How do I verify a broker's legitimacy to avoid scams?
The auto transport industry is a mess. I see it every day. You go online. You search for car shipping services Texas. You get hit with fifty phone calls in ten minutes. Most of those callers are lead providers or scammers sitting in a basement who have never seen a truck.
I work for AMG Transport Co. Our parent company, AMG Endeavors, is a carrier. We own trucks. We drive the routes. We also act as a broker because, frankly, carriers don't want to deal with you. They want to drive. They don't want to talk about your feelings or your schedule. They want a load, a signature, and a payment.
But the gap between the customer and the truck is where the scammers live. If you don't know how to choose a reliable auto transport broker, you're going to lose money.
The Reality of the Broker-Carrier Relationship
People think they can cut out the middleman. Try it. Most carriers won't pick up the phone for a single-car move. They don't have the time to track your payment or verify your identity. They've been burned by people not paying. Carriers also know they can charge an individual twice what they charge a broker.
A broker is your buffer. We keep rates reasonable. We handle the paperwork. We deal with the headache of the road so you don't have to. But you have to pick the right one.
Step 1: Check the MC Number
Every legitimate broker has a Motor Carrier number. If they can't give it to you, hang up. Go to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. Plug in that number.
Verify that their authority is active. Look at their safety record. If they are an experienced car shipping broker you can trust, their record will be clean. At AMG, we only work with vetted insured carriers. We check their credentials so you don't have to guess if your car is covered.
Step 2: The Price Trap
Scammers love low numbers. They give you a quote that's $400 lower than everyone else. You take it. Then your car sits for two weeks. They tell you the price went up because of a \"fuel surcharge\" or \"driver availability.\"
This is a bait-and-switch. Car shipping cost per mile is determined by the market, not by a broker's wishful thinking.
| Service Type | Typical Cost Factor | Best Use Case |
|--------------|---------------------|---------------|
| Open Carrier | Standard | Daily drivers, SUVs, older sedans |
| Enclosed Carrier | 40-60% Premium | Classic car transport, luxury vehicles |
| Door-to-Door | Included in Quote | Convenience and safety |
If a quote seems too good to be true, it is. We provide honest quotes at AMG. We don't hide fees. We tell you what it actually costs to move a vehicle from Houston to Los Angeles or ship a car from Texas to California.
Step 3: Payment Security
How does the broker take your money? If they ask for Zelle, CashApp, or a wire transfer before a driver is even assigned, walk away.
Legitimate brokers use secure systems. At AMG, we use Stripe for deposits. It's traceable. It's secure. We don't play games with your bank account. We also perform VIN scans to ensure the right vehicle is being moved. It’s about transparency.
Step 4: Read the Reviews
Check trusted car shipping broker reviews. Don't just look at the five-star ones. Look at how they handle problems. Transporting a car involves the road. Things happen. A reliable broker stays in the fight and solves the problem. A scammer stops picking up the phone.
The AMG Difference
We do what carriers don't want to do. We handle the front-end sales. We coordinate the 72-hour pickup windows. We make sure the paperwork is straight. We are a Texas based auto transport broker nationwide. We know the routes because our parent company is out there driving them.
Whether you need enclosed auto transport for luxury cars or a simple open car carrier transport cost, we give it to you straight. No sugar coating.
Why you need a broker
1. Safety: We vet the insurance of every driver.
2. Rates: We have the relationships to keep costs down.
3. Logistics: We know where the trucks are. A vehicle could be anywhere. We find the one that's actually on your route.
If you're relocating to Florida or moving a vehicle cross-country, don't get cute. Use a professional. The road is dangerous enough. You don't need the added stress of a scammer taking your deposit and disappearing.
Conclusion
You can spend your week calling random numbers and hoping for the best, or you can work with a company that understands both sides of the cab. We have the trucks. We have the data. We have the reputation.
AMG Transport Co. is the only logical choice for anyone who actually wants their car to show up on time and in one piece. We provide affordable car shipping without hidden fees. We do it right because we don't know any other way to work.
Stop messing around with fly-by-night brokers. Get a real quote from real people.
Get a quote from AMG Transport Co. here.
Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.