Car carrier semi-truck with vehicles secured for transport

Consumer resource

Auto Transport Fraud Prevention Center

The industry does not have a carrier verification problem so much as an identity and chain-of-custody problem. Here is how to protect your vehicle at every handoff.

Verify You Are Talking to Us (239) 273-4649

Six red flags. Any one of them is a reason to keep calling.

· A quote given without asking whether the vehicle runs
· A large deposit demanded, or full payment upfront via Zelle or Venmo
· No DOT or MC number on the website
· Pressure to book today
· Refusal to tell you the broker fee
· Refusal to provide an insurance certificate

Verification

Four checkpoints between your quote and your delivery

Fraud in this industry almost never happens at the quote stage. It happens at the handoff, when nobody verifies that the person taking the vehicle is who the paperwork says they are.

Verify the company, not the phone number

Look up the MC and USDOT numbers directly on the FMCSA SAFER website. Confirm active authority and current insurance on file. A legitimate broker will give you those numbers before you ask twice.

Verify the carrier before dispatch

Once a carrier is assigned, you are entitled to know who it is. Get the company name, MC number and the driver's name before the truck arrives. Check that the authority is active and the cargo policy is current.

Verify the driver at the curb

Photograph the truck, the license plate and the driver's CDL. Confirm the name on the CDL matches the driver the broker named. This single step is what stops a stolen-vehicle handoff.

Verify the paperwork before you sign

The Bill of Lading is the legal record of custody and condition. If the company name on the BOL does not match the carrier you were told about, stop and call your broker before releasing the vehicle.

Chain of custody

What to do at every handoff

Print this and keep it with your Bill of Lading. It takes five minutes and it is the difference between a documented claim and a dispute you cannot win.

Photograph the truck, the plate, the driver's CDL and every panel of the vehicle before loading
Confirm the carrier's company name and MC number match what your broker told you
Never release a vehicle to a driver whose paperwork does not match the dispatch
Get the driver's direct phone number and keep your signed Bill of Lading
At delivery, inspect in good light and note anything new before you sign
File any claim with the motor carrier that had custody — not with the broker

Build a custom checklist Printable Bill of Lading How to file a claim

Where we stand

Licensed, bonded and verifiable

Ninety-nine percent of the people quoting auto transport online are not the licensed entity on the paperwork. Ours is published, and you can check it in under a minute.

Motor carrier authority

MC #774106

USDOT registration

USDOT #2273104

Better Business Bureau

A+ rated with the BBB

Based in

Naples, Florida

Broker vs carrier: who does what Licensed agents Broker disclaimer

FAQ

Fraud and liability questions

How do I know I am talking to the real Enterprise Auto Transport?

We are MC #774106 and USDOT #2273104, based in Naples, Florida, registered with Florida SUNBIZ and A+ rated with the BBB. Our only phone number is (239) 273-4649. If someone contacts you from a different number claiming to be us, hang up and call that number directly.

Is a large upfront deposit normal in auto transport?

A modest booking deposit is normal and we charge ours upfront — that is how carrier dispatch is secured. What is not normal is full payment upfront, or a deposit demanded by Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or wire transfer to a personal account. Those payment rails have no buyer protection, which is exactly why fraudsters ask for them.

What is a bait-and-switch quote?

A lowball quote given to win the booking, followed by a price increase once the vehicle is already committed or in transit. It works because most consumers shop on price alone. The defense is simple: ask what the broker fee is, and be suspicious of a quote well below every other one you received.

Why does identity verification matter so much in this industry?

Because auto transport does not have a carrier verification problem so much as an identity and chain-of-custody problem. Authority documents can be copied. What is rarely verified is that the human being standing at your car is the person the dispatch says they are. That gap is where high-value vehicle theft happens.

Who is liable if a vehicle is stolen during transport?

The motor carrier that had custody, through its cargo policy — $250,000 cargo coverage on open carriers and up to $2,000,000 cargo coverage on enclosed carriers. Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker, not the insurer. We vet every carrier before dispatch and we help you pursue any claim, but the claim is filed against the carrier.

What should I do if I think I have been scammed?

Stop paying immediately. Document every communication. File a complaint with the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database, your state attorney general and the BBB. If a vehicle is missing, file a police report — a missing vehicle in transit is a theft, not a customer service issue.

Ready to Ship your car?

Owner operated, licensed and bonded, with a licensed agent on every call and a vetted carrier on every dispatch.

Get Your Free Quote (239) 273-4649