Free Auto Transport Carrier Verification Tool
Instantly check to see if an auto transport company is a broker or carrier!
Shipping a vehicle is a major decision, and the auto transport industry is filled with both legitimate carriers, like Intercity Lines, and brokers. Using our Free Auto Transport Carrier Verification Tool is the smartest first step to protecting your vehicle and understanding the car shipping service you’re signing up for.
Our tool connects directly to the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) database to provide real-time snapshots of any company’s legal operating status.
Carrier vs. Broker: What’s the Difference?
Understanding the difference between an Asset-Based Carrier and a Freight Broker is critical to ensuring your vehicle’s safety and your peace of mind.
- Asset-Based Carriers (like Intercity Lines) own their own fleet of trucks and employ the drivers who physically move your car. They are directly responsible for the safety of your vehicle and hold the primary cargo insurance coverage. When you book with a carrier, you know exactly who is handling your vehicle.
- Freight Brokers are sales agents who do not own trucks. They charge a fee and broker your order to a carrier. While many are legitimate businesses, they act as middlemen and do not physically transport your vehicle. If any issues or damage occur they typically are not liable and you’re forced chasing the carrier they brokered your order too.
Why Booking Direct with an Asset-Based Carrier Matters
In an industry where transparency is rare, dealing directly with a carrier offers clear advantages:
- Chain of Custody: With Intercity Lines, your vehicle stays in our care from pickup to delivery. There is no handing off your car to unknown third parties.
- Insurance Accountability: Brokers typically hold a surety bond, but they rarely hold the actual insurance policy covering your car. Asset-based carriers carry the cargo and liability insurance that protects your investment.
- Communication: When you call us, you are speaking to the team that routes the trucks—not a call center that has to put you on hold to call a driver they’ve never met.
