How to Avoid Car Shipping Scams: Red Flags to Watch For
The classic bait and switch quote
The most common car shipping scam does not look like a scam at all. It starts with a quote that seems unusually low, sometimes hundreds of dollars under every other company you called. You book it, your card goes on file, and then a few days before pickup the company calls back saying no carrier will run at that price and asks for more money. If you refuse, your pickup date quietly disappears. This is not a pricing mistake. It is a pattern designed to get your business locked in before the real number ever comes up.
Signs of an unlicensed or unverified broker
Every legitimate auto transport broker in the United States is required to hold an active MC number and DOT number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can look up any company for free at the FMCSA SAFER website before you book. If a company cannot provide these numbers, or the numbers do not match the business name when you search, treat that as a hard stop, not a minor inconvenience.
What a legitimate deposit policy looks like
A reputable broker does not charge your card until a carrier has actually been assigned to your shipment. Payment upfront, before any driver is confirmed, is one of the clearest scam signals in the industry. It means the company is collecting money for a service it has not yet secured, and once they have your payment, there is little incentive to actually find you a truck quickly.
Red flags in the contract
Read the bill of lading and any booking agreement before you sign. Watch for vague cancellation terms, no named point of contact, or language that makes it unclear who is actually responsible if something goes wrong during transit. A legitimate broker will clearly state that they are arranging transport through a licensed, insured carrier, not performing the transport themselves, and will give you a real person to contact throughout the shipment.
Common questions
How do I check if a company is really licensed?
Search the company name or MC number on the FMCSA SAFER website. It will show the company's operating status, safety rating, and whether their authority is active.
Is it a scam if my quote changes at all?
Not necessarily. Prices can shift if carrier availability changes or if your vehicle details were incomplete at the time of quote. The warning sign is a quote that drops or jumps dramatically with no clear reason, especially right before your scheduled pickup.
What should I do if I think I have been scammed?
Stop payment if possible, document all communication, and file a complaint with the FMCSA. If you paid by credit card, you may also be able to dispute the charge with your card issuer.