Preston based European car transport company Anchor Vehicle Logistics (AVL) has recently invested over £500,000 in new vehicles to build upon their fleet of dedicated European vehicle transporters.

The new additions, two Scania R480’s which have already taken to the roads, become the company’s flagship transporters as they deliver privately owned vehicles to holiday homes and airports throughout Europe.

Offering an unprecedented and personal service to a host of high profile clients and individuals, AVL continue to demonstrate their strength in the market place as they look to further increase the European profile of the business.

Managing Director Gary Gardner commented that. “We have always positioned ourselves as an elite car transportation company.  Providing a door to door service, along with the highest levels of customer care and investing in state of the art vehicles and equipment has been what sets us apart from others in the industry.”

He continued, “Our new transporters give us the image that we want and the image our customers expect.”

The impressive Scania’s have arrived with 480bhp, automatic transmission, and complying to the latest Euro 5 emission standards as well as boasting a host of extras that any company would be proud of, including leather seats, air conditioning, climate control, a microwave and even a coffee machine to keep thirst at bay on long journeys.

Gary explained, “As drivers are away from home, in some cases up to a week at a time and are frequenting hotter climates we feel it imperative to give drivers home comforts as well as making sure that they have full control of the temperature inside the cab.”

Preparing for the busy summer months, the vehicles can be seen throughout Europe, with weekly deliveries to France, Spain and Portugal.

Located in southern Spain, only forty minutes away from Malaga Airport, La Zagaleta is an exclusive development and resort that
benefits from a stunning location and extensive facilities including two private eighteen hole championship golf courses, an equestrian centre, two club houses, a private heliport and six reservoirs.

If that isn’t enough to keep you occupied, the lavish estate benefits from a vast expanse of greenery, perfect for hiking, jogging and mountain biking. As one of the most exclusive areas in the world, La Zagaleta really does cater for your every need and it’s not difficult to see why our drivers voted it one of their favourites to visit, which is convenient considering AVL are currently transporting La Zagaleta residents’ vehicles on a weekly basis. Perfect for a tranquil and luxurious retreat in the mild Mediterranean climate, La Zagaleta is perfectly located to explore the local Spanish culture, within reach of Andalucia, Malaga, Marbella and Puerto Banus, being only an hour’s drive along the beautiful coastal route.

If you are thinking of heading to La Zagaleta, or any other European destination this Easter or Summer, call us now on 01772 886677 for a quote to transport your vehicle abroad, or visit our website for more information.

Although 2012 has barely started, the savage winter weather has made 1000′s of people book for sunnier climates and also make provisions for their car. Along with our regular annual commitments this has lead to a higher than normal demand for our service.

We would ask anyone who requires their car transporting during Easter or Summer to contact AVL today. Visit our website http://www.anchorvehiclelogistics.com to make a reservation or call us on +44(0)1772 886677.

Factors such as the outdoor lifestyle, traditional family values and positive outlook on life were said to be contributors to Spain’s popularity despite the economic troubles that have been experienced by the country, which one expat describing the effects of the economy as; ‘despite the economic downturn, we have never been happier’.

With the survey covering a wide variety of lifestyle areas including quality of life and cost of living, this is great news for those Brits considering a new life in the Mediterranean climate.

Following our reports last week that France is the most popular destination for British expats, the survey results indicate that Spain may pose some serious competition, with areas such as Marbella, Andalucía and Majorca proving popular destinations when making the big move.

If you are looking to head off to sunny Spain with your treasured automobile, call AVL or visit our website further information and a customised quotation for transporting your car to your new home or even your destination airport, to make the most of the stunning Spanish scenery which many British expats are already enjoying!

18,000 Britons took the move over the English Channel in 2012, with the most popular destinations for expats being Monaco, Nice and Cote D’Azur; areas renowned for luxurious lifestyles and glorious weather.

With the  2^nd most popular European expat destination going to Spain, almost a third more chose to live permanently in France, which may be attributed to the country’s attractive mortgages (ranging between 3.4% and 3.8%) and rising property prices that France has enjoyed despite the uncertainties of the European economic climate.

If you are thinking of joining the 18,000 Brits already living the French dream, why not speak to AVL about taking your vehicle with you, to make your move hassle free and easy to get around with the comfort of your own car. We can deliver your vehicle directly to your new European home, or to your destination airport for maximum convenience. Call one of our team now on 01772 88 66 77 for a quote or visit our website for further information.

The poll which included over 2,000 British people also found that tap water and favourite TV programmes are sorely missed by those living abroad or on holiday.

Whilst we can’t give you your soaps fix whilst away in Europe, AVL can arrange to transport your beloved car wherever you are heading in Europe, and bring it back when the time is right. We can deliver your vehicle directly to your holiday home/destination or even to your arrival airport to save you the hassle of taxis and public transport.

So why not take one of your home comforts abroad and make your trip a little more relaxing with the reassurance of your own car! Call our customer service team now for a personalised quote on +44(0)1772 886677 or visit our website for more information

According to a new Money Box programme by BBC Radio 4, there seems to be a rising number of consumers being let down by rental companies failing to return their deposits despite returning their rental car exactly as they had received it.

Consumers interviewed by the programme had also been landed with unexpected deposits to pay upon the arrival of their hire car. Some consumers have also been hit with damage charges administered long after their rental vehicle has been returned, proving difficult to dispute.

With car hire reliability becoming increasingly questionable, why not eliminate car rental stresses and take your own car on your next trip? AVL can transport your car anywhere in Europe directly to your holiday home or even to your destination airport safely, securely and on time. There are no hidden costs and we can transport your car back to the UK when your trip is over. If you would like a personalised quote for transporting your car across Europe, please contact one of our team on +44(0)1772 886677 or visit our website.

Following an uncommon period of mild weather across France, Switzerland and Austria, skiers everywhere were breathing a sigh of relief, as up to 30cm of snowfall has ended the slow start to the season Europe which has been experiencing its  warmest and driest autumn since 1864.

Resorts that have been at a standstill hope that the snow will continue to fall. Forecasts are predicting further snowfall, with a number of French resorts expecting anything between 10cm to 40cm later in the week.

Swiss skiers in both Andermatt and Arosa were relieved to see snowflakes, allowing them on their slopes for the first time last weekend, with Davos seeing 5cm and Zermatt 10cm of fresh snow. Samnaun received one of the highest amounts in Switzerland with around 30cm of snowfall.  Prior to this, the weather had been too warm for ‘fake’ snow in Switzerland, with cannons employed to produce snow at Klosters unable to operate in the temperatures until night time.

Obergurgl in Austria reported 10cm of fresh snow enabling 15 out of 24 ski lifts to open.

If you’re planning a trip to the newly blanketed snowy slopes, why not take your car with you, and let AVL take care of its transportation to ensure your vehicle is safely carried across Europe. For more information, please call a member of our customer care team on +44(0)1772 886677 for a customised quote.

AVL Recently transported this beautiful Bentley. For more images, visit our Flickr photo stream

Thousands of Britons make the move and emigrate to France every single year, and many more of us dream of the advantages that it could bring – a warmer climate, better lifestyle and change in culture.  But what’s the reality of emigration to la belle France?

First Moves

The first stage of moving to France isn’t really a physical one, but it is crucially important. The initial research and preparation plans you make really sets the tone for the entire process, but simply working out if it’s truly the right choice for you. Absolute certainty about the ‘rightness’ of the move and general positive approach cannot be over-emphasised. Most importantly, don’t rush such a big decision.

The French generally still prefer personal contact (via telephone or in person) but even so, the Internet is an invaluable research tool for house prices and employment prospects.  Try www.immofrance.com, www.expatica.com and www.relocate-france.co.uk for a start, along with Google Maps to explore various locations of houses of interest in France.  Although the French are a polite and kind nation, they can also be very bureaucratic and will tend to assume that you will research and find out information for yourself, rather than them leading you by the hand.

It’s a good idea to get familiar with French customs.  For example, the way to greet people varies depending on the gender, age, situation, person and time of day. These small details are not strictly necessary to know before going out, but may just ease the transition.

Before leaving the UK permanently, there are several institutions to contact so that you are ready to start your new life in France.  If you are earn money from activities such as renting your home in the UK while living abroad, then you could be liable for income tax on those earnings.  Contact HM Revenue & Customs to check your status. You must also notify your bank and GP of the move abroad.  If you are getting your mail re-directed to your new address then also remember to contact the Post Office. Take time to think about who else might need to know – dentists, vets (if you are taking your pet with you) and so on. Oh, and do cancel the milk!

Try before you buy

We’d advise spending several weeks in the country in the off-season before even considering emigrating.  This avoids much of the ’on holiday’ feeling, which may sway your opinions too much. Remember, there is one language in France… and that’s French. Even though many people living around the larger cities will speak English, it is not in case in more rural areas. It is advisable to start learning the language as soon as possible as the French are intensely proud of their language and appreciate it when a foreigner at least attempts to speak their language.

Make yourself at home

Accommodation and financing are probably the biggest issues to consider in your plans. A French mortgage is basically an income-based loan, so to be eligible for a mortgage in France, you must be “resident for tax purposes” (also called fiscal resident status) – this is usually achieved after you have lived and worked in the country for over 183 days.

If you don’t have the luxury of funding your new home from the sale of a property back home, then there are generally two options open to you. You can either remortgage your existing property, or you can take out a new mortgage in either Euros or sterling, in which case you’ll need a French bank account to handle the various fees and payments. Renting an apartment or house initially may be a good start, giving you a base to search from and get a feel for an area without too much commitment.

If you use a French estate agent, ensure that they are members of SNPI or FNAIM. Make sure you bring all necessary documentation with you for arranging things like the mortgage. These include a copy of your passport(s) and birth certificate, overview of finances and marriage certificate (if applicable).

Vroom to move

It might be financially smart to export your car rather than rent or buy one once you arrive in France. This is where we come in. AVL is hugely experienced in providing a cost-effective way to take your own car with you, saving time and energy and allowing you to move around France at will.

We ensure that your car will arrive on time and in pristine condition, fully insured to true market value, and satellite tracked for the whole journey, transported by one of our own fleet of purpose built, open or fully enclosed transporters. Give us a call on +44(0)1772 886677 or visit Anchor Vehicle Logistics