The most important questions to ask when shipping a car are whether the company is a licensed carrier or a broker, its USDOT and MC number, its cargo insurance amount, whether the quoted price is firm and all-in, and what the pickup and delivery window is. Get every answer in writing before you pay a deposit.
Key Takeaways
- Always ask whether you are dealing with a carrier (owns the truck) or a broker (hires one). Both are legitimate, but they price and operate differently.
- Verify the USDOT and MC number free at FMCSA SAFER before you send a dollar. A company without an active number is operating illegally.
- Auto transport carriers should carry a $100,000 minimum in cargo insurance; ask for the certificate on dispatch, per 2026 industry standards.
- Open transport runs about $0.40 to $2.20 per mile depending on distance; enclosed adds 30 to 60%, per FreightWaves.
- Compare 3 to 4 quotes and treat any price 25% or more below the pack as a likely bait-and-switch, the top scam flag in 2026 reviews.
- Never pay a large deposit by wire, Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp; a small card deposit after a carrier is assigned is normal.
- The Bill of Lading is the only legally required document and doubles as your damage report. Never sign one with a blank condition section.
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Get My Free Transport QuotesWhat Questions Should You Ask Before Shipping Your Car?
Ask these thirteen questions before you book any auto transport company. Each one either confirms the company is legitimate or exposes a problem while you can still walk away. Get the answers in writing, ideally by email, so the quote you agree to is the price and service you actually receive.
| # | Question to ask | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you a carrier or a broker? | A clear answer either way, plus how they source the actual truck |
| 2 | What is your USDOT and MC number? | Numbers you can verify as active on FMCSA SAFER |
| 3 | How much cargo insurance is on the truck? | At least $100,000, with a certificate available on dispatch |
| 4 | Is this price firm and all-in, or an estimate? | A firm, written total with no “subject to change” clause |
| 5 | What exactly is included in the price? | Door-to-door, fuel, and any broker fee itemized |
| 6 | Open or enclosed transport? | A recommendation matched to your vehicle’s value |
| 7 | What is the pickup and delivery window? | A realistic range, not a guaranteed exact hour |
| 8 | When and how is payment due? | Card deposit after a carrier is assigned, balance on delivery |
| 9 | What is your deposit and cancellation policy? | A written refund policy before dispatch |
| 10 | How do I file a damage claim? | A defined process tied to the Bill of Lading |
| 11 | How will you communicate during transit? | A named contact and dispatch updates |
| 12 | Can you handle my exact route and dates? | Honest capacity, not a “yes” to everything |
| 13 | How should I prepare the vehicle? | Quarter tank, remove valuables, inspection at pickup |
The sections below explain why each question matters and what a red-flag answer looks like. If you would rather deal with the truck directly, our guide to car transport carriers, not brokers shows how to find them.
Should You Ask If They Are a Carrier or a Broker?
Yes, and it should be your first question. Most car shipping quotes do not come from the person who drives your car. They come from a broker who posts your job to a load board and finds a carrier to haul it. Roughly 7,858 of 25,603 registered auto transport companies are brokers, and the rest are carriers. Neither is inherently better, but they price and operate differently.
| Factor | Broker | Direct carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Who moves the car | A third-party carrier they hire | Their own truck and driver |
| Route coverage | Nearly any route via their network | Only the lanes their trucks run |
| Price makeup | Carrier pay plus a broker fee | No middleman markup |
| Best when | Odd route, flexible dates, want options | Common lane, want one accountable party |
A broker is worth the fee when your route is unusual or your dates are flexible, because a single carrier may not run your lane. A direct carrier is often simpler and cheaper on common routes. Our brokers vs carriers breakdown covers when each makes sense, and you can search carriers by city and state in our free FMCSA-based directory to build a shortlist.
How Do You Verify a Car Shipping Company Is Legitimate?
Verify the license before you discuss price, because price only matters among companies that are real. Every check below is free and takes under 15 minutes combined.
Check the USDOT and MC number on FMCSA SAFER. Enter the number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and confirm the operating status is “Active” or “Authorized” with insurance on file. A company that will not give you a number, or whose number is inactive, is operating illegally. Our directories of USA trucking companies and licensed freight brokers by state link straight to those federal records.
Match the contact details to the FMCSA record. Compare the phone number and physical address on the company’s website to what is registered with the FMCSA. A PO Box only, or details that do not match, is a red flag. The FMCSA has reported a rise in complaints against auto transporters for deceptive practices, so this step is not optional.
Read recent reviews for a pattern. Skim Trustpilot, Google, and transportreviews.com for repeated complaints about price increases after booking or vehicles that never shipped. One bad review is noise; a pattern is a warning.
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What Questions Should You Ask About Price and Hidden Fees?
Ask whether the price is firm and all-in, and get it in writing. A trustworthy quote states a firm total, not an open-ended estimate, and says plainly whether the broker fee, fuel, and door-to-door delivery are included. The single biggest pricing scam is the lowball estimate: a company advertises a price 30 to 40% below the market, then raises it after you book, per 2026 scam-red-flag reviews.
To know whether a quote is fair, convert it to price per mile and compare it to the going 2026 range. Open transport runs roughly $1.40 to $2.20 per mile under 500 miles, $0.80 to $1.20 per mile from 500 to 1,500 miles, and $0.40 to $0.95 per mile beyond that, per FreightWaves Checkpoint. Enclosed transport adds 30 to 60% across every band.
Ask each company for a firm number for the identical route, vehicle, and service level, then line them up. A single lowball looks great in isolation and obvious next to three honest numbers. Our full guide to comparing car shipping rates walks through the per-mile math in detail.
What Questions Should You Ask About Insurance and Payment?
Ask exactly how much cargo insurance is on the truck and request the certificate. Auto transport carriers should carry a minimum of $100,000 in cargo insurance while your vehicle is loaded, and enclosed carriers hauling higher-value cars often carry $250,000 to $1,000,000. A reputable broker or carrier provides the carrier’s active insurance certificate on dispatch, not just a verbal promise.
On payment, the safe pattern is a small card deposit only after a carrier is assigned, with the balance due on delivery. Walk away from any company that demands full payment or a large deposit up front, especially by wire, Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, or gift cards. Those methods are untraceable and are the hallmark of the “ghost carrier” that takes a deposit and disappears. If your car’s coverage is unclear, our cargo insurance directory explains who covers what during a move.
What Is the Full Process of Shipping a Car?
The process of shipping a car is a predictable seven-step sequence from quote to delivery. Knowing it in advance tells you when to ask each question and what should happen next, so a company that skips a step becomes easy to spot.
The full process of shipping a car, from gathering quotes to filing a damage claim.
- Get three to four quotes. Request firm prices for the exact same route, vehicle, and service level so the numbers are comparable.
- Verify, then book in writing. Confirm the USDOT and MC number on FMCSA SAFER, ask for the insurance certificate, and get the agreed price and windows by email.
- Prepare the vehicle. Wash it so damage is visible, reduce fuel to about a quarter tank, remove personal items and toll tags, disable the alarm, and photograph every side plus the odometer.
- Inspect at pickup and sign the Bill of Lading. Walk the car with the driver, note existing damage, and never sign a Bill of Lading with a blank condition section.
- Track it in transit. Expect a pickup and delivery window influenced by distance, weather, and carrier routing, not a guaranteed exact time.
- Re-inspect at delivery. Compare the car to your pickup photos in daylight before signing, then pay the remaining balance.
- File a claim if needed. Document any new damage on the Bill of Lading at delivery and file within the carrier’s stated window.
How Should You Prepare Your Car Before It Ships?
Preparation protects you if a damage dispute comes up later, so treat it as part of the questions you ask. When you book, ask the company for its exact prep requirements, then work through the checklist below, which reflects standard carrier guidance from Move.org and Navi Auto Transport.
| Prep step | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wash the exterior | Existing scratches and dents are visible for the inspection |
| Photograph all sides plus the odometer | Date-stamped proof of condition if you file a claim |
| Leave about a quarter tank of fuel | Enough to load and unload without adding weight |
| Remove personal items and valuables | Belongings are not covered by cargo insurance |
| Remove toll tags, disable the alarm, fold mirrors | Avoids charges, dead batteries, and transit damage |
| Note any leaks or mechanical issues | Inoperable vehicles need a winch and cost more |
Most carriers allow up to about 100 pounds of belongings in the trunk below the window line, but nothing in the car is covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance, so remove anything you cannot afford to lose. If you plan to leave items in the car anyway, our guide to shipping a car across the country with belongings covers what carriers will and will not allow.
What Are the Red Flags to Watch For in the Answers?
A company reveals itself in how it answers. Any single high-risk flag below is a reason to walk away, no matter how attractive the price looks. These flags come from CompareTheCarrier and the FreightWaves scam guide.
| Red flag in the answer | What it usually means | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Price 25 to 30%+ below the other quotes | Bait-and-switch; the price will climb after booking | High |
| Called an “estimate,” “subject to change,” no cap | Contract allows an unlimited increase at delivery | High |
| No USDOT or MC number offered | Company is unlicensed or hiding its record | High |
| Large deposit or full payment demanded up front | Possible ghost carrier that vanishes with the money | High |
| Payment only by wire, Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp | Untraceable; no recourse if you are scammed | High |
| Vague about what the price includes | Hidden loading and processing fees appear later | Medium |
| Pressure to book today or “the rate expires” | Tactic to stop you from comparing quotes | Medium |
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