Buying guide

Shipping an exotic or collector car: verify the broker, the carrier, and the paperwork

Updated October 23, 2026 · Written by the Only for the Wealthy editors · General information, not legal or financial advice

A car bought across the country, a seasonal move to the coast, a concours entry: at this level the car travels by enclosed truck, not under its own power. The handoff is where things go wrong, and federal regulators say complaints against auto transporters and brokers have risen sharply [1]. Here is how the discerning owner checks who is really moving the car before handing over the keys.

We don’t sell vehicles. Only for the Wealthy is a publisher. We don’t sell, broker, consign, or arrange the sale of any vehicle, and we don’t act as an agent for buyers or dealers (see 625 ILCS 5/5-101). Buy only from licensed dealers or verified private sellers.

We don’t ship, broker, or arrange vehicle transport, and we don’t recommend specific transport companies.

Broker or carrier: know which one you’re hiring

A broker arranges the move for a fee. A carrier owns the trucks and hauls the car [1]. Federal rules define a broker as someone who, for compensation, arranges transportation by an authorized motor carrier [5].
FMCSA says to be suspicious of any website where it isn’t clear whether the company is a broker or a transporter [1]. A broker may not present its operations as a carrier’s, its advertising must show broker status, and it may only operate and advertise in the name its registration is issued under [4].
Ask both questions in writing: “Are you the broker or the carrier?” and, if a broker, “Which carrier, by name and USDOT number, will pick up my car?”

Check the numbers yourself

Interstate auto transport brokers and carriers must both register with FMCSA. Both get an MC docket number, and carriers also get a USDOT number [1]. FMCSA advises avoiding any transporter or broker that doesn’t display its MC number prominently on its website [1].
Look up the MC or USDOT number in FMCSA’s Licensing & Insurance carrier search [2] and the SAFER company snapshot [3]. Confirm that the legal name matches the contract, the authority is active, and insurance is on file. SAFER also shows whether a company is out of service or its USDOT number is inactive [3].
For a broker, the same records should show its financial security. A broker must keep a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund in effect, and FMCSA won’t register a broker without it [7]. The bond pays shippers or carriers if the broker fails to carry out its arrangements. It doesn’t insure the car itself.
Check the carrier that will actually arrive, not just the company that sold you the quote. If the driver’s paperwork names a different company, stop and verify it before loading.

The bill of lading is the contract that matters

A carrier must issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it accepts, and the receiving and delivering carriers are liable for actual loss or injury to the property [8].
The catch for a valuable car: outside household goods, federal law lets a carrier limit its liability to a value declared by the shipper or set by written agreement, if that value is reasonable [8]. Read the declared value and liability terms before you sign, and make sure the figure reflects the car.
Ask the carrier for its certificate of insurance showing cargo coverage and the per-vehicle limit, and ask your own insurer whether your policy covers the car while it’s in transit.
Do a walk-around with the driver at pickup and at delivery. Note every mark on the condition report and photograph the car from all sides, including the odometer, before it loads.
If something goes wrong, a carrier can’t give you less than 9 months to file a claim or less than 2 years to sue after it denies the claim in writing [8]. File in writing and keep copies.

Paying

If you pay by credit or debit card, watch the account and make sure only the amount you authorized is taken [1].
Brokers must keep a record of each transaction, including the carrier used and the broker’s compensation, and each party has the right to review it [6]. If a broker won’t say what it keeps, ask for that record.
Never wire a deposit to a personal account or an “escrow” site you can’t verify. Shipping is a favorite cover story in fake car sales; see our escrow fraud guide.

Red flags

No MC number on the website, or a number whose record names a different company [1][2].
A “carrier” whose FMCSA record shows only broker authority [4].
A quote far below others, followed by a higher price once the car is on the truck.
A seller who insists you use their own “shipping company” and pay it by wire.

If it goes wrong

You can file a complaint against an auto transporter or broker with the FMCSA Complaint Center or by calling 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238) [1][9]. Have the company’s name, MC and USDOT numbers, the route, dates, and your bill of lading and photos ready. If you were defrauded, also contact your bank and report it at ic3.gov.

A before-you-ship checklist

Get the company’s status (broker or carrier) and MC number in writing [1].
Verify the authority, insurance, and, for a broker, the $75,000 bond in FMCSA’s records [2][3][7].
Get the name and USDOT number of the carrier doing the pickup, and verify it too [3].
Read the bill of lading’s declared value and liability terms, and get the carrier’s certificate of insurance [8].
Photograph the car and sign the condition report at pickup and delivery.
Pay in a way you can trace and dispute, and keep every document.