Verify FMCSA Authority
Every legitimate auto transport broker must hold an active Broker Authority (MC number) issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can verify any broker's authority status at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Enter the MC number or company name. If the authority is inactive, revoked, or doesn't exist, do not use that broker. An active authority means the broker has met minimum financial responsibility requirements including the $75,000 surety bond.
Check the Bond
FMCSA requires all brokers to maintain a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund (BMC-84 or BMC-85). This bond protects carriers — if the broker fails to pay a carrier for completed work, the carrier can file a claim against the bond. While the bond doesn't directly protect you as a consumer, it's a baseline indicator that the broker has met regulatory requirements. A broker without a bond is operating illegally.
Red Flags
Large upfront deposits before a carrier is assigned: legitimate brokers collect a booking deposit, but demanding full payment upfront before carrier assignment is a warning sign. Prices significantly below market rate: if one broker quotes $600 on a route where everyone else quotes $900–$1,100, the low quote may be a bait-and-switch — the price increases after you've committed. No physical address or verifiable business information: a broker who won't share their MC number, business address, or phone number is not trustworthy. Pressure to book immediately: legitimate pricing doesn't expire in 10 minutes.
What Good Brokers Do
A legitimate broker: provides a written quote with all terms clearly stated, discloses the carrier's name and MC number before pickup, verifies carrier insurance on every dispatch, provides a single point of contact throughout the shipment, has a clear cancellation policy, and responds to questions directly without deflection. The broker's job is to match you with a qualified carrier and manage the transaction — not to disappear after collecting payment.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
What is your MC number? How do you vet carriers? What insurance does the carrier carry? What is your cancellation policy? Will I have a single point of contact? How do you handle damage claims? What's included in the quoted price — are there any potential additional charges? A broker who answers these questions directly and specifically is worth working with. A broker who deflects, generalizes, or pressures you to book before answering is not.