How to Choose a Car Shipping Company: 6 Questions to Ask
Most people ship a car once, maybe twice in their life. That’s not enough experience to know which questions matter — and car shipping companies know it.
Some brokers rely on that. A customer who doesn’t know what to ask is easier to overcharge, delay, and leave waiting on hold. Knowing what to look for in a car shipping company before you book changes that dynamic entirely.
These six questions take less than ten minutes to ask. They’re the same ones an industry veteran would run through before handing over a deposit.
Question 1: Are You Licensed With the FMCSA?
Every auto transport broker operating in the United States is required by federal law to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This registration gives them a USDOT number and an MC (Motor Carrier) number — both public record.
Ask for both numbers before you book anything. Then go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and look them up yourself. You’re checking two things:
- Operating authority status shows Active (not Revoked, Not Authorized, or Inactive)
- The registration type shows Broker (or Carrier, if they own their own trucks)
This check takes under 60 seconds. A company that won’t give you their DOT or MC number, or whose numbers don’t match what’s in the FMCSA database, is not a company you should book with.
US Car-Go Freight is registered under DOT #3911910 and MC #1444325. Look us up — everything is there.
Question 2: Do You Verify Carrier Insurance Before Assignment?
A broker’s job is to match your vehicle with a carrier. What separates a good broker from a bad one is what they verify before making that match.
Ask specifically: “Do you confirm active cargo insurance on each carrier before assigning them to my shipment?”
The answer should be yes, and it should be automatic — not something they do on request. Cargo insurance is what covers your vehicle if it’s damaged in transit. If a carrier’s policy has lapsed and your broker didn’t check, you may have no recourse for a damaged vehicle.
At US Car-Go Freight, carrier insurance verification is part of the assignment process, not an optional step.
Question 3: When Is the Deposit Collected?
This question tells you more about a company than almost any other.
A legitimate broker collects a deposit — if they collect one at all — after a carrier has been assigned to your shipment. At that point, you know who is picking up your vehicle, when, and what they’re driving. You have something concrete before any money changes hands.
If a company asks for a large deposit at the moment of booking, before a carrier is scheduled and before you have a confirmed pickup date, that is a significant red flag. It’s the pattern most commonly associated with auto transport fraud.
The follow-up question: “What happens to my deposit if you can’t find a carrier?” Get the answer in writing.
Question 4: What Could Change the Price After I Book?
Auto transport pricing is not fixed. Carrier availability, fuel costs, route demand, and seasonal volume all affect what a carrier will accept for a given route. Quotes can and do change — the question is how a company handles that.
Ask upfront: “Under what circumstances would my quoted price change, and how would I be notified?”
A trustworthy broker will give you a straight answer. Common legitimate reasons include a carrier declining the original rate and the broker needing to reoffer at a higher price. What’s not acceptable is a price increase sprung on you at pickup — or worse, at delivery when your vehicle is already on the truck.
You want to hear: “We’ll contact you before confirming any price change. You’re never charged more without your approval.”
Question 5: Who Is My Point of Contact From Start to Finish?
This question is underrated. It matters more than most customers expect.
Some brokers route every call through a general customer service queue. You explain your situation from scratch to a different person each time. Coordination suffers. Updates get lost.
Ask: “Will I have a single person or team handling my shipment, and how do I reach them directly?”
A dedicated coordinator who knows your shipment — route, vehicle, carrier details — is a meaningful service difference. It doesn’t cost more, but it changes the experience when something unexpected happens, and something unexpected always has the potential to happen in transit.
Question 6: Can I See the Bill of Lading Process?
The Bill of Lading (BOL) is the document the carrier completes at pickup. It records your vehicle’s existing condition — dents, scratches, paint chips — before it goes on the truck. Both you and the driver sign it. You keep a copy.
At delivery, you compare the vehicle’s condition to the BOL. Any new damage noted at delivery that wasn’t on the original BOL is documented and becomes the basis for an insurance claim if needed.
Ask: “How does your Bill of Lading process work, and what should I do at pickup and delivery?”
Any broker worth booking with should be able to walk you through this. If they seem unfamiliar with the process or dismissive of it, that tells you something about how they’ll handle a damage dispute.
What to Look for in a Car Shipping Company: A Quick Checklist
Before you commit to any broker, run through these:
- FMCSA registration confirmed (DOT + MC numbers, active status)
- Carrier insurance verified before assignment — not optional
- Deposit collected after carrier assignment, not at booking
- Price change policy explained clearly in writing
- Dedicated point of contact available for your shipment
- Bill of Lading process explained before pickup
If a company checks all six, you’re in good hands. If they hesitate on any of them, that hesitation is your answer.
Why We Built US Car-Go Freight Around These Questions
We’re a licensed broker based in Tampa, Florida — DOT #3911910, MC #1444325. Every carrier we assign is insurance-verified. No deposit is collected before your carrier is confirmed. Every customer gets one direct point of contact.
We built the process this way because these are the questions customers should be asking — and the answers should be easy to give.
If you want a quote with no commitment until a carrier is assigned, get started here or call (888) 249-8840.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Car Shipping Company
What should I look for in a car shipping company?
Start with FMCSA registration — every licensed broker has a DOT and MC number you can verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Then check when they collect deposits (after carrier assignment is the standard), whether they verify carrier insurance, and whether you’ll have a dedicated point of contact. These four factors separate trustworthy brokers from the ones that cause problems.
How do I verify a car shipping broker is legitimate?
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search their DOT or MC number. Their operating authority should show as Active and their registration type should match what they’ve told you. This check takes under 60 seconds and is the most reliable way to confirm a broker is legally allowed to operate.
What questions should I ask a car shipping company before booking?
Ask whether they’re FMCSA-registered, when the deposit is collected, how they verify carrier insurance, what could cause the price to change after booking, who your point of contact will be, and how the Bill of Lading process works. The answers to these six questions tell you most of what you need to know.
Is it better to use a broker or a carrier directly for car shipping?
A broker gives you access to a wider carrier network, which typically means more competitive pricing and more route availability than booking a single carrier directly. The key is choosing a broker who vets their carriers — specifically one that verifies active cargo insurance before assignment.
What is a Bill of Lading and why does it matter?
A Bill of Lading is the condition report your driver completes at pickup. It documents any existing damage to your vehicle before it goes on the truck. Both you and the driver sign it. At delivery, you compare the vehicle to the BOL — any new damage not on the original report is the basis for a claim. Always keep your copy.
How many quotes should I get for car shipping?
Three to five quotes from FMCSA-verified brokers gives you a realistic range for your route and timing. Be cautious of quotes significantly below the others — unusually low prices are a common setup for bait-and-switch pricing or deposit fraud.
Get a Free Quote — No Deposit Until Your Carrier Is Confirmed
Ready to work with a broker you can verify? Get a free quote in under two minutes — no deposit, no commitment until your carrier is confirmed. Questions before booking? Call us at (888) 249-8840. One direct point of contact, start to finish. Get your free car shipping quote today.
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