How to Check the Reputation and Rating of Your Auto Transport Company
In the auto transport industry, reputation is everything. A single bad experience—a delayed shipment, damaged vehicle, or unprofessional driver—can cost you hundreds of dollars and months of frustration. Yet, many customers book their shipments with a company they've never researched, simply because they found the lowest quote or liked the website. This is a dangerous mistake that can be easily avoided.
This guide shows you how to check the licensing, ratings, and reviews of any auto transport broker or carrier, explains the difference between the two, and helps you make a confident decision before you hand over your keys. SouthWest Auto Transport is a free quote-request service: you fill out one form, your request goes to up to ten auto transport companies, and they contact you with their own prices. Use the steps below to check out whichever company you choose before you book. Complete the form on this page or call 1-800-590-6492 to get started.
Reputation Check — At a Glance
| FMCSA Status | USDOT number "ACTIVE" and operating authority "AUTHORIZED" for the company that arranges or hauls your car |
| Insurance | Liability insurance on file with FMCSA, plus a cargo insurance certificate you request from the carrier |
| Safety Rating | "Satisfactory" is best; "Not Rated" is common and normal; ask questions about "Conditional"; avoid "Unsatisfactory" |
| BBB Rating | A+ through B is a good sign; C or lower, or unanswered complaints, deserves a closer look |
| Google Reviews | 4.0+ stars across 50+ reviews |
| Watch For | All 5-star generic reviews, no negative reviews, no phone number |
Call 1‑800‑590‑6492 or complete the quote form to get up to 10 free quotes, then check each one with the steps below.
Broker vs. Carrier: Understanding the Difference
Before you can properly evaluate a company's reputation, you need to understand what type of company you're dealing with. The auto transport industry has two main player types, and they have different regulatory oversight and accountability structures.
Auto Transport Broker
A logistics intermediary that does not own trucks. Brokers connect customers with carriers, post shipments to national databases, and manage logistics on your behalf. Brokers must keep a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund on file with the FMCSA. Most large online auto transport companies are brokers.
Auto Transport Carrier
A company that owns the trucks and employs the drivers. Carriers physically move your vehicle and must keep liability insurance on file with the FMCSA. Cargo insurance, which covers damage to your car, is standard among car haulers, but ask for the certificate rather than assuming. Many carriers are small owner-operators running one or a few trucks.
Key Difference: A broker's job is to find a carrier for your route and coordinate the shipment. The carrier's job is to load, haul, and deliver your car. Either can be a good choice. What matters is that both the broker and the carrier that actually moves your car are properly licensed and insured, so check each one. Our broker vs carrier guide covers how to choose between them.
Step 1: Verify FMCSA Licensing and Authority
This is the most important step and should be your first action. Brokers and carriers that arrange or haul vehicles across state lines need a USDOT number and operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), usually shown as an MC number. Look the company up for free on FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. You can search by USDOT number, MC number, or company name.
What to Look For:
- USDOT Status: Should say "ACTIVE."
- Operating Authority: Should say "AUTHORIZED FOR" followed by Property (for carriers) or Broker (for brokers). If it says "NOT AUTHORIZED," do not book with this company.
- Name and Address Match: The company name, address, and phone number on the FMCSA record should match the company you are dealing with. Scammers sometimes borrow a real company’s numbers.
- Insurance on File: The snapshot shows whether required insurance is on file but not the dollar amounts. For filing details, follow the link to FMCSA’s Licensing and Insurance records. Filings can take several business days to update, so also ask the carrier for its certificate of insurance.
- Safety Rating: "Satisfactory" is the best rating. Most carriers show "Not Rated," which simply means FMCSA hasn’t done an on-site review. It is not a warning sign. A "Conditional" rating deserves questions, and an "Unsatisfactory" carrier should not be hauling at all.
Step 2: Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) collects complaints and ratings for businesses. While not a government agency, it provides valuable insight into customer satisfaction.
- BBB Rating (A+ to F): A+ through B is generally a good sign. C or lower deserves a closer look at why.
- Number of Complaints: Judge complaints against the company’s size. A large broker handling thousands of shipments a year will have more complaints than a one-truck carrier. The pattern, and how the company responds, matters more than the raw count.
- Complaint Resolution: Does the company respond to and attempt to resolve complaints?
- Complaint Patterns: Look for repeated complaints about the same issue.
Step 3: Research Third-Party Review Sites
To get a broader picture, check these third-party review aggregators:
- Google Reviews: Search the company name and look at star ratings and customer comments.
- TransportReviews.com: A specialized review site for auto transport companies with detailed, route-specific reviews.
- Trustpilot: An independent review platform aggregating customer feedback across industries.
- Yelp: Useful for local business context and customer ratings.
Complete the form on this page or call 1-800-590-6492 to get up to ten free quotes, then run each company through these checks before you book.
Step 4: Compare Reputation Across Multiple Platforms
| Platform | Rating/Score | Number of Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMCSA SAFER | Active & Authorized | N/A | Licensing, insurance on file, safety rating if any |
| BBB | A+ to B | Complaint Count | Formal complaints and responses |
| Google Reviews | 4.0+ stars | 50+ reviews | General Satisfaction |
| TransportReviews | 4.0+ stars | 20+ reviews | Industry-Specific |
Step 5: Watch for Red Flags in Marketing
Fake Reviews
If all reviews are 5 stars and generic ("Great service!"), they may be fabricated.
No Negative Reviews
Every legitimate business has some negative reviews. Zero complaints is suspicious.
Aggressive Sales Tactics
Companies that pressure you to book immediately or refuse to answer questions are often hiding something.
No Phone Number
Legitimate companies have a real phone number. If they only offer email or chat, be cautious.
Details Don’t Match
If the name, address, or phone on the FMCSA record doesn’t match the company quoting you, someone may be using another company’s numbers.
Call 1‑800‑590‑6492 or complete the quote form to get up to 10 free quotes.
How SouthWest Auto Transport Works
SouthWest Auto Transport is a free quote-request service, not a broker or a carrier. We don’t own trucks, take payment for your shipment, or sign your transport contract. When you complete the form on this page, your request goes to up to ten auto transport companies, and they contact you directly with their own quotes. That lets you compare prices and companies side by side instead of calling around one at a time.
Because you book directly with the company you choose, that company is the one to check. Run its USDOT and MC numbers through FMCSA, read its BBB profile and reviews, and ask for its certificate of insurance before you sign anything. A legitimate company won’t mind the questions. For more warning signs, see our guide to spotting and avoiding auto transport scams.
Helpful Links
- FMCSA SAFER System — Verify Carrier Credentials
- FMCSA Licensing & Insurance — Check Insurance Filings
- Better Business Bureau — Search Company Ratings
- TransportReviews.com — Industry-Specific Reviews
- Trustpilot — Independent Customer Reviews
- Understanding Auto Transport Insurance
- Top Ten Questions to Ask Your Transport Company
Ready to compare auto transport companies? Call us now at 1-800-590-6492 or complete the form on this page to receive up to ten free quotes, then use the checklist above to choose the one you trust.
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