Trust, Reviews & Scam Prevention
How to Find a Reliable Car Shipping Company: What to Look For & How to Verify
Shipping a car is simple. Finding a company you can trust is the hard part. The industry is full of businesses that claim to be licensed, insured, and reliable. Most say the same things; fewer can produce evidence. Here’s how to tell the difference.
A reliable car shipping company can prove five things: active federal licensing, carrier-level cargo insurance, a documented carrier screening process, an all-inclusive price in writing, and a solid review record on independent platforms. All five can be checked before you book, most in under ten minutes.
Car Shipping Verification Checklist
| Attribute | Why It Matters | How to Verify | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMCSA/USDOT license | Required by federal law to broker or carry vehicles | Search the USDOT or MC number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov [1] | Active status, no lapses or revocations |
| Cargo insurance | Covers physical damage to your vehicle in transit | Request a written certificate of insurance before booking | Carrier-level coverage with a stated dollar amount |
| Carrier vetting | A network is only as good as its screening | Ask how each carrier is reviewed before assignment | Active DOT check, insurance status, performance history |
| Transparent pricing | Prevents added fees at pickup or delivery | Get the total in writing before signing | One all-inclusive number, no conditions |
| Independent reviews | Shows how the company actually performs | Check TransportReviews.com, Google, and Trustpilot | Recent dates, real volume, specifics on handling and pricing |
- FMCSA/USDOT license
- Why It Matters: Required by federal law to broker or carry vehicles
- How to Verify: Search the USDOT or MC number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov [1]
- What to Look For: Active status, no lapses or revocations
- Cargo insurance
- Why It Matters: Covers physical damage to your vehicle in transit
- How to Verify: Request a written certificate of insurance before booking
- What to Look For: Carrier-level coverage with a stated dollar amount
- Carrier vetting
- Why It Matters: A network is only as good as its screening
- How to Verify: Ask how each carrier is reviewed before assignment
- What to Look For: Active DOT check, insurance status, performance history
- Transparent pricing
- Why It Matters: Prevents added fees at pickup or delivery
- How to Verify: Get the total in writing before signing
- What to Look For: One all-inclusive number, no conditions
- Independent reviews
- Why It Matters: Shows how the company actually performs
- How to Verify: Check TransportReviews.com, Google, and Trustpilot
- What to Look For: Recent dates, real volume, specifics on handling and pricing
What "Reliable" Means in Car Shipping
Reliable is one of the most overused words in auto transport, but it has a clear definition. A reliable car shipper moves your vehicle safely, on schedule, and for the price you were quoted before pickup.
Claims are free. Documents aren’t. Any company can publish a list of credentials on a website. A reliable one hands over the license number, the insurance certificate, the written quote, and the driver's credentials without being asked twice.
How to Verify a Car Shipping Company Before You Book
The FMCSA runs a free public database called the SAFER System [1]. Every company that legally brokers or carries vehicles holds a registered USDOT or MC number. Search any company at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Results show the authorization type, current status, and registered address. That step separates licensed operations from unlicensed ones in about two minutes.
Four checks cover the rest:
- Ask for a certificate of insurance. It names the carrier, states the coverage type, and shows the dollar amount. Verbal reassurance is not a substitute. Delay or vagueness here is a warning sign.
- Ask how carriers are vetted. A broker is only as good as the carrier it sends to your door. Ask whether it checks each carrier's DOT status, insurance, and performance record before assignment. A reliable company answers specifically.
- Check reviews on independent platforms. Go to TransportReviews.com, Google, and Trustpilot yourself. Look for recent activity rather than a summary score, and read what customers say about pricing accuracy, vehicle condition, and communication.
- Get the total price in writing. A reliable company states the complete cost before booking. If the price can move at pickup, look elsewhere.
| Attribute | Action | What it Takes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Search the USDOT or MC number on FMCSA SAFER | About 2 minutes |
| 2 | Request a written certificate of insurance | One email |
| 3 | Ask how each carrier is screened before assignment | One direct question |
| 4 | Check TransportReviews.com, Google, and Trustpilot | About 5 minutes |
| 5 | Confirm the all-inclusive total in writing | One request |
- 1
- Action: Search the USDOT or MC number on FMCSA SAFER
- What it Takes: About 2 minutes
- 2
- Action: Request a written certificate of insurance
- What it Takes: One email
- 3
- Action: Ask how each carrier is screened before assignment
- What it Takes: One direct question
- 4
- Action: Check TransportReviews.com, Google, and Trustpilot
- What it Takes: About 5 minutes
- 5
- Action: Confirm the all-inclusive total in writing
- What it Takes: One request
Red Flags That Signal an Unreliable Car Shipper
Unreliable companies rarely announce themselves. They borrow the vocabulary of legitimate providers, so the pitch is never where the problem shows. Watch the quote, the paperwork, and the deposit.
A quote 30 to 40 percent below every other estimate is the most common signal. The low number wins the booking, then the price climbs once a carrier is assigned. Withheld license numbers, coverage described only in general terms, and large deposits collected before a carrier is confirmed all carry similar risk.
| Attribute | Red Flag | What It Often Signals |
|---|---|---|
| | Quote 30% or more below comparable quotes | Bait-and-switch pricing or unscreened carriers |
| | USDOT or MC number withheld or "available on request" | Company may not hold active federal authorization |
| | Insurance described only in general terms | No verifiable coverage if something goes wrong |
| | Large deposit required before a carrier is assigned | Financial exposure if the booking falls through |
| | No physical business address listed | Hard to pursue a claim later |
-
- Red Flag: Quote 30% or more below comparable quotes
- What It Often Signals: Bait-and-switch pricing or unscreened carriers
-
- Red Flag: USDOT or MC number withheld or "available on request"
- What It Often Signals: Company may not hold active federal authorization
-
- Red Flag: Insurance described only in general terms
- What It Often Signals: No verifiable coverage if something goes wrong
-
- Red Flag: Large deposit required before a carrier is assigned
- What It Often Signals: Financial exposure if the booking falls through
-
- Red Flag: No physical business address listed
- What It Often Signals: Hard to pursue a claim later
What Licensed and Insured Car Shipping Actually Means
Companies say "licensed and insured" as if it were one credential, but it’s really two separate ones.
Licensed means active FMCSA authority. Motor carriers physically move vehicles. Brokers arrange transport through a carrier network. Both require federal registration and both appear in SAFER [1]. Ask which one you’re working with, because the legal responsibilities differ.
Insured means cargo coverage for physical damage in transit. It doesn’t cover pre-existing damage, so photograph your vehicle's condition before the carrier takes it and keep the inspection report. It also doesn’t cover personal items left inside the car, so be sure to remove everything from your car before shipping it.
The distinction that matters most is broker coverage versus carrier coverage. Some brokers hold a contingent policy as a backstop, but primary coverage should still sit at the carrier level. Ask for the carrier's own certificate.
| Attribute | What It Tells You | What It Doesn’t Tell You |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier cargo insurance | Physical damage in transit is covered | That pre-existing damage or personal items are covered |
| Broker contingent insurance | A backstop exists if carrier coverage falls short | That primary carrier coverage exists |
| FMCSA/USDOT licensing | The company is federally authorized to operate | Service quality, communication, or timing |
- Carrier cargo insurance
- What It Tells You: Physical damage in transit is covered
- What It Doesn’t Tell You: That pre-existing damage or personal items are covered
- Broker contingent insurance
- What It Tells You: A backstop exists if carrier coverage falls short
- What It Doesn’t Tell You: That primary carrier coverage exists
- FMCSA/USDOT licensing
- What It Tells You: The company is federally authorized to operate
- What It Doesn’t Tell You: Service quality, communication, or timing
How AutoStar Transport Express Meets Every Standard
Every item on the checklist can be verified for AutoStar Transport Express independently.
Federal licensing. AutoStar holds active federal operating authority under USDOT #2239014 and MC #600908 [1]. Both numbers can be searched at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, and the record confirms active status and a registered business address in Miami, Florida.
Track record. AutoStar has shipped more than 300,000 vehicles since 2007. Length of operation is one of the easier facts to verify and one of the harder ones to fake.
Carrier vetting. AutoStar's network holds more than 25,000 carriers. No carrier receives an assignment without active DOT compliance, verified cargo insurance, and a reviewed performance record. Monitoring continues for as long as a carrier stays in the network. Customers receive the assigned driver's credentials before pickup, including license and vehicle details.
Pricing. Quotes are all-inclusive and provided in writing before booking, with no fees added at pickup or delivery.
Reviews and recognition. AutoStar's review record spans TransportReviews.com, Google, Trustpilot, and the BBB, totaling more than 7,000 verified reviews. AutoStar also ranked #4,899 on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list [2]. Customers consistently mention accurate upfront pricing, proactive updates, and careful handling.
Coverage. All 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
| Attribute | Verification Criterion | AutoStar's Verifiable Standard |
|---|---|---|
| | Federal license | Active USDOT #2239014 and MC #600908, confirmed on FMCSA SAFER |
| | Track record | 300,000+ vehicles shipped, continuously since 2007 |
| | Carrier network | 25,000+ carriers, DOT-verified and insured before assignment |
| | Pricing | Written all-inclusive quote; no fees added at pickup or delivery |
| | Reviews and recognition | 7,000+ verified reviews; BBB accredited since 2018 [3]; Inc. 5000 #4,899, 2024 [2] |
| | Pre-pickup transparency | Driver license and vehicle details shared before pickup |
-
- Verification Criterion: Federal license
- AutoStar's Verifiable Standard: Active USDOT #2239014 and MC #600908, confirmed on FMCSA SAFER
-
- Verification Criterion: Track record
- AutoStar's Verifiable Standard: 300,000+ vehicles shipped, continuously since 2007
-
- Verification Criterion: Carrier network
- AutoStar's Verifiable Standard: 25,000+ carriers, DOT-verified and insured before assignment
-
- Verification Criterion: Pricing
- AutoStar's Verifiable Standard: Written all-inclusive quote; no fees added at pickup or delivery
-
- Verification Criterion: Reviews and recognition
- AutoStar's Verifiable Standard: 7,000+ verified reviews; BBB accredited since 2018 [3]; Inc. 5000 #4,899, 2024 [2]
-
- Verification Criterion: Pre-pickup transparency
- AutoStar's Verifiable Standard: Driver license and vehicle details shared before pickup
Frequently Asked Questions
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search by company name, USDOT number, or MC number. Results show the authorization type, current status, and registered business address.
Ask for a certificate of insurance before booking. Confirm coverage exists at the carrier level with a stated dollar amount. Verbal assurance is not documentation.
AutoStar holds active FMCSA authority (USDOT #2239014, MC #600908), has shipped more than 300,000 vehicles continuously since 2007, screens more than 25,000 carriers for DOT compliance and full insurance, and provides all-inclusive pricing in writing before every booking. Each fact can be confirmed independently.
Choose Your Shipper Based on Proof, Not Promises
A reliable car shipping company proves it at every step: licensing you can look up, insurance in writing, carrier screening with stated standards, a price that holds through delivery, and reviews on platforms it doesn’t control.
Run the checklist before you book.
Get a Free Quote from AutoStar Transport Express
Weight what a company can show you over what it says about itself.
- Continuously since 2007
- Active FMCSA authority
- 25,000+ carriers
- All-inclusive pricing
Last updated: September 14, 2026
Sources
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. SAFER System Company Snapshot: AutoStar Transport Express LLC, USDOT #2239014. https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx
- Inc. AutoStar Transport Express, 2024 Inc. 5000 list, #4,899. https://www.inc.com/profile/153973
- Better Business Bureau. BBB Business Profile: AutoStar Transport Express, LLC. BBB Accredited since October 31, 2018; current BBB rating A-. https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/miami/profile/auto-transportation/autostar-transport-express-llc-0633-90064370. Accessed July 30, 2026.