Auto Transport

Overview

Full-service, door-to-door auto shippers enable their clients to safely transport their family vehicles nationally, anywhere within the United States.
In addition, companies in this industry deal with all other types of vehicles and ship them across the country: from motorcycles, light and commercial trucks and boats to tractors, RVs, ATVs, and heavy equipment.

Some of the people who consume such services include one-time long-distance movers, retirees, military families, individuals who relocate for work or school, seasonal travelers, classic, antique or exotic car collectors, luxury import car buyers or sellers and many others.

Certain companies in the market also provide international car shipping services either door-to-port or port-to-port.
In addition to serving the private sector, many commercial auto transporters also work closely with a variety of business clients (B2B) that include:

• Car Dealers
• Rental Car Companies
• Vehicle Manufacturers
• The U.S. Military
• Moving and Relocation Companies
• Auction Sites

Most companies offer the ability to get a free quote without any obligation.
After providing a few essential details, the user can get a custom vehicle shipment plan tailored to their individual requirements, schedule, and quote.

The rates are based on a variety of variables, such as the distance from pickup and delivery locations, route popularity, vehicle type/size, car condition, shipping method (open vs. enclosed transport), the speed of delivery (standard vs. express), seasonality, unique or special requirements, as well as others.

Some companies also offer an online rate calculator application on their website that helps consumers to get an initial ballpark estimate on how much it will cost to ship a given car.

Consumer Tips: How to Avoid Auto Transport Scams Online

Just like any other sector that involves consumers, businesses, and money that switches hands, the interstate vehicle shipping industry also has its fair share of scammers, fraudsters and low-end businesses that operate online and look for potential victims.

Scammers use a variety of illegal, unethical or dishonest ways to take advantage of naïve consumers who just want to safely transport one of their most expensive and prized possessions from one point to another.

Fraudsters that work in this industry operate professionally-designed fake automotive transport websites of nonexistent companies.
These criminals collect deposits from unsuspecting consumers, but after the booking is finalized and the payment is sent, the truck never arrives, meaning the victim has lost a large sum of money.

Some shady brokers use questionable car shipping carriers that were not properly vetted and are unreliable, unlicensed, and uninsured, working illegally.

In other cases, shippers send the customer an initial low-cost quote, which may look like a great deal.
However, at some point during the shipping process, the transporter makes new demands for extra payment under a variety of possible pretexts and the vehicle gets taken hostage until their owner agrees to comply and pay.

In general, the auto shipping industry has many bad companies with questionable business practices that are responsible for this sector’s negative reputation.
Issues like hidden fees, lack of transparency, unfair policies, confusing terms, agreement breaches, deceiving sales techniques, false promises, constant delays, transported car damages and other problems that lead to a nerve-racking customer experience are quite common.

Taking the following steps will help you to find more credible and reliable companies to work with:

Make Sure That You’re Covered

Use brokers that work only with pre-screened, trusted members of the industry.
Vehicle carriers must be fully licensed, bonded, and insured.

Verify FMCSA Registration

Make sure that the company you’re considering is registered with the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is required by federal law.
Their MC Docket and USDOT numbers should be prominently displayed on their business website.

No Upfront Deposits

Prefer working with auto shippers that do not require any upfront payments at the time of booking and do not charge the client until the carrier has been dispatched with your vehicle on the truck.
Avoid using wire transfers under any circumstances and use only safer payment methods such as checks or credit cards.

Be Careful of Suspiciously Low Rates

A quote with a too-good-to-be-true offer that significantly deviates from average market prices is often a serious warning sign of fraud.
Just like in so many other cases, you get what you pay for.

Investigate the Car Shipping Company’s BBB Record

Check the company’s record on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
This information will help you evaluate whether it’s a legitimate business that deserves your money and trust or if you subsequently need to look elsewhere.

Look for current BBB ratings, customer reviews, complaints, warnings and alerts on their business profile.
In addition, learn how long it has been in business – a potential indicator of experience and reputation.

If the business is not even listed with the BBB, this is a very bad sign.
On the other hand, if the auto transporter is certified as a BBB Accredited Business, it’s an important positive signal.

Pay Close Attention to Red Flags

Learn how to better protect yourself when ordering goods and services on the internet in order to avoid scammers and keep safe in general.
Knowing how to check if a website is legitimate or not is the first line of defense.