Car Shipping Scams and On the Rise in 2025
Scammers are in every business these days, and the car shipping industry is one of them. In 2025, more people than ever are falling for fake companies, hidden fees, and all kinds of sneaky tactics. Whoever you are: a car owner trying to move your vehicle, a carrier working in logistics, or even a broker, you have probably wondered how to stay safe from any scams. That is exactly why we have put together this guide. We are going to break down the most popular car shipping scams, show you the red flags to watch for, and share tips to protect yourself. Let’s make sure your car shipping experience stays smooth, secure, and scam-free!
How to Avoid Getting Scammed When Shipping Your Car?
Quick answer: To not get scammed first verify the company’s DOT and FMCSA numbers, ask for COI (Certificate of Insurance) and make sure it’s valid, avoid any upfront payments and deposits, read trusted company reviews on sources like CentralDispatch, always get a written contract first, be cautious of quotes that seem too good to be true and remember, always take photos of your car before shipping!
Common Types of Car Shipping Scams for Clients
Fake Transportation Companies
One of the most common scams clients face is dealing with fake transportation companies. These scammers create fake websites or use false business names to appear legitimate. They might even have customer service representatives and fake reviews to lure you in. Once they secure your payment, they either disappear or fail to deliver your car. Some might even pretend to pick up your vehicle, only to vanish without a trace.
The “Highest Price” Scam Method
This scam targets clients who are in a hurry or lack knowledge about competitive pricing in the car shipping industry. A scammer will quote you an extremely high price, claiming it reflects premium services or guarantees. Once you pay, scammers will reassign the job to someone who will do it for half of that price or never deliver at all. These scammers prey on urgency and a lack of understanding about how pricing works in the industry.
Not Bonded or Insured Company
Another common scam is dealing with companies that are neither bonded or insured. These companies often offer very low prices to attract clients, but if something goes wrong—such as damage to your vehicle or a delay in shipping—you’ll have no recourse. Without proper bonding or insurance, there’s little you can do to recover your losses.
Tips on How to Avoid Being Scammed when Shipping a Car
To protect yourself from car shipping scams, it’s important to stay vigilant and do your research. Here are some tips to ensure you’re working with a reliable company:
Verify the Company: Always check if the company is registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and has a valid DOT number. Look for reviews on trusted platforms to confirm their legitimacy.
Ask About Bonding and Insurance: Make sure the company is bonded and insured. Request proof and verify the information with the provider. A legitimate company will have no problem sharing these details.
Compare Prices: Don’t jump at the first quote you get, especially if it’s unusually high or low. Get multiple quotes and research what the average cost should be for your route and vehicle.
Avoid Upfront Payments: Be cautious of companies that demand full payment upfront. A small deposit is normal, but most reputable companies won’t ask for full payment until your vehicle is delivered.
Ask for a Contract: Always have a contract that outlines the terms and conditions of the shipment, including the estimated delivery time, total cost, and what happens if there are delays or damages.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed as a Carrier?
As a carrier, you work hard to keep the car shipping industry moving, but scammers are out there trying to take advantage of your efforts. From fake delivery requests to shady payment schemes, these scams can waste your time, drain your money, and mess with your reputation. It’s frustrating, but the more you know about these tactics, the better prepared you’ll be to spot and avoid them. In this section, we’re breaking down the most common scams targeting carriers, so you can stay one step ahead and keep your business running smoothly. Let’s get into it!
Common Types of Car Shipping Scams for Carriers
Fake Car Shipping Companies
In the car shipping industry, carriers play one of the most important roles in getting the job done! Unfortunately, there is a growing issue with fake shipping, clients or brokers’ companies scamming carriers out of their time, money, hard work, and nervousness. These scams can be painful and costly, so it is really important to know what you should watch out for and how to protect your company and your pocket.
Scammers often create company names or logos that look nearly identical to well-known businesses. For example, a trusted name like "Acertus" might be slightly changed to "Acertuss" to trick carriers into thinking they are dealing with the real big broker but after the job is done and it is time to pay for the car delivered, they are simply turning off their phone and deleting all the data and disappears. Most likely, you will not see them again under that name.
Sometimes, scammers can get access to the documents or credentials for load boards for real companies and post loads under their names. These loads are usually posted with the most competitive and attractive prices and those prices are not real at all. They will call you a lot of times after the pick-up and will ask to take pictures of the car on the trailer. They are doing it because after receiving pictures from you, they send them to clients and ask them to pay for transportation or 50% of it by Zelle, CashApp, etc. So, after the car is delivered you are asking for money from the client but he says that he already paid it to the broker. You both are trying to reach the broker but as usual - the account does not exist.So, be careful and make sure that you check their profile on Central Dispatch (check an example below)
Usually, scammers do not have any rating or have less than 10 reviews, and some of them are negative. You can also verify Company Details: Confirm the company’s DOT number, MC number, and contact information through the FMCSA database or similar tools. Another method to check it - once you have the details contact the shipper or verify load legitimacy directly with the supposed company. Also, one of the most important things is to document everything. Keep detailed records, including contracts, correspondence, and delivery confirmation.
I hope that suggestion will help you to avoid any deals with fake brokers and will keep your business running smoothly.
Moving instead of car shipping
Carriers handle over 60% of jobs in the car shipping industry, but some clients try to exploit them by disguising household moves as car shipments to save money. Moving services are more expensive because they require extra labor and equipment. Scammers load vehicles with household goods that exceed weight limits, causing damage to your equipment and making insurance claims difficult.
Example:
The carrier booked a 2019 Ford F-150 for enclosed shipping through Central Dispatch. The customer claimed the truck contained personal items in the trunk and insisted on enclosed transport to avoid losing them. However, when the driver arrived, the truck was overloaded with household goods, far exceeding its weight capacity. This caused damage to the trailer’s axles and brakes. Insurance refused to cover the repairs, and the broker argued that the load should have been canceled upon inspection.
How to avoid being scammed?
- Inspect Vehicles Thoroughly: Check for hidden or excessive personal items at pick-up. Ensure the vehicle’s weight matches the agreement.
- Document Discrepancies: Take photos of the vehicle and its contents. Record any differences between the agreement and the actual load.
- Refuse Overloaded Vehicles: If the vehicle’s condition doesn’t match the contract, refuse the shipment to protect your business.
Keys and Tags Deduction Scam Method
Scammers sometimes exploit carriers by falsely claiming that keys, tags, or other items are missing upon delivery. For instance, a driver might pick up a car and receive one pair of keys, but the delivery receiver insists that two pairs were included in the Bill of Lading (BOL). The scammers then deduct money from the carrier’s payment to cover the “lost” items, leaving the carrier at a financial loss.
Example:
A driver picked up a car from Massillon, Ohio, and delivered it to Warren, Ohio. The shipper handed over one pair of keys, but the BOL falsely stated that two pairs were included. At delivery, the receiver claimed the second pair was missing. The scammers deducted $500 from the carrier’s payment, effectively transporting the car for free.
How to avoid being scammed?
Double-Check Items: Verify all keys, tags, and other items listed on the BOL before signing.
Photograph Everything: Take clear pictures of the items received and include them in your records.
Use Inspection Tools: Applications like Ship.Cars or Super Dispatch allow you to upload photos and document items at pick-up and delivery. These tools also include digital signatures for added security.
How To Not Get Scammed as a Car Shipping Broker?
Brokers play a major role in connecting clients with reliable carriers, and they are responsible for it being smooth and secure. As a broker, you MUST verify the carrier, as it can lead to losses in your reputation, break up operations, and lead to financial losses. In this section, we will cover the most common types of scams targeting brokers and how to avoid being scammed.
Common Types of Car Shipping Scams for Brokers
Double Brokerage Scam Method
Double brokerage is one of the sneakiest scams in the car shipping industry. It happens when a scammer books a load from a broker, pretending to be a legitimate carrier, and then reassigns it to another carrier without informing anyone. The scammer collects payment from the broker but does not pay the real carrier. This can lead to late deliveries, unpaid fees, and frustrated clients who might blame you for the mess.
This scam doesn’t just harm your business directly—it also disrupts the market. Double brokers often repost the same load on the same load board but at a different price. Sometimes they try to make a quick profit by covering the load for a lower rate and pocketing the difference. Other times, they post the load for higher prices, take payment upfront, and then vanish. In the latter case, the carrier never gets paid, and the broker ends up dealing with angry clients and unpaid carriers.
How to Spot and Avoid Double Brokerage
Unfortunately, spotting a double broker isn’t always easy. However, based on experience, there are a few red flags and strategies you can use to protect yourself:
Monitor Load Assignments: Use tracking tools to ensure that the load remains with the original carrier you assigned. A sudden switch in carriers without notice is a major red flag.
Verify Carriers Thoroughly: Before assigning a load, check the carrier’s DOT and MC numbers using the FMCSA database. Make sure their credentials match up with their online profiles and the information they’ve provided.
Keep Communication Clear: Maintain regular contact with the client and carrier during the shipping process. Double brokers often try to avoid communication or provide vague updates—catching this early can save you from major headaches.
By staying vigilant, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to double brokerage scams and keep your operations running smoothly.
Fake Carrier Company Scam Method
Fake carrier companies are another major headache for brokers. These scammers offer suspiciously low rates to win contracts but never actually complete the job. Often, they disappear after collecting an upfront payment or providing vague updates about the shipment. In some cases, they may even vanish with the client’s car, leaving you unable to prove anything.
The problem is that these companies are often registered using victims’ identities, such as elderly individuals who unknowingly gave their documents to the wrong person or immigrants who registered the company in exchange for a small reward. It could also be former employees who still have access to company profiles on platforms like Central Dispatch, Super Dispatch, FMCSA and others.
How Fake Carrier Scam Method Work?
A broker contracts a carrier offering a great deal. These scammers typically claim they can pick up the car the same day at the posted rate, ensuring the broker assigns them the job. Once the car is assigned, they have access to all the sensitive information: vehicle details, shipper and receiver contact numbers, addresses, and more. This opens up several opportunities for scam.
For instance, they might reassign the load through their own brokerage company as a double brokerage scheme. They could also contact the client directly and attempt to receive additional payments. In the worst-case scenario, they may even steal the car using the information they obtained.
The issue is that your company will end up taking the blame. Since you have a contract with the client, they will hold you responsible for the job details falling into the wrong hands. It is a tough spot to be in, and unfortunately, it is your reputation on the line.
How to Avoid Being Scammed?
Ask for Proof of Insurance: Make sure that your company is registered in their COI (Certificate of Insurance) as a certificate holder. Make sure that the email with their COI was sent from the official insurance company email. Verify the insurance details directly with the provider. The best way is to call them directly, using the number from Google, not from the documents that the carrier sent you. Here’s a nice guide on how to verify that COI is valid?
Do a Deep Dive: Verify FMCSA registration to ensure the carrier is active and legitimate. You should also check their profile on Central Dispatch and make sure that there are no active claims or unresolved issues. Also, see all the negative reviews and make an analysis of common types of issues with that carrier.
Confirm Identity: Cross-check driver’s licenses and carrier details for authenticity. You can also take a picture of these documents and have them just in case of any issue in the future.
Fake Insurance Information Scam Method
Fake insurance information is another big scam that brokers need to stay alert for. Scammers often provide Certificates of Insurance (COIs) that look legitimate but turn out to be fake, expired, or don’t actually cover vehicle transportation. Sometimes, they’ll even claim their policy is “in the process of renewal” to excuse any red flags—an easy way to avoid immediate suspicion.
The tricky part is that even carriers with legitimate operations can sometimes bend the rules. For example, they might have a large fleet of trucks but not yet have all of them added to their insurance policy. Instead of waiting to get things squared away, they might send you a fake COI with the truck “listed” on it just to secure the job.
This is why brokers need to be extra cautious. It’s critical to double-check every COI directly with the insurance agent or company. A quick phone call can save you from a lot of trouble.
The real danger here is that if something goes wrong—say a client’s car gets damaged—you and the client could be left completely unprotected. By the time you realize the insurance isn’t valid, the scammer will have already vanished, leaving you to clean up the mess.
How It Works:
A broker assigned the load to a carrier who provides a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to prove they are covered. On the surface, everything looks fine, but if you don’t verify the details, you may not realize the policy doesn’t exist or doesn’t apply to the type of work required. These scammers rely on brokers not taking the extra step of confirming the insurance with the provider directly. Here’s a guide on how to verify the COI.
How to Protect Yourself:
The best way to protect yourself is to always verify the insurance details.
- Call the insurance company directly—not using the contact information the carrier provides, but the official number you find online.
- Make sure the policy is active, up-to-date, and specifically covers vehicle transportation.
- Check that your company is listed as a certificate holder on the COI. If the insurance doesn’t check out, it’s a red flag, and you should move on to a more reliable carrier.
Summary
At Car Shiply, we do all the hard work for you! Our team specializes in finding the best car shipping companies that match your needs and budget. We thoroughly vet every company to ensure they are legitimate, bonded, and insured. Our process includes:
Verifying Details: We check FMCSA registrations, insurance policies, and DOT numbers to confirm that every company we recommend is trustworthy.
Scam Prevention: We look for red flags like fake reviews, untraceable payment methods, or unusually high or low quotes.
Getting the Best Rate: We compare multiple quotes to find you the best deal without compromising quality or reliability.
By filling out the form below, you’ll gain access to a network of reliable carriers handpicked by our experts. We’ll take care of everything, so you don’t have to worry about falling victim to scams. Let our experts do the handling for you - we verify and provide the best prices when it comes to shipping your car!
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