The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency that regulates interstate trucking, including auto transport. Every legitimate broker and carrier in the US is required to be registered with FMCSA and to display certain credentials publicly.
The FMCSA's Safer database (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) lets anyone look up a company's registration, insurance status, safety record, and complaint history in about thirty seconds. It is the single most useful tool a car shipping consumer has, and it's almost shocking how many people book without checking it first.
What to verify.
When you're considering a broker or carrier, here are the things worth checking:
1. They have an active MC number.
MC stands for Motor Carrier. Every legitimate auto transport company has one, and it should be displayed prominently on their website. If it isn't, that's a red flag. Type the number into the Safer database to confirm it's active.
2. The company name on FMCSA matches the company name on the website.
Some sketchy operators register under one name and market under another, often because the marketing name's reviews are too damaged to use. The Safer record should match what you see on the site.
3. Their authority is current and active.
The Safer record will show "Authorized for Property" with an active date. If it shows revoked, suspended, or out of service, do not book.
4. Insurance is current.
The Safer record shows insurance status. Brokers are required to carry a $75,000 surety bond; carriers are required to carry liability and cargo insurance. If insurance is expired or missing, do not book.
5. The company has been operating for at least two years.
The Safer record shows the date authority was granted. Auto transport has high turnover; companies that have been operating less than two years are higher risk simply because they have less track record.
6. Look at the complaint and safety history.
The Safer database links to safety records and complaint history. A handful of complaints is normal for any active company. A pattern of similar complaints (price changes at delivery, damaged vehicles, missing payments to drivers) is a warning sign.
Where most people get this wrong.
Two common mistakes:
- Confusing DOT number with MC number. They're different. Both are useful, but MC is the one that confirms a company is authorized to broker or carry interstate freight.
- Trusting the BBB rating instead of FMCSA. The BBB does not regulate auto transport and its ratings are easily manipulated. FMCSA is the authoritative source.
A note on brokers.
Brokers will have an MC number too, but their FMCSA record will look different from a carrier's; they won't have a fleet size or safety inspection history because they don't operate trucks. That's expected. What matters for a broker is that the authority is active, the bond is current, and the company has been operating long enough to evaluate.