Auto Transport Brokers – The Middle Men of the Auto Transport Industry

It is important to be aware of the risks associated with working with auto transport brokers. Auto transport brokers are the “middle men” of the auto transport industry, and they act as the intermediaries between you, the customer, and the car carriers. They can be useful in finding the best carriers available, as well as getting the best prices. However, it’s important to be wary of brokers and make sure that you do your research before trusting them with your vehicle. It’s also important to understand the difference between auto transport brokers and carriers, and ensure you are choosing the proper auto transport business type for your vehicle shipping needs.

WHAT IS AN AUTO TRANSPORT BROKER?

The answer is simply- someone you should avoid! An auto transport broker is a type of auto transport company that sells your car shipment order to their network of car carriers. Car shipping brokers do not own their own trucks and rely on these auto transport carriers to transport the cars they book. The difference in what they charged you and what they pay the carrier is their commission, so their incentive is to find the cheapest carrier to ship your car.

When doing business with an auto transport broker, you do not know what car carrier or driver they are going to broker your order too. Broker’s often ask for a deposit, due to this reason, so they know that they are going to get paid regardless of the quality of service you are given by the truck driver they broker too.

Auto transport brokers may use marketing tricks to make it seem like they are or are affiliated with reputable auto shipping carriers.

Often Broker’s use marketing tricks in order to generate these car shipment orders. We have experienced this first hand by Broker’s that use names similar to Intercity Lines, in order to capitalize on our nationwide pristine reputation in order to lure customers.

Auto shipping brokers may also use stock photos of car carriers to make it seem like they have their own fleet of auto transporters and to make you think they are a motor carrier not a car shipping broker. Often you can tell this because their will be no logo on the side of the trailer or if there is it’s a photoshopped photo. As opposed to Intercity Lines’ website where every auto transporter is clearly marked with the Intercity Lines logo and iconic stripes.

Auto transport brokers are incentivized to use the cheapest carrier giving you a low level of car shipping services

Unfortunately, often the customer and their cars suffer at the hands of these auto transport brokers. The cars shipped by auto brokers have sub-par drivers and equipment that lack the customer service and transport skills that our drivers have. These factors often leave cars scratched, damaged, or the customer in the dark. With a broker, nothing is certain because they chose the driver you will be trusting with the safety of your car- not you.

THE BETTER CHOICE FOR SHIPPING YOUR CAR: WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CAR CARRIER!

When shipping a car that has high value, numerically, or sentimentally, dealing directly with a car carrier, like us, Intercity Lines is a much safer decision than a broker. Car Carriers have their own fleet of trucks, drivers, and staff. Our drivers only drive for us and we NEVER broker our car shipments out. Therefore, you know that the reputation and customer service that caused you to go with an auto transport company, like ours, is the service you will receive.

Auto transport brokers ask for deposits. Auto transport companies that are car carriers typically don’t.

An exclusive and reputable car carrier typically do not ask for a deposit when booking your car’s transport. Instead, they ask for a payment when the car is picked up or delivered. This gives you the flexibility to pay once pick up has been solidified and you’re confident your car transport is on track. You also get to see the equipment and meet the driver before giving them any money or more importantly- your car!

Work directly with a motor carrier for a seamless car shipping service not an auto transport broker

If you are having a vehicle shipped of sentimental, fiscal, or historical value and want a door to door service and a seamless car shipping experience don’t look for the best auto transport brokers work directly with an American auto shipping carrier.

Car shipping brokers claim to be the cheapest shipping cost, but with a little research you could find an even better car shipping cost or value by working directly with an American auto shipping carrier for your car transports. Any low price deal an auto transport broker is offering includes their commission in the final price, which you could save on by dealing with the car carrier directly.

Brokers may bid your order out to the cheapest American auto shipping carrier not the best!

Auto transport brokers often put your car transport on load board website central dispatch, which allows carriers like Intercity Lines to simply click to accept the order and take over the shipment. Even the best auto transport brokers will start by posting the lowest price possible and slowly raise it as needed. If you have a strict delivery date with the car shipped the auto transport broker may be forced to come back to you for more money if they can’t get any carriers to transport it at the cost they quoted you.

The best auto transport brokers lack some standard features of auto transport carriers

Even the best auto transport brokers lack some of the standard features of reputable carriers like Intercity Lines because they don’t have their own fleet of transportation equipment. Therefore they typically don’t have gps tracking and they rely on their contracted carrier’s insurance instead of having their own.

When shipping a car of value ship the vehicle with a reputable carrier not auto transport brokers

Instead, go with a reputable car carrier like Intercity Lines whose brand is one you can trust allowing you to give them your prized car without worry. Exclusive car carrier dispatchers work directly with the drivers that will be shipping your car ensuring that you are never left in the dark.

Make the right decision and work with car carriers that you can trust! Choose Intercity lines! Request a car shipping quote today!