The demand for car shipping services has surged tremendously over the past two decades. While car shipping scams have also increased in recent times. It is extremely important for customers to know about different kinds of scams that are prevalent in the market. While you use many parameters to check and verify a company for its quality services, you also need to be aware how some professional looking scammers can trick you, and you would never know until it's too late. In this detailed blog about auto transport scams, we will discuss the types of scams, how to spot a scammer, what companies to avoid, and which ones to choose. You need to stick till the end.
There are 3 widespread scams in the industry that you must avoid at all cost:
It is known to be the most prevalent car shipping scam. It happens when a certain company baits a customer with extremely low quotations, but slowly increases the prices when they get to know about all the services. Since you get locked into the process and the prices and have already managed to hypnotize you, you approve the prices, and eventually let yourself get conned. For instance, when you are comparing quotes, a company’s offer is $1500, while the other one is giving $1000, the latter clearly is baiting. If it isn’t then the carrier is too nascent to be in the market. Therefore, if the price does not align with the average cost you compared from carriers, it's a clear sign that you need to stay away.
On one hand there is a legitimate concept of price adjustments at the last minute which happens due to some factors like sudden fuel price hike by the government, or any other matter. It is because the industry strives for stability in times of inflation and fluctuation, such a rare situation can happen.
Having said all this, you need to be able to distinguish between the price adjustment or the upsell scams. Similar to the earlier discussed scam, your carriers call you at the last minute or right before the shipment to make you accept the upsell price or the car will not be shipped. They do this because they know your urgency, while the current price is not something agreed upon. So, In order to avoid such a scam, you can get the prices on the contract, they will be able to manipulate you into anything. But despite all this, if such a thing happens, you can refuse to pay and call a company like Bold Auto Transport to ship your car at your earliest.
While low price baiting and upselling is a kind of justified scam, there is another auto shipping scam called Imposter auto carriers. Such imposters create professional looking websites with realistic auto shipping portfolios, testimonials, reviews, and registration etc. They also maintain a credible social media presence that convinces innocent clients, or people who are mostly in a hurry. While, all of this drama is just to sugarcoat you into paying the costs upfront. After you make the payment, you never see them. That is why it is super important to ask the hard questions, pay them a visit at their facility, and look for word of mouth.
Since the people who do car shipping scams are always ahead of a client who may anticipate getting scammed; they create ways to make clients believe they are an authentic company. Below are the most cunning ways to spot a scammer.
Once you decide to go with a certain company, your first job is to gather all the available information on the carrier. Starting with basic things like checking their registration, insurance, complaints on BBB and FMCSA. Complaints certainly don’t mean a company is fake, all carriers get complaints from their direct clients. The problem is when there are no records or just complaints. Further, you can roam around in the market and ask who and how they are? Do people know them? If other businesses know about them positively, you can go with them.
To find a great auto transport company and spot an auto shipping scam, you must read online reviews of the carriers. Reviews tell us a lot like services, prices, safety, and security. You can check reviews on Google Business, BBB, and Clutch. The better the rating and reviews on the carrier's profile, the more it gets your attention. You can also choose a company that has 4.5+ star reviews from hundreds of clients.
Once you get a quote to ship a car anywhere across the country, you must go through all the details to verify costs are justified for the services. Such as, Open Car Shipping service is about half the cost of enclosed shipping. The customer support team should explain it all; charges for each service, terms and conditions, unexpected situation, or anything that you feel you need to know. Without clearing your doubts, you must not pay the amount upfront.
If it is not an auto transport scam, the carrier will never ask you to make any payments in advance. A scammer may compel you to pay the entire fee before the trailer is allotted. A normal carrier should request you to make a certain percentage upfront after a trailer is assigned, while the remainder will be paid after the vehicle is shipped safely.
Talk to the Auto Moving Company
No matter how great offers you receive, you should talk to the car shipping company directly. Just pick up the phone and discuss your concerns directly with them. If they don’t pick up the call, move to next, and do not stop until your worries are removed. It is normal for reliable car transport companies to answer your phone and address your concerns.
Personal information must be protected at any cost. The onus is on the carrier after they get it from you. A trustworthy company has a proper system in place that prevents anyone from letting clients’ personal data out. Most auto transport scams are done with the misuse of data, such that they constantly target you with attractive price offers to trap you.
A professional car carrier asks for your identity every time you call them to check on your vehicle or for some other relevant information about your shipment.
While already a lot has been said about car transport scams, you still need to know what are the companies that you need to avoid to rule out the chances of getting scammed.
There are two types of commercial auto shipping companies; proper carriers and brokers. FMCSA looks after both of these. FMCSA’s main task is to regulate commercial vehicles including car shipping companies.
Brokers are the man in the middle who utilizes the car shipping companies to offer you services. They don't own the infrastructure. While carriers are the ones who own a complete setup, with employees, offices, trailers, and drivers.
In order to be properly registered with FMCSA, a car shipping company should fulfil certain requirements laid out by them. It is having a motor car number, proper insurance coverage, conforming to safety regulations, having qualified drivers, and fulfilling hours of rules.
FMSA also has regulations in place for brokers, while they are required to own a facility like carriers, but they must comply with a certain regulation. The FMCSA checks operating authority, insurance, processing contracts, payment procedures, licensing and finances, client protection, and complaint handling.
To verify a broker you need to visit the FMCSA website first. Go to their snapshot database page, and enter the carrier’s DOT number. You can ask the carrier for their DOT number which they should provide, or it may also be available online. If they refuse to give you this number, or you cannot find their registration on the website, it is a clear red flag. Just for car shipping services somewhere else.
When you find a company on the database, it provides a complete overview of the carrier. This includes working status, contact, operation qualification, and the kind of shipment it is qualified for. It is necessary for a company to be qualified for shipping vehicles.
You simply cannot choose a company that offers very low quotations which are a way to lower the average car shipping cost. For instance, an offer quoted for Enclosed Car Shipping cannot justify the cost of open transport.
The best way to find the average and real pricing is by asking many providers or using their Car Shipping Cost Calculator tools to generate precise cost for shipping. Almost all companies have this tool available on their website.
Car transport scams usually involve pressure tactics to force quick decision making. It is done by both bait-and-switch and upselling scammers. They don’t allow you time to sit and think by creating unnecessary urgency. While a good carrier will give you time to compare and clear your misunderstandings regarding their services or company.
It is the work of the scammer to ask for full upfront before booking and confirming the trailer. It is normal for companies to ask for a 5-10% amount in advance, while the rest is paid after the contract is signed and the car is ready for loading. You should not pay full payment upfront. Most companies get full payment after the car is delivered.
Car shipping scams have increased with the growth of the car shipping industry. Scammers use baiting, upselling, and manipulative methods to get payments for either worse or no services. Therefore, it is imperative to look for companies that don’t seek full payment upfront, answer all your questions without hesitation, and give you time to make an informed decision which is in your best interest. A professional and reliable car shipping company has these traits to make your shipping plans.
You should check reviews, talk to real customers, and see if they have proper licenses. A trusted company always shares clear pricing and updates you often.
You should look for their USDOT or MC number, read online reviews, and confirm their contact info works. Legit ones never rush you to pay fast.
Yes, mostly. Professional carriers handle your car carefully and offer insurance. You can still check the company’s safety record before you ship your car to texas or anywhere else.
You can report it right away to your bank, local police, and the Federal Trade Commission. Keep all receipts and emails for proof.
If the price sounds too good, they avoid calls, or ask for wire transfers; just stop. Real companies always offer clear contracts and real contact details.
Scammers pretend to be transport agents, take your money, then disappear. They use fake websites, low prices, and pressure to make quick payments.
