frating, or whichever site you name, that the lot has been released before a driver sets off, so nobody waits at the gate. Our auction collection after release page explains how it works from Frating. A salvage lot from Frating would need a transporter instead.

Dealer moves and port vans around Harwich and Dovercourt

Most Harwich bookings come from local dealers sending stock to group sites in Colchester, Ipswich or Chelmsford. Part exchanges head to Frating once they are legal to drive. Fleet vans come off units at the port and Parkeston, and each needs a valid MOT before we can take it.

For a customer handover on a street off Church Street, our driver arrives in the car itself. There is no trailer trying to find somewhere to stop in the narrow old town. There is more on Tendring handovers on our site transfers and retail handovers page.

Parkeston, Dovercourt, the old town and a yard towards the Navyard each have their own last stretch. If the vehicle is inside the port, please book access with the gate and add the name of the person who can open the barrier.

Planning around ferry traffic at Parkeston

Ferry traffic at Parkeston and closures on the A120 are what most often slow a Harwich job, so pick a date you can keep and we will plan the drive around it. If the car is at Manheim Frating, release still has to be confirmed before we go.

The paperwork never changes, even on a short hop from Dovercourt. Condition and photos are recorded at collection, the receiver signs on delivery and you get one report by email.

Booking a CO12 movement with OVM

Anything we collect in Harwich must be roadworthy and legal to drive, with a valid MOT where one is required. Cars and light vans are fine, but HGVs and rigids are not. From the moment we collect it until the receiver signs, our motor trade road risk insurance covers the vehicle. To see how it all fits together, read about driven trade plate vehicle movements and how OVM covers the UK from Glasgow.

Enter the registration, both postcodes and your dates for an instant quote with no account needed, or call 0141 459 1302. If you need our company details, we trade as OVM and are registered as OVM Ltd, SC834621.