With hundreds of car shipping service providers operating across the USA, choosing the right one can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Every company claims to be the best, the cheapest, and the most reliable — but the reality behind those promises varies wildly. Making the wrong choice can mean delayed pickups, surprise fees at delivery, or worst of all, damage to your vehicle with no clear path to compensation. At Rapid Auto Shipping, we believe every customer deserves to make an informed decision. Here are seven critical things to check before you hand over your keys to any car shipping service.
1. Verify FMCSA Licensing and Operating Authority
This is the single most important check you can make before booking any car shipping service in the USA. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — commonly known as the FMCSA — regulates all auto transport companies and carriers operating across the country. Every legitimate car shipping service must hold active operating authority and be registered in the FMCSA database.
Before you commit to any provider, visit the FMCSA website and search the company’s Motor Carrier number or USDOT number. Confirm their operating authority is active and their safety record is clean. If a company cannot provide these numbers or their registration comes back inactive, walk away immediately. No exceptions.
At Rapid Auto Shipping, every carrier in our network is fully FMCSA-verified before they’re ever assigned a customer shipment.
2. Confirm Insurance Coverage
A reputable car shipping service carries adequate insurance to cover your vehicle throughout the entire transport process. Before booking, ask specifically what the carrier’s liability coverage includes, what the coverage limit is per vehicle, and whether there are any exclusions or conditions that could affect a claim.
Be cautious of companies that are vague or evasive when asked about insurance details. If the coverage limit seems unusually low for the value of your vehicle, consider purchasing supplemental insurance for additional protection. Understanding exactly what’s covered before your car leaves your driveway saves enormous frustration if something goes wrong during transit.
3. Read Real Customer Reviews — Not Just Testimonials on Their Website
Any car shipping service can populate their own website with glowing testimonials. What matters is what real customers say on independent review platforms like Google, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau. Look for patterns in the feedback — consistent praise for communication and on-time delivery is a strong positive signal, while repeated complaints about delays, hidden fees, or poor customer service are serious warning signs.
Pay particular attention to how the company responds to negative reviews. A car shipping service that engages professionally with complaints and works toward resolution demonstrates accountability — a quality that matters enormously if your own shipment runs into any issues.
4. Get a Written, Binding Quote
A verbal quote or a number thrown out over the phone means nothing if it changes at delivery. Before you book any car shipping service, insist on a written quote that clearly outlines the total price, what’s included, payment terms, deposit amount, and any conditions that could affect the final cost.
Watch out for unusually low quotes — they are almost always a warning sign of bait-and-switch pricing, where the initial figure climbs significantly once your vehicle is already loaded. Rapid Auto Shipping provides transparent, written quotes with no hidden fees and no surprise charges at delivery.
5. Understand the Pickup and Delivery Window
Car shipping across the USA is not an exact science. Routes, traffic, weather, and carrier schedules all affect timing. A trustworthy car shipping service will give you a realistic pickup window — typically one to five business days for standard shipments — and communicate clearly about transit timelines based on your specific route.
Be cautious of any company that guarantees an exact pickup date without charging a premium for expedited service. Overpromising on timing is a common tactic used to win bookings, and customers who plan around unrealistic timelines often end up frustrated and inconvenienced.
6. Check Their Communication and Customer Support Standards
How a car shipping service communicates before you book tells you everything about how they’ll communicate once your vehicle is in transit. Before committing, call their customer support line and ask a few questions. How quickly do they respond? Are their answers clear and direct? Do they seem genuinely interested in helping you or simply closing a sale?
A car shipping service that’s difficult to reach, slow to respond, or vague in their answers before you’ve paid is unlikely to improve once your money is in their account. Choose a provider who treats pre-booking inquiries with the same care and attentiveness they would give to a long-term customer.
7. Confirm Payment Terms and Deposit Policies
Legitimate car shipping service providers never demand full payment upfront before your vehicle has been picked up. The industry standard is a deposit at booking with the remaining balance due at delivery — a structure that protects you as the customer by ensuring the company has a financial incentive to complete the job correctly.
If a car shipping service insists on full payment before pickup, or requests payment via wire transfer or untraceable methods, treat it as a major red flag. These are hallmark tactics of fraudulent operators who disappear after receiving payment, leaving customers without their money and without a carrier.
Ship With Confidence — Choose Rapid Auto Shipping
Choosing the right car shipping service doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Verify the licensing, confirm the insurance, read the real reviews, demand a written quote, understand the timeline, test the communication, and check the payment terms. Do those seven things and you’ll filter out the bad actors and find a provider you can genuinely trust.
Get your free car shipping service quote from Rapid Auto Shipping today and experience the transparency, professionalism, and customer-first approach that has made us one of America’s most trusted vehicle transport providers across all 50 states.
