Broker or carrier: who is actually moving your car?
Most car shipping bookings go through a broker who hires a carrier. Understanding the difference helps you ask the right questions and avoid surprises.
Many people book car shipping thinking the company they call owns the truck. Often it doesn't. Most bookings in this industry are arranged by brokers, who hire independent carriers to do the driving.
What a carrier does
A carrier owns or leases trucks and employs or contracts the drivers. It needs FMCSA operating authority as a motor carrier, and it is the company physically responsible for your car while it's on the trailer.
What a broker does
A broker takes your booking and finds a carrier already running your route. It needs FMCSA broker authority and must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund with FMCSA. A good broker earns its fee by:
- Knowing which carriers run your route and are reliable
- Matching a fair price to the market, so a driver actually takes the job
- Handling problems if the first carrier falls through
Which is better?
Neither is automatically better. A carrier can be a good choice if it runs your exact route. A broker gives you access to many carriers, which matters on routes no single company covers. Some companies do both.
On Transport Auto Reviews, every listing is marked Broker, Carrier, or Carrier & broker, based on the company's FMCSA authority, so you can tell at a glance.
Questions to ask a broker
- Which carrier will pick up my car, and what is its USDOT number?
- Is the price you quoted what the carrier is being paid, or could it change?
- What happens if no carrier takes the job at this price?
- Who do I call if there's a problem during transport?
Check them either way
Whether you book a broker or a carrier, look up its USDOT number and operating authority on FMCSA's Motus system, and read its customer reviews. We explain how in how to check a car shipping company's FMCSA record. Every company page on our site links straight to its FMCSA record.