What Is Double Brokering and How Can You Avoid It?
Double brokering scams the auto transport industry. Shady operators book your car shipping job. Then they resell it to another broker or carrier. They pocket your deposit. Your vehicle risks delays or worse. As a Texas-based auto transport broker, I've seen it ruin deals. Brokers like AMG Transport Co. handle frontend sales and coordination. We leave driving to carriers. But not all brokers play fair.
What Is Double Brokering in Auto Transport?
Double brokering happens when a broker accepts your load. They don't have a truck. Instead, they re-broker it to another party. This chains your shipment. The original broker vanishes after your deposit.
In auto transport, brokers connect you to carriers. Legit ones like us vet carriers. We use our parent company, AMG Endeavors, as a carrier too. Scammers skip that. They quote low to grab deposits. Then dump the load.
Your car could sit for weeks. Or face damage from unqualified haulers.
Why Do Scammers Use Double Brokering?
Cash flow. They take your deposit via wire or cash app. Pay nothing upfront. Resell the load for more. Pocket the difference. Run.
Carriers hate it too. They get stiffed on payments. Roads are dangerous enough. Why chase deadbeat brokers?
People pay brokers because most carriers won't deal direct. Vehicles move nationwide. Timing varies. Brokers buffer that. But double brokers exploit trust. They charge less than carriers direct. Promise door-to-door car shipping. Then ghost you.
What Are the Red Flags of Double Brokering?
Spot them early. Save your vehicle and money.
- Too-good-to-be-true quotes. If open car carrier transport cost seems half the market rate, run.
- Push for wire transfers or apps like Zelle. Legit brokers use Stripe deposits, like AMG.
- No carrier details upfront. They dodge MC or DOT numbers.
- 72-hour pickup slips. Real brokers guarantee windows, like our 72-hour promise.
- Vague contracts. No VIN scans or clear terms.
| Red Flag | Legit Practice |
|---------|---------------|
| Wire deposit | Stripe deposit |
| No carrier info | Vetted insured carriers |
| Unrealistic price | Honest quotes |
| No pickup window | 72-hour guarantee |
| Generic emails | Direct contact |
How Can You Spot a Double Broker?
Ask for the carrier's USDOT number immediately. Check if they own trucks. Google the broker. New site? Red flag.
Call the carrier direct. Confirm they booked your load. Not the broker.
In Texas auto transport broker scenes, we see this daily. Scammers flood Craigslist or Facebook. Promise cheap ship a car from Houston to Los Angeles. Then bail.
How Do You Verify the Actual Carrier?
Don't trust broker words. Verify yourself.
1. Get USDOT and MC numbers.
2. Search FMCSA site.
3. Call carrier. Ask about your load.
4. Check insurance. Minimum $750k cargo.
AMG shares this info upfront. Our carriers are vetted. Insured. Reliable for nationwide vehicle shipping door to door.
What FMCSA Tools Should You Use?
FMCSA is your shield. Use these free tools:
- SAFERSYS: Search USDOT for authority, insurance, safety ratings.
- Licensing and Insurance Database: Confirm active MC number. Broker vs carrier authority.
- Company Snapshot: Reviews violations, crashes.
Enter numbers. See if they operate trucks. Or just broker.
Double brokers often use inactive authorities. Or stolen ones.
Pro tip: For cross-country car transport from coast to coast, verify early. Delays cost more than quotes.
What Happens If You Fall Victim to Double Brokering?
Lose deposit. Vehicle stranded. Scrambling for new transport.
Carrier might hold your car until paid. Twice.
File FMCSA complaint. Report fraud to FTC. But recovery? Slim.
Banks reverse wires sometimes. Not always.
Steps to Protect Your Vehicle and Deposit
1. Verify before paying. Use FMCSA tools.
2. Use credit card or Stripe. Not wire.
3. Get carrier contact. Confirm direct.
4. Document everything. Photos, emails, VIN scans.
5. Choose experienced brokers. Like Texas based auto transport broker nationwide service.
AMG Transport Co. skips risks. We provide VIN scans. Stripe deposits. Vetted insured carriers. 72-hour pickup windows. Honest quotes. No games.
Why Trust AMG Transport Co.?
Auto transport is fraud-filled. Brokers solve carrier headaches. We do sales, coordination, systems. Carriers drive.
Double brokering? We don't touch it. Our relationships ensure carriers care for your vehicle. Like family SUVs or luxury rides.
Need door pick-up and delivery car transport service? Or ship a car from Texas to California? Get our quote. Transparent. Reliable.
Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.