Antique and Art Courier Service UK
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Porta connects art dealers, antique dealers, galleries, auction houses, restorers and private collectors with vetted independent drivers across the UK.
Delivering a sold piece, collecting an auction purchase or returning an item after restoration? Get an instant online quote for collection and delivery.
Art, antiques, auction lots
Art and antiques collected and delivered across the UK.
Collection from showrooms, galleries and auction houses, with delivery to your buyer.
Arranging collection for art and antiques
A marble-topped console table or a gilt-framed portrait needs more preparation than a boxed parcel. Check the dimensions and weight, explain any awkward access and make sure the piece is protected before collection.
For museum-grade pieces or work requiring specialist packing and conservation-grade transport, use a specialist fine art shipper. For other collections, give accurate details about the piece so your booking reflects what needs moving.
With Porta, you can get an online price and arrange collection and delivery through the platform. Include the item dimensions, weight and any fragile handling requirements when booking.
Who uses Porta for art and antiques?
Antique dealers
Delivering sold pieces to buyers, collecting stock from house clearances, moving items between shops or storage. Porta gives you on-demand delivery capacity without running your own van.
Art galleries
Moving works between galleries, delivering sold pieces to collectors, transporting art to and from exhibitions and fairs. Add any collection deadlines and venue access details when booking.
Auction houses and buyers
Buyers who have won lots and need collection arranged. Auction houses recommending a courier to buyers who cannot collect in person. Porta's auction house collection guide covers the full process.
Private collectors
Buying, selling or relocating pieces. Whether it is a single painting from a private sale or a full collection moving to a new home, Porta matches the right driver and vehicle to the job.
Restorers and framers
Collecting pieces from clients for restoration and returning them once the work is done. Furniture restorers, gilders, picture framers and conservators all use this model regularly.
What art and antiques can Porta move?
Independent drivers on the platform have vehicles ranging from cars and small vans through to larger commercial vehicles. That covers the vast majority of art and antique items: furniture of all periods, framed paintings and prints, sculptures and bronzes, ceramics and glassware, mirrors, clocks, chandeliers, rugs, silverware, decorative objects, architectural salvage, garden statuary, and display cases.
For large or heavy pieces like wardrobes, sideboards, dining tables or stone garden items, Porta's wider network includes drivers with larger vehicles. Add item dimensions and weight to your booking notes for the best match.
Worth knowing
Porta is a collection and delivery platform. It does not offer specialist fine art packing, crating, climate-controlled transport, or museum-grade handling. If your piece requires bespoke crating or conservation-grade transport, you will need a specialist fine art shipper. For other items, check the packing and handling requirements before arranging collection.
Arrange collection and delivery for paintings, prints and other suitably packed artwork.
Porta vs specialist fine art shippers
Specialist fine art shippers offer climate-controlled vehicles, custom crating, white-glove handling and museum-grade logistics. If you are moving a Hockney between institutions or shipping a fragile 17th-century altarpiece internationally, that is the right choice. You will pay for it, and you will usually wait days for a quote and weeks for a slot.
Most art and antique movements are not that. They are a dealer delivering a chest of drawers to a buyer in Bristol. A gallery sending a framed print to a collector in Edinburgh. A restorer returning a refinished table to its owner. An auction buyer getting a lot collected before the storage charges start. These jobs need suitable packing, accurate item details and a vehicle that can accommodate the piece. They do not need a climate-controlled truck and a three-week booking window.
Porta lets you get an instant quote and book collection and delivery online. Same-day and next-day options are available, subject to availability and the service selected.
Tip
If your item is fragile, wrap and protect it before the driver arrives. Blankets, bubble wrap and corner protectors go a long way. Mention fragility in the booking notes so the driver knows to take extra care during loading and transit.
Gallery, showroom, auction house or private sale
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Same-day and next-day art delivery
Auction collection deadlines, exhibition openings, client viewings, gallery changeovers. Art and antiques often move to a schedule. Porta's same-day courier service handles urgent jobs where an independent driver can typically collect within a few hours.
For planned movements, Porta's next-day courier service lets you book ahead and schedule collection for a specific day. This works well for gallery installations, dealer deliveries and auction collections where you know the date in advance.
Insurance for art and antiques in transit
Art and antiques are often valuable and sometimes irreplaceable. Choosing the right booking tier matters more here than for most deliveries.
Essential
No Porta-managed goods-in-transit insurance. The independent driver handles their own arrangements. Liability sits with them directly.
Standard
Most popular
Goods-in-transit insurance claim support arranged via Porta, plus Real-Time SMS Updates throughout the delivery.
Premium
Everything in Standard plus faster damage resolution and payouts where applicable. Recommended for high-value or irreplaceable pieces.
Tip
For original artwork, signed limited editions, period antiques or anything with a high replacement value, Standard or Premium is strongly recommended. An Essential booking does not include Porta-managed insurance claim support.
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Wrap it well, book the right tier, and let the driver handle the rest.
Art and antiques courier for businesses
Dealers, galleries and auction houses with regular delivery needs can use Porta on an ad-hoc basis with no account setup, or get in touch for bespoke arrangements covering recurring routes and higher volumes. Porta's business courier page covers the options available.
No minimum volumes, no contract, no commitment. Book when you need a driver and pay per job. That makes Porta practical for a sole-trader dealer doing one delivery a week or a gallery with five pieces going to five different collectors in one month.
Art and antiques delivery across the UK
Porta connects customers with independent drivers across England, Scotland and Wales. Art and antique deliveries run regularly between major cities and to rural locations, country houses, storage facilities and private addresses. London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Bath, Brighton, Oxford, Cambridge, York, Chester and the Cotswolds are all well served, but there is no fixed coverage zone. If a driver is available in your area, the platform matches them to your job.
Arrange your art or antique delivery with a vetted independent driver through Porta. Get an online quote, choose the booking tier for your item and include any collection or handling requirements.
Gallery, showroom, auction house or private sale
Get an instant quote for your art or antique delivery
Frequently asked questions
Can Porta collect from an auction house on my behalf?
Yes. Most auction houses deal with third-party couriers regularly. Let the auction house know who will be collecting and on what date. The independent driver will collect the lot from the auction house and deliver it to your address.
Does Porta offer specialist fine art packing or crating?
No. Porta is a collection and delivery platform. The independent driver transports the item from A to B. Packing, wrapping and crating are the responsibility of the sender. If your piece needs specialist packing, arrange this before the driver arrives or use a fine art packing service.
Is my artwork or antique insured during delivery?
It depends on your booking tier. Essential bookings have no Porta-managed goods-in-transit insurance. Standard bookings include insurance claim support arranged via Porta. Premium adds faster resolution and payouts where applicable. Real-Time SMS Updates are included on Standard and Premium bookings only.
Can Porta deliver to a gallery or exhibition?
Yes. Independent drivers on the platform deliver to galleries, exhibition venues, art fairs, auction houses, storage facilities, private addresses and any other location you provide.
What size items can Porta handle?
Vehicles on the platform range from cars and small vans to larger commercial vehicles. Framed prints, sculptures, furniture, mirrors, clocks and most antique items are regularly handled. Include dimensions and weight in your booking notes for the best vehicle match.
Will the driver handle fragile items carefully?
Mention fragility in your booking notes and the platform will flag this to the driver. That said, it is always best to pack and protect fragile items before the driver arrives. Blankets, bubble wrap and corner protectors reduce the risk of damage significantly.
What payment methods does Porta accept?
All payments go through Stripe on the Porta platform. Accepted methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Revolut. No cash is accepted at any point. Neither Porta nor its Moving Partners take cash payments.