The Problem With This Industry
Auto transport is not a heavily consolidated industry. There are tens of thousands of carriers operating across the US, and a large number of brokers who connect customers to those carriers. That fragmentation means quality varies significantly. There are excellent operators who have been doing this for decades, and there are fly-by-night brokers whose primary skill is getting you off the phone with a low quote before disappearing when things go wrong.
Knowing how to evaluate a company before you book is the single most valuable thing you can do. Here is how to do it properly.
Step 1: Check Their FMCSA Registration
Every company legally allowed to transport vehicles or arrange vehicle transport in the US must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This is not optional — it is federal law.
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Search for the company by their DOT number or MC number, which any legitimate company will provide freely. What you need to see:
- Operating status: Active. Any other status is a problem.
- Authority type: Brokers hold broker authority. Carriers hold carrier authority. Some companies hold both.
- Insurance on file: Cargo and liability insurance should be listed and current.
If a company cannot give you their DOT or MC number, or gets defensive when you ask, stop there. That is not a company you want handling your vehicle.
Step 2: Find Their Reviews — Not Just on Their Own Website
A company’s own testimonials page tells you very little. Any business can curate what appears there. You want to see reviews on platforms the company does not control:
- Google Business Profile — Volume and consistency matter more than a perfect score. A company with 4.6 stars across 400 reviews is more credible than one with 5 stars from 18 people.
- Better Business Bureau — Look at the rating, but more importantly, look at complaint history and how the company responded.
- Trustpilot — Another third-party platform that is hard to game at scale.
- Transport Reviews (transportreviews.com) — Industry-specific review site used by customers who have shipped vehicles.
When reading negative reviews, look for patterns. A few one-star reviews about communication delays are different from a pattern of claims about damage that was never resolved or quotes that doubled at pickup.
Step 3: Understand What You Are Buying
Most companies that appear at the top of a Google search are brokers, not carriers. They do not own trucks. They book your shipment on one of their carrier partners. This is not inherently a problem — brokers can provide good pricing and reliable coordination — but you need to understand the structure.
Questions worth asking:
- Are you a broker or a carrier? If both, who will actually be transporting my vehicle?
- Can I verify the carrier you assign to my shipment?
- What happens if you cannot find a carrier at the quoted price?
Reputable brokers will answer these questions directly. Less reputable ones will deflect or get vague.
Step 4: Get the Pricing Straight
Pricing surprises are one of the most common complaints in this industry. Before you pay a deposit, have a written confirmation that includes:
- Total price for the shipment, not just the deposit
- What triggers any price changes (location access fees, fuel surcharges, etc.)
- Payment method accepted at delivery — cash only? Certified funds? Credit card?
- Cancellation policy and refund terms
If a company tells you the price verbally but will not put it in writing, treat that as a serious warning sign.
Step 5: Verify Insurance Coverage
All FMCSA-licensed carriers are required to carry cargo insurance. The minimum required is $100,000 per occurrence. Ask for a certificate of insurance, not just assurance that they are insured.
If you are shipping a vehicle worth more than the carrier’s coverage limit — a classic, a high-value import, or anything where repair costs could exceed standard coverage — call your personal auto insurer. Many personal auto policies extend coverage to the vehicle during transport with a simple notification call.
Red Flags That Should Stop You
- Full payment required before pickup (legitimate companies take a deposit, balance at delivery)
- No physical address, vague company information, or recently created website
- High-pressure sales tactics or urgency to book immediately before you have time to think
- A quote dramatically lower than every other company you contacted
- Unwillingness to provide DOT/MC numbers or insurance information
- No written contract before pickup
What Good Looks Like
A company worth trusting will have verifiable FMCSA credentials, consistent positive reviews across multiple independent platforms, transparent pricing in writing, clear insurance documentation, and a point of contact who answers your questions directly without spin.
They will tell you honestly if your pickup window is realistic, if there are better options for your route, and if something changes. That kind of communication, before and during the shipment, is what separates a company you will recommend to someone else from one you will warn them about.
Do the Research Before You Commit
Thirty minutes of due diligence before booking protects you from a lot of headaches after. Check the license, read the reviews, get the quote in writing, verify the insurance, and do not let a low number be the only thing that drives your decision.
