What Is Double Brokering in Auto Transport and How Can You Avoid It?
Double brokering is a scam that plagues the auto transport industry. It happens when someone poses as a carrier but then re-sells your load to another broker or carrier. You think you're booking direct. You're not. Your car shipping deal turns into a game of hot potato. Delays happen. Insurance gaps appear. Your vehicle risks damage or theft.
I've seen it too many times as Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co., a Texas-based auto transport broker. We handle car shipping services in Texas and nationwide vehicle shipping door to door. Our parent company, AMG Endeavors, runs carriers. We know both sides. Brokers like us do the sales, coordination, and backend systems. Carriers focus on driving trucks. They avoid customer headaches. Roads are dangerous enough.
But shady players exploit this. They double broker to pocket fees without hauling a thing. Here's how to spot it and stay safe.
What Is Double Brokering in Auto Transport?
Double brokering means a middleman books your shipment pretending to be the carrier. They take your deposit. Then they offload the job to another party. No truck shows up. Or a stranger arrives weeks late.
It's illegal under FMCSA rules if they lack authority. Yet it thrives in a fraud-filled industry.
How Does Double Brokering Actually Work?
Step one: Scammer gets your quote request. They undercut legit rates.
Step two: You book. They demand upfront payment via wire or cash apps.
Step three: They post your load on load boards like DAT or Truckstop. Real carriers bid.
Step four: Scammer takes a cut. Hands off details. Disappears when issues arise.
No skin in the game. Your car sits. Costs climb.
Why Is Double Brokering Risky for Shippers?
Risk one: No real carrier means no insurance. FMCSA mandates coverage. Scammers dodge it.
Risk two: Delays. Your timeline for shipping a car from Houston to Los Angeles? Ruined.
Risk three: Payment scams. They vanish with your money.
Risk four: Vehicle damage. Unvetted trucks mean poor handling.
One client lost a classic car to theft this way. Don't be next.
What Are the Red Flags of Double Brokering?
Watch these signs:
- Quotes too low to believe. Legit open car carrier transport costs reflect fuel, labor, demand.
- Upfront demands beyond deposits. Wires, Zelle, Venmo scream fraud.
- Vague truck details. No DOT number? Run.
- Pressure to book fast. \"Truck leaves tomorrow!\"
- New MC number. Check age on FMCSA.
Why Do Low Quotes Often Signal Double Brokering?
Cheap bids lure you in. Real costs don't lie. How much does it cost to ship a car cross country? $1,000-$2,000 average. Fuel spikes. Carrier margins slim.
Scammers quote half. They plan to flip it. If bids don't cover, they ghost.
We give honest quotes at AMG. No games.
How Can You Verify a Carrier Isn't Double Brokering?
Do your homework. Always.
1. Get the DOT and MC numbers.
2. Call the number on the truck.
3. Ask for cargo and liability insurance certificates.
4. Verify authority active.
What FMCSA Tools Should You Use Before Booking?
Use these free tools:
| Tool | What It Checks | Link |
|------|----------------|------|
| Licensing & Insurance | Authority, insurance status | FMCSA Safer |
| SMS | Safety record, violations | FMCSA SMS |
| Company Snapshot | Full profile | Safer snapshot |
Plug in numbers. Out-of-service? Walk away.
How Do Reputable Brokers Prevent Double Brokering?
Good brokers vet carriers hard. We require:
- Established authority.
- Clean safety records.
- Proof of insurance.
Contracts ban re-brokering. We track loads end-to-end. VIN scans at pickup. Stripe deposits only. No wires.
Our vetted insured carriers hit 72-hour pickup windows. Door-to-door car shipping how it works: We coordinate. They haul.
Should You Always Use a Broker to Avoid This Scam?
Carriers won't touch most jobs direct. They hate payment risks. People flake. Brokers buffer that.
Plus, vehicles move nationwide. Brokers juggle networks. Direct carrier? Good luck finding one for your route.
Brokers aren't perfect. But reputable ones like us build carrier relationships. They invest in your shipment.
Skip brokers? Pay more. Or get stuck.
Why Choose AMG Transport Co. for Safe Auto Transport
Tired of scams? Pick experience. AMG Transport Co. is your Texas-based auto transport broker nationwide. We skip double brokering nonsense.
Honest quotes. Vetted carriers. VIN scans. Stripe payments. 72-hour pickups. Full transparency.
Ship a car from Texas to California? Relocating to Florida? Luxury vehicle transport? We got you.
Don't risk it. Get a free quote today. Sleep easy.
Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.