Home › Departments › Action Vehicles › Picture Car Coordinator

Picture Car Coordinator

Same core UK role as Action Vehicle Coordinator with a title emphasising picture cars (hero and background). On many shows the titles are interchangeable.

Duties

• Own picture-car breakdown, casting and continuity
• Source hero and background vehicles to brief
• Coordinate multiples and matching doubles
• Manage owner liaison and insurance paperwork
• Schedule delivery and on-set positioning
• Work with Art on dressing and plates
• Support action prep when cars are used dynamically
• Return vehicles and close paperwork at wrap

Reports to

Production; creative notes from Director/PD

Works with

Action Vehicle crew, Art, ADs, Locations, Transport

Career path

Assistant / Captain → Picture Car Coordinator (or Action Vehicle Coordinator)

Day to day

Cast and schedule cars; keep continuity photos; make sure the right car is in the right place for each set-up.

Call times

Prep and workshop days often before general unit call. On shoot days Action Vehicle crews typically arrive early to position cars, brief drivers and liaise with 2nd AD / Locations. Night fuel, wash and prep after wrap are common — read the movement order against the call sheet.

What to wear

Workshop: overalls or workshop blacks, steel toe-caps, gloves, eye protection. On set: matte blacks, production-approved boots, radio, hi-vis when moving vehicles in public roads or unit base as briefed.

Tools & kit

Laptop; radio; photo refs; owner/hire contacts; continuity notes.

Tips

Confirm title (Action Vehicle / Picture Vehicle / Picture Car Coordinator), agreement, budget band, prep/wrap, workshop access and insurance wording on the deal memo. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk Transport materials and your production. Work only with licensed armourers/stunts where vehicles are prepared for action.

Software

• Excel / Google Sheets vehicle breakdowns, continuity and schedules
• Scriptation / PDF sides for vehicle lists
• Photo libraries / Drive shared folders for casting cars
• Shared call sheets and movement orders
• Workshop job cards / service logs
• ChatGPT for period vehicle research drafts (Coordinator verify legality, insurance and continuity)

Related roles

Action Vehicle Coordinator, Action Vehicle Captain, Driver (picture vehicles)

More Action Vehicles roles