What Is Double Brokering in Auto Transport and How Can You Avoid It?

Double brokering plagues the auto transport industry. It's a scam where brokers re-sell your load without dispatching it themselves. Your car risks delays, damage, or worse. As a logistics manager at AMG Transport Co., an auto transport broker Texas-based with nationwide reach, I've seen it ruin shipments. We'll break it down. You'll learn to spot it and avoid it.

What Is Double Brokering?

Double brokering happens when a broker accepts your car shipping job. Then, they turn around and re-brokers it to another broker. Not a carrier. Another middleman. This chains on until someone finds a real trucker. Or it falls through.

How does double brokering work in auto transport?

You call a broker for door-to-door car shipping. They quote low. You pay a deposit. They post your load on load boards. Another broker snags it cheap. That one re-posts it. Rinse and repeat. Real carriers see the markup chain. They bid high or skip it. Your vehicle sits. No pickup.

Why do some brokers use double brokering?

Greed. They pocket deposits fast. No skin in the game. No relationships with carriers. Legit brokers like us at AMG invest in vetted insured carriers. We handle frontend sales and coordination. Carriers drive. That's the deal. Scammers chase quick cash.

How Can You Spot Double Brokering Before Booking?

Don't book blind. Ask questions. Demand proof.

What red flags indicate a broker might be double brokering?

• Quotes too low for cross-country hauls. Like $500 from Houston to LA. Impossible.
• Pressure to wire money or pay huge deposits upfront.
• No carrier details until after payment.
• Vague answers on their carrier network.
• New company with flashy ads but no track record.

How can you tell if a broker is re-brokering your load?

Call them out. Ask for the carrier's DOT and MC numbers before deposit. Real brokers provide them. Scammers dodge. Check if they have active broker authority. We'll cover that next.

Why Is Double Brokering Dangerous for Your Shipment?

It endangers your vehicle. Delays your move.

What risks does double brokering pose to your vehicle and timeline?

Each re-broker adds days. Your car waits on load boards. Unvetted carriers grab it last. Higher chance of damage. No insurance chain. Timelines slip. What was 7 days cross-country becomes weeks.

Can double brokering lead to non-payment or carrier abandonment?

Yes. Carriers get stiffed. Original broker ghosts. They abandon loads mid-haul. Your SUV or luxury car sits stranded. You chase payments. Or worse, pay twice.

How to Verify a Legitimate Auto Transport Broker?

Verify before you commit. It's simple.

What documents and checks confirm a broker isn't double brokering?

• Broker Authority: Must have active MC number from FMCSA.
• Insurance: $750k cargo, $1M auto liability. Get certificates naming you.
• Carrier Packet: DOT/MC for the trucker. Proof of insurance.
• References: Trusted car shipping broker reviews online.

At AMG, we send VIN scans pre-pickup. Stripe deposits only. No wires. 72-hour pickup windows. Honest quotes, no bait-and-switch.

How do FMCSA searches protect you from double brokers?

Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Search the broker's MC number. Confirm active broker authority, not carrier. Check complaints. Out-of-service hits? Run. Legit Texas-based auto transport brokers like AMG shine here. Nationwide vehicle shipping door to door. Clean record.

| Legit Broker vs. Double Broker |

| --- | --- |

| Provides carrier info upfront | Hides it until paid |

| Active FMCSA broker authority | Carrier authority or none |

| Vetted carriers, insurance proof | Promises, no docs |

| 72-hour pickup guarantee | Vague timelines |

| Stripe/CC deposits | Wires, cash apps |

Choose AMG Transport Co. – No Double Brokering, Just Results

Carriers rely on brokers like us. Our parent, AMG Endeavors, runs trucks. We know both sides. We don't double broker. Ever. Vetted insured carriers only. Door pick-up and delivery. Honest quotes for open or enclosed auto transport. From Texas to anywhere. Ship a car from Houston to Los Angeles? We got it. Luxury? Enclosed. Non-running? No problem.

Tired of scams? Get a real quote. Click here for safe, reliable service.

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