Broker check

Car Shipping Scams and How to Check a Broker

Brokers’ own guides describe car shipping scams that center on money paid before anything is checked: a price that jumps after the deposit, or a deposit with no carrier behind it. The FTC’s general scam advice adds: never pay someone who insists on a wire transfer or gift card. In a 2015 consumer advisory, FMCSA, which registers interstate brokers and carriers, warned of “a dramatic increase in complaints against auto transporters and auto transport brokers.” The first check is free: look up the company’s USDOT or MC number in FMCSA’s records before you pay, and walk away from the warning signs below.

Red flags before you pay

FMCSA and the FTC are government agencies; Sherpa Auto Transport and Web Auto Transport are brokers writing in their own guides.

A road lined with blank warning signs leading to a checkpoint barrier — Warning signs are easier to see before you pay anything.

Red flag	Who says so	Their words
You can’t tell if it’s a broker or the carrier	FMCSA (2015 advisory)	“Be suspicious of any Web site where it is not clear whether the company is a broker or a transporter.”
No MC number on the website	FMCSA (2015 advisory)	“Avoid any auto transporter or broker that does not prominently display their MC Docket number on their website.”
Pay only by wire, gift card, crypto or app	FTC	“Never pay someone who insists that you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card.”
Pressure to pay now	FTC	“Honest businesses will give you time to make a decision.”
Price jumps after the deposit	Sherpa (broker)	“Sudden price hikes after you’ve made an initial deposit”
A quote far below the others	Sherpa (broker)	“An extremely low quote compared to competitors”
No written contract	Sherpa (broker)	“The company refuses to provide a written contract”
No carrier name before you pay	Web Auto Transport (broker)	“Cannot tell you the carrier’s name before you pay”
Deposits with no intent to deliver	Web Auto Transport (broker)	“Some unethical brokers collect deposits from many customers simultaneously, never intending to fulfill all orders”

Federal rules back up the first sign: a broker “shall not, directly or indirectly, represent its operations to be that of a carrier. Any advertising shall show the broker status of the operation” (49 CFR 371.7).

How to look up a USDOT or MC number

Get the number in writing — from the quote, contract or website footer. FMCSA’s 2015 advisory says brokers and auto transporters “are both issued” an MC docket number. MC numbers are still issued: FMCSA “has proposed no longer assigning MC Numbers,” but the change “is under consideration” (April 2026).
Go to FMCSA yourself. Type safer.fmcsa.dot.gov or use our Broker check, which opens the official record. FMCSA has warned its registrants about emails with look-alike links such as “safer.web.dotgov.info” and says “The official Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) url is SAFER Web - Company Snapshot.”
Search. “Users can search by DOT Number, MC/MX Number or Company Name.”
Check both companies. Check the broker when you book and the carrier once it’s assigned. FMCSA: “You can check the validity of the registration of any transporter or broker” by doing a “carrier search.”

Reading the FMCSA record

FMCSA’s field guide for the Company Snapshot explains each line. These are the ones that matter before you pay:

Field	What you want to see	FMCSA’s definition
Legal Name / DBA Name	The company on your contract	“This may be a trade name under which the company does business.”
USDOT Status	ACTIVE	“The entity’s US DOT number is active.” OUT-OF-SERVICE: “not authorized to operate.”
Operating Authority Status	AUTHORIZED FOR …	“This will list the specific operating authorities the carrier (or broker) is allowed to operate.”
Operating Authority Status (warning)	NOT AUTHORIZED, for a move between states	“…the carrier does not have any operating authority and is not authorized to operate as an interstate, for-hire carrier”; it “does not apply to Private or Intrastate operations”
Cargo Carried (carrier)	Vehicles among the listed cargo types	“Identifies the type of cargo transported by the carrier/shipper.”

An ACTIVE status means a little less than usual right now: during its move to the new Motus system, FMCSA “has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and the inactivation of USDOT Numbers for entities that have not completed the required biennial update.” FMCSA also offers a “Public Motus Search” of the registration record.

The record shows registration and status, not customer service. A USDOT number can’t be lent or sold: FMCSA says the USDOT number “belongs to the same legal person forever and may not be sold, transferred, rented, or leased,” and that it “will inactivate USDOT Numbers upon discovery that the number is being used by anyone other than the assigned legal person.” So compare the name on the record with the company on your contract.

Deposits: what the companies say

The FMCSA pages cited here don’t set a deposit amount for car shipping, so the only figures are companies’ own terms. Two brokers, side by side:

	Sherpa Auto Transport (broker), Feb 2026	Web Auto Transport (broker), Aug 2026
When	“A reputable company only requires a deposit once a trucker has been assigned”	“A small partial payment is collected only after we have confirmed a verified, FMCSA-licensed carrier for your shipment”
How much	Not stated	“Typically $100-$300, depending on the total shipment cost”
Balance	“due upon delivery”	“paid directly to the driver”

Web Auto Transport also writes that “Many auto transport brokers charge a deposit at booking before they have even found a carrier.” So ask three questions before paying: how much, when it’s charged, and whether you get it back if no carrier takes the job. If you pay by card, FMCSA’s 2015 advisory says: “closely monitor the transactions with that company.”

What to do if you were scammed

Try to get the money back first. The FTC’s steps depend on how you paid:

You paid by	FTC says
Credit or debit card	“Report it to the credit card issuer immediately” (or your bank for a debit card) and “Ask them to refund your money.”
Zelle or bank transfer	“Report it to your bank or credit union immediately.”
Payment app	“Report it to the payment app immediately.”
Wire transfer	“Report it to the wire transfer company immediately.” “Tell them a scammer tricked you into sending money.”
Gift card	“Contact the gift card issuer immediately.”

Report it:

FMCSA Complaint Center — “The general public may file complaints against moving companies, moving brokers, or auto transporters,” under “Moving Companies and Brokers.” FMCSA’s examples include: “Broker did not disclose their cancellation, deposit or refunding policy.” It uses complaints, “along with other sources, to make decisions about which companies to investigate.”
FTC — “If you were scammed or think you saw a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.”
Your state attorney general — FMCSA’s fraud alerts page, written for companies targeted by phishing, also points to “your local police and/or state attorney general’s office” for assistance.

If a registered broker took your money and never arranged the move, note what its bond is for: under 49 CFR 387.307 a broker’s $75,000 bond or trust fund provides “for payments to shippers or motor carriers if the broker fails to carry out its contracts, agreements, or arrangements.” The bond rule says nothing about damage to the car; that is a question for the carrier’s insurance, explained in car shipping insurance. For choosing a company in the first place, see how to choose a car shipping company.

Estimate your route

Before paying a deposit, check the company's USDOT or MC number.

Illustrations on this page are AI-generated to help you picture the situation. They are not photos of real homes, jobs or people.

Sources

Updated November 2, 2026