Essential questions to ask before sending your car shipping deposit to avoid scams, surprise fees, delays, and poor service. Final booking checklist.

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What Must You Confirm Before Paying Your Auto Transport Deposit?

You're about to ship your car cross-country. Excitement builds. Then doubt hits. Scams lurk in this industry. Fraudsters grab deposits and vanish. Shoddy brokers tack on fees. Carriers delay pickup for weeks. Don't pay a dime until you confirm key details. This checklist saves you headaches, money, and time.

As Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co., an auto transport broker Texas-based and serving nationwide vehicle shipping door to door, I've seen it all. We handle frontend sales, coordination, and backend systems. Carriers drive the trucks. They don't want customer hassles. We buffer you from that. And we keep rates reasonable with vetted relationships.

Here's your final booking checklist. Ask these before wiring money.

Is the Transport Quote Final and All-Inclusive?

No such thing as a "final" quote until confirmed in writing. Fuel prices spike. Demand surges. Routes change. Get it locked.

Demand an all-inclusive quote. Cover open car carrier transport cost or enclosed auto transport for luxury cars. Include door-to-door service. No surprises.

At AMG, our honest quotes factor in what affects car shipping cost per mile. We use Stripe deposits. Secure. Transparent. No bait-and-switch.

What Fees Could Still Be Added Later?

Watch these traps:

Terminal fees: Avoid if door-to-door.
Tolls or fuel surcharges: Should be built-in.
Storage: For delays you didn't cause.
Re-delivery: If carrier misses address.
Non-running vehicle upcharges: Confirm upfront.
Enclosed upgrade: Luxury vehicle transport enclosed vs open—quote both.

| Fee Type | Should Be Included? | AMG Practice |

|----------|---------------------|--------------|

| Fuel Surcharge | Yes | Always factored |

| Terminal Fees | No, door-to-door | Never charged |

| Storage | No | Only if you delay |

| Insurance | Proof provided | Vetted carriers only |

Get it in email. Signed contract. No verbal promises.

What Are the Guaranteed Pickup and Delivery Timeframes?

Roads clog. Weather hits. Drivers break down. Exact dates? Fantasy. Demand windows.

Standard: 72-hour pickup window after deposit. Delivery: 7-14 days cross-country, like ship a car from Houston to Los Angeles.

Ask: "What's the exact pickup window?" Confirm dates. How long to destination? How long does car shipping take cross country? Get it written.

We guarantee 72-hour pickup windows at AMG. Realistic timelines. No endless waits.

What Happens If Pickup Is Delayed Beyond the Window?

Delays happen. But penalties protect you.

Demand policy: Refund deposit? Cancellation rights? Credits?

Bad brokers shrug. Good ones compensate. Our carriers are invested via strong broker ties. They prioritize our clients.

Who Is the Specific Carrier and How Do I Verify Them?

Brokers assign carriers post-deposit. Some upfront. Insist on details before paying.

"Who's the carrier? USDOT? MC number?" Verify on FMCSA site. safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Most carriers won't deal direct. You need a broker. But verify ours.

Texas based auto transport broker nationwide like us vets them. Safety record. Reputation.

Can You Provide Proof of Their Insurance and USDOT Number?

Absolutely required. $750,000 cargo insurance minimum. Proof via COI—Certificate of Insurance.

Scammers dodge. Legit brokers email it. We provide vetted insured carriers only. Auto transport safety record checked.

VIN scans pre- and post-transport? We do that too. Protects condition claims.

What Are the Exact Payment and Cancellation Terms?

Deposits: 10-20%. Balance on delivery. Cash, certified check to carrier. Never broker.

Confirm: Deposit amount? Method? Refundable?

Cancellation: Free within 48 hours? Fees after?

We use Stripe. Easy. Secure. Clear terms.

When and How Is the Balance Paid, and What If I Cancel?

Balance: On delivery. To driver. Receipt required.

Cancel: Within window, full refund minus small fee. Document everything.

Final Thoughts: Choose Right, Ship Smart

This industry crawls with fraud. Direct carriers skip people—non-payers, hagglers. Brokers like AMG Transport Co. solve that. Stronger customer experience. Guiding light against scams. Reasonable rates via carrier relationships.

We're the best auto transport company for out-of-state moves. Door pick-up and delivery car transport service. Affordable car shipping without hidden fees. Experienced car shipping broker you can trust.

Don't risk it. Get a quote from AMG today. Confirm these, pay easy, ship safe.

Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.