Shipping a car after an accident abroad. Practical procedure from dispatch to delivery

An accident abroad is a stressful situation. The car ends up at a repair shop or a depot, and the client deals with insurance, documents, and the actual transport home. We will show how to simplify the entire process and safely move a crashed vehicle to Slovakia.

First steps immediately after the accident

After ensuring health and calling the police, attention turns to the vehicle. A few things significantly simplify later transport.

Accident report

Fill out the European accident report or request a police protocol. The document will be needed by your insurer and the carrier for the CMR documents.

Condition photo documentation

Right after the accident, take as many photos as possible. The whole body from all sides, details of the damage, the interior, the wheels, the underside from below if possible, the VIN plate. These photos later serve as a comparison reference against the condition at carrier pickup.

Keys and documents

Take all keys, the registration document, the service book, and personal items out of the car. If the car ends up at a depot or repair shop, access to the vehicle may be restricted.

Coordination with the insurer

For larger damage, the insurer decides whether it is repairable damage or a total loss. This decision affects the location from which we pick up the vehicle.

A repairable car at the repair shop

Some clients prefer to bring the vehicle to Slovakia and repair it at home. In that case, obtain confirmation from the repair shop that the vehicle can leave the premises. Often an invoice for diagnostics or inspection is required, which must be paid.

Total loss and pickup from a depot

If the insurer has decided on a total loss, the car may be at the insurer's depot or at a police impound. To enter, a power of attorney or proof of ownership is required. Our dispatch can communicate directly with the depot in the language of the country.

Vehicle condition and type of loading

Drivable after an accident

If the car starts and the wheels turn, this is a standard loading on its own wheels. We recommend an enclosed truck so that broken windows, loose parts, or deformed sheet metal are not damaged further by airflow on an open transporter.

Wheels turning, but not starting

A classic non-runner. We use a winch and a low-deck loader. The vehicle is pulled onto the platform and fixed with soft straps at chassis points.

Seized wheels or deformed chassis

The most difficult scenario. After an impact, tires may be deformed or pushed into the wheel arch. Sometimes there is also a problem with steering that does not turn. The solution is individual. Skid plates under the wheels, a special forklift, or another procedure. Before the order, we always request photos.

Documents we will need

• Accident report or police protocol.
• Invoice or power of attorney from the repair shop or depot, or confirmation of payment of parking fees.
• Registration document or proof of ownership.
• ID or passport of the owner.
• For total loss, communication with the insurer regarding takeover of the wreck.

VIN photo documentation before and after

For every shipment we produce photo documentation at loading and at unloading. A photo of the VIN, photos of all sides of the body, photos of damage and the interior. For crashed vehicles this step is critical. The condition after the accident is often very similar to the condition after transport, and it is important to clearly distinguish original damage from any new damage.

This record is part of the CMR documentation and serves as evidence material in case of a claim.

CMR insurance and supplementary insurance

Every international transport is covered by CMR insurance under the international convention on road transport of goods. For crashed vehicles a specific situation applies. The subject of transport is a wreck or damaged vehicle. The value is determined by the post-accident condition, not the original value of the car.

For higher values or collector vehicles, we offer supplementary insurance. For classics and hypercars we arrange higher coverage individually on request.

Door to door service

Our standard is door to door. We pick up directly from the repair shop, depot, or auction, and deliver to the customer's address. The client does not need to deal with logistics across multiple countries. Details about this type of service can be found on the door to door transport page.

GPS tracking and 24/7 dispatch

After loading, the client receives live GPS tracking. They see the truck's position continuously. Our dispatch operates 24/7, and we respond to any question regardless of the hour.

Frequently asked questions

My car is at a repair shop in Austria. Can you pick it up directly from there?

Yes. We need a contact for the repair shop and a document that the vehicle can leave the premises. We can handle the communication directly.

The car is completely deformed after a frontal impact. What is needed?

Send us photos from all sides. We will assess whether the wheels turn and whether winch loading is possible. If not, we will propose an alternative procedure.

Does CMR insurance also cover a crashed vehicle?

Yes. The subject of transport is the vehicle in its current state. CMR insurance applies to damage that could occur during the transport itself. The condition before loading must be documented photographically.

What if the insurer determined a total loss and the car is at a foreign depot?

We can communicate with the depot directly in the country's language. The client provides us with a power of attorney or proof of ownership, and we arrange the pickup.

How long does transport of a crashed car from Western Europe take?

For a standard corridor from Germany, Belgium, or the Netherlands to Slovakia, it is one to three working days from loading.

What's next

Send us photos of the vehicle, the location of the repair shop or depot, and a contact. We will prepare a quote and propose a date. We work with more than 150 partners across 200 and more corridors in twenty-eight EU countries plus UK, CH, and NO. Since 2013 we have known how to safely bring a crashed car home.

Request a quote, see how we approach non-runners, or read the details of door to door service.