Double brokering scams plague car shippers. Spot red flags, verify broker authority, and protect your vehicle from unauthorized subcontracting risks.

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How Can You Spot and Avoid Double Brokering Scams in Auto Transport?

Double brokering scams hit hard in auto transport. Shippers lose vehicles. Money vanishes. Scammers promise cheap rates. Then they vanish too. As a logistics manager at AMG Transport Co., a Texas-based auto transport broker, I've seen it all. We're nationwide. Door-to-door vehicle shipping is our game. But fraud lurks everywhere.

Double brokering happens when a broker books your car. They don't haul it. Instead, they re-broker to another broker. Or a shady carrier. This breaks FMCSA rules. It's unauthorized subcontracting. Your car ends up with strangers. No insurance. No tracking. Roads turn risky fast.

Carriers hate this too. Our parent, AMG Endeavors, runs trucks. They stick to loads they control. Brokers like us handle sales. Coordination. Backend headaches. Carriers focus on driving. Not chasing payments or complaints.

Why do scammers double broker? Easy cash. They take your deposit. Pocket it. Pass the job. If it fails, you're out. Industry's fraud-filled. Low barriers. Anyone grabs a broker number. Starts quoting.

Red Flags of Double Brokering Scams

Watch these signs. They're screaming trouble.

Too-good-to-be-true quotes. Quotes way below market? Scam. Real costs don't lie. Open car carrier transport costs $0.50-$1.00 per mile cross-country. Enclosed auto transport for luxury cars? Double that.
Pressure to pay fast. \"Wire money now!\" Red alert. Legit brokers use Stripe. Secure deposits.
No physical address. Google it. PO boxes or fakes mean run.
Vague carrier info. No MC number? No DOT? Hide and seek.
Carrier shows up unannounced. You book with Broker A. Truck from Broker B arrives? Double brokered.
Changes mid-process. Sudden carrier switch? Demand more cash? Bail.

I've dealt with shippers burned by this. One guy shipped from Houston to Los Angeles. Paid upfront. Carrier never came. Money gone. $2,000 lesson.

How to Verify Broker and Carrier Authority

Don't trust words. Check facts. FMCSA's your shield.

1. Search FMCSA database. Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Enter broker's MC or DOT number. Active authority? Good. Broker authority must match.

2. Check insurance. BOC-3 filing. $750k auto liability minimum.

3. Reviews matter. Trusted car shipping broker reviews on BBB, TransportReviews. Real ones have history.

4. Call them. Ask hard questions. \"Who's my carrier?\" Get names. Verify.

5. VIN scan upfront. Legit brokers verify vehicle details early.

Pro tip: Most carriers won't deal direct. They need brokers for volume. But pick wrong broker? You're exposed.

Legit Broker vs. Double Brokering Scammer: Quick Comparison

| Feature | Legit Broker (like AMG) | Double Brokering Scammer |

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

| Quote Process | Honest quotes. Transparent costs. | Unrealistically low. Hidden fees. |

| Payment | Secure Stripe deposits. No wires. | Cash apps. Wires. Full upfront. |

| Carrier Assignment | Vetted, insured carriers. MC verified. | Unknown subs. No vetting. |

| Pickup Guarantee | 72-hour windows. Door-to-door. | Vague timelines. No-shows. |

| Tracking | Real-time updates. VIN scans. | Ghosting after deposit. |

| FMCSA Status | Active authority. Clean record. | Suspended or fake. |

This table saves headaches. Use it.

Why Brokers Like AMG Transport Co. Protect You

We do the dirty work carriers skip. Frontend sales. Backend systems. No double brokering here. Ever.

Our practices:

Vetted carriers only. All insured. MC/DOT checked. Parent company knows the good ones.
VIN scans at booking. Matches your car. No swaps.
Stripe deposits. Secure. Refundable if needed.
72-hour pickup windows. Reliable. Nationwide vehicle shipping door to door.
Honest quotes. No games. Tell you upfront: SUV vs sedan costs more. Non-running? Extra.

Texas based auto transport broker nationwide. We ship classics enclosed. Luxury vehicles too. Relocating to Florida from Texas? We got you. Cross-country car transport from coast to coast. Multi-car for families. Dealerships trust us.

Carriers rely on us. They avoid people problems. Non-payers. Complaints. We buffer. Keep rates reasonable. Good relationships mean they care for our clients.

Final Word: Choose Right, Ship Safe

Auto transport's no joke. Roads kill. Scams steal. Spot red flags. Verify everything. FMCSA first.

Skip the risk. AMG Transport Co. is your no-brainer pick. Experienced car shipping broker you can trust. Affordable car shipping without hidden fees. Auto transport safety record speaks.

Get your free quote now. Don't wait. Secure your move.

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