Buyer's Guide · USDOT 7557228
How to Choose a Car Shipping Company
Seven checks that separate a legitimate auto transport company from a bad experience — and exactly how SLG TRANS INC answers each one.
Quick answer
Verify the company's USDOT or MC number in the FMCSA public database and confirm the authority is active. Ask for the $75,000 BMC-84 broker surety bond, the cargo insurance limit that applies to your vehicle in writing, and the name of the person who will handle your load. Treat a quote far below market as a warning, not a bargain, and never pay a large non-refundable deposit before a carrier is assigned — a small deposit once a driver is dispatched, with the balance in cash to the driver on delivery, is normal.
The seven checks
- 1
Look up the USDOT or MC number in the FMCSA database
Every legitimate broker and carrier has one, and the public record shows whether the authority is active. No number, or a number that does not resolve, ends the conversation.
SLG Trans: SLG TRANS INC operates under USDOT 7557228. Look it up before you book — we would rather you did.
- 2
Ask for the broker surety bond
Federal rules require licensed brokers to hold a $75,000 BMC-84 bond. It is the financial backstop when something goes wrong on the money side.
SLG Trans: $75,000 BMC-84 freight broker surety bond, on file and verifiable.
- 3
Confirm cargo insurance limits in writing
'Fully insured' means nothing on its own. Ask for the limit that applies to your specific load and who the policy belongs to.
SLG Trans: Cargo coverage up to $1,000,000 through the carrier we assign, confirmed in writing before pickup.
- 4
Treat an unusually low quote as a warning
Loads posted below market rate do not get picked up. The price rises later, or the car sits. Compare quotes against real per-mile bands, not against each other.
SLG Trans: We quote from current lane rates and tell you when a number you were given elsewhere is unlikely to dispatch.
- 5
Ask who you will actually talk to
Call-centre handoffs are where car shipping goes wrong. You want one person who knows your load.
SLG Trans: One dispatcher from booking to delivery, reachable on (213) 232-2223.
- 6
Read the bill of lading process
The pickup and delivery inspection reports decide every damage claim. A company that glosses over them is telling you something.
SLG Trans: We walk you through the inspection at both ends and keep copies on file.
- 7
Check when payment is due
Large non-refundable deposits before a carrier is even assigned are a common bad pattern.
SLG Trans: Quotes are free with nothing due while we source a truck. Once a driver is assigned, a small deposit is due before pickup and the balance is paid in cash to the driver on delivery, all in writing first.
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Vetting a transport company
How do I know if a car shipping company is legitimate?
Check its USDOT or MC number in the FMCSA public database and confirm the authority is active. Ask for the $75,000 BMC-84 broker surety bond, the cargo insurance limit in writing, and the name of the person handling your load. Any company that will not give you those four things should be skipped.
What questions should I ask a car shipping company before booking?
What is your USDOT number? Is the quote the dispatched rate or an estimate? What cargo limit applies to my vehicle? Who is my point of contact and are they reachable outside office hours? What happens if pickup slips? How is damage documented and claimed?
Is it better to use a broker or a carrier directly?
For most single-vehicle moves, a broker. A single carrier only runs the lanes its own trucks run, so on any route outside its pattern you wait. A broker matches your lane against a nationwide network, which is why brokers handle most retail auto transport in the US.
What are the biggest red flags in car shipping?
A quote far under market, a large non-refundable deposit before a carrier is assigned, no verifiable USDOT number, refusal to put insurance limits in writing, and a phone number that only ever reaches a different person.