The best way to avoid car shipping scams is to verify the company before you pay anything. Look up its USDOT and MC numbers on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website, get the price and cancellation terms in writing, and never pay a large upfront sum by wire transfer, gift card, or payment app to a personal account. Be wary of quotes far below everyone else's and of anyone pressuring you to decide on the spot. Legitimate companies welcome questions and give you a Bill of Lading at pickup.
Most auto transport companies are honest businesses, but the industry does attract bad actors because customers often book online with someone they have never met. A few simple checks protect your money, your car, and your personal information.
Scams also come in different shapes. Some are outright fake companies that collect a deposit and disappear. Others are real businesses with poor practices, such as bait-and-switch pricing or hidden fees that appear only after your car is on the truck. The checks below help with both.
Red Flags of a Car Shipping Scam
- A quote far below every other quote you received. Unrealistically low prices are often used to win the booking, followed by a higher price or no truck at all.
- Demands for a large upfront payment by wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app sent to an individual.
- No USDOT or MC number, or numbers that do not match the company name on the FMCSA website.
- Pressure tactics, such as a price that expires in minutes or claims that a truck is leaving now and you must pay immediately.
- Vague or missing cancellation terms, or a refusal to put the agreement in writing.
- No Bill of Lading, or a driver who wants to load the car without inspecting it and recording its condition.
- Contact only through a cell phone or free email account, with no verifiable business address.
- Requests for sensitive information that has nothing to do with shipping a car.
How to Verify a Car Shipping Company With the FMCSA
Companies that arrange or perform interstate auto transport for hire must be registered with the FMCSA. Brokers, who arrange shipments with carriers, need broker operating authority and must file financial security. Carriers, who own the trucks, need motor carrier authority and insurance on file. Either way, you can check.
- Ask the company for its USDOT number and MC number. A legitimate company will share them without hesitation, and many list them on their website.
- Go to the FMCSA website and use its company lookup tools, such as the SAFER Company Snapshot, to search by USDOT or MC number.
- Confirm the legal name and any doing business as name match the company you are talking to.
- Check that operating authority shows as active and authorized for the right type of operation (broker, carrier, or both).
- Review the address and phone number on file and compare them with what the company gave you.
- Search the company name with words like reviews and complaints to see how it has handled problems in the past.
What a Fair Car Shipping Payment Flow Looks Like
Payment structures vary across the industry, but legitimate ones share a few traits: the terms are in writing before you commit, payments go to a business, and you never pay the full price long before a truck is assigned.
| Stage | What is reasonable | What is a warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | Free, written, with what is included and how long it is valid. | Fees just to receive a quote, or a price that only exists over the phone. |
| Booking | A signed agreement listing price, pickup window, and cancellation terms. | No written agreement, or terms that change after you pay. |
| Deposit | A modest deposit by a traceable method such as a credit card, often once a carrier is assigned. | A large share of the total up front by wire, gift card, or payment app to a person. |
| Delivery | Balance paid at delivery after you inspect the car, using the method agreed in writing. | Demands for extra money before the driver will unload. |
Credit cards generally give you more protection than wire transfers or gift cards, because they offer a dispute process. Once a wire or gift card is gone, it is very hard to get back.
For the record: Sahara Auto Transport will never ask you to pay by wire transfer to a personal account or with gift cards. If anyone claiming to represent Sahara asks for either, stop and call us directly at 888-509-8666 to confirm.
Why the Bill of Lading Matters
The Bill of Lading is the receipt and condition report for your shipment. At pickup, the driver inspects the car and marks any existing scratches, dents, or chips, and you both sign. At delivery, you inspect again and note anything new before signing. Without it, you have little documentation if something goes wrong. A company that skips this step is a company to skip.
- Inspect in good light, including the roof, bumpers, and wheels.
- Take your own date-stamped photos at pickup and delivery.
- Keep a copy of every signed page.
- Write down any damage on the Bill of Lading before the driver leaves, even if it seems minor.
Protecting Your Personal Information
To ship a car, a company needs your name, phone number, email, pickup and delivery addresses, and basic vehicle details. It does not need your Social Security number, bank login, or a photo of your credit card. Share only what the job requires.
- Do not send card numbers by text or email. Use a secure payment page or provide them by phone to a company you have verified.
- Be cautious with links in unexpected texts or emails about your shipment, and contact the company directly instead.
- Give gate codes or key locations only to your confirmed coordinator or driver.
- Shred or securely store paperwork that shows your VIN, address, and signature.
What to Do if You Suspect a Scam
- Stop sending money and do not share any more personal information.
- Contact your bank or card issuer right away to ask about stopping or disputing the payment.
- File a complaint with the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database.
- Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Save every email, text, receipt, and phone number connected to the company.
Shipping a car should feel organized, not rushed. Sahara Auto Transport provides written quotes, clear terms, and a Bill of Lading on every shipment in all 50 states. Get a free quote online or call 888-509-8666 with any questions before you book.