Auto Transport Licensing Requirements

Automobile shippers and moving companies must possess a few certifications and licenses to conduct their business within legal and safe boundaries. Companies that do not meet these requirements may not be trustworthy or safe.

Several state and federal associations track and monitor such companies to ensure they meet all vehicle moving permit authorizations. These requirements ensure auto transporters do their business legally and are responsible for their customers’ goods in case something happens during transportation.

This article will explain some of the auto transport licensing requirements and what you may want to pay attention to when hiring a shipper to ensure he is trustworthy and will deliver on his promise of safely transporting your vehicle.

Car Shipping Authorization Regulations

To begin with, be sure the shipping firm you're considering is properly licensed to do business in the U.S. state from which it originates. Suppose the company's headquarters are in New Jersey, for instance. In that case, it must have either an NJPM or NJPC number, proving that it is properly registered in New Jersey and authorized to conduct business inside the state's borders.

Each state has its own regulations concerning the licensing of vehicle haulers, and certain ones are far more stringent than others. Kentucky and other comparable states require their businesses to have several registration numbers and state licenses. In contrast, Delaware and other similar states require merely a permit that certifies the registration of the transport vehicle.

For the auto transport licensing requirements in the state of California, visit the state of California Department of Motor Vehicles website. Other states should have similar resources.

These are normally just the first part of the licensing requirements moving and automobile shipping companies must possess to operate their businesses legally in their state of origin. However, many shippers also perform their transport services outside state boundaries.

In such cases, other certifications and licenses are needed as well. These car shipping certificate requirements are normally the ones you should look for when speaking to a transport company and are also necessary when doing a background check on them.

United States Dot Numbers And Other Vehicle Relocation Permit Prerequisites

In addition to the requirements of the US state, car haulers must respect other regulations and register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA for short.

The FMCSA monitors shipping companies’ operations by outlining the exact cargo, operation type, and area in which carriers can perform their services. The FMCSA also decides what kind of insurance auto transport companies must have according to federal regulations.

Shippers must gain a United States DOT number from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate within the federal state. Although only 28 states obligate shipping companies to have a United States DOT number, countless have it, so it’s a very efficient way to check a shipper’s history/background. Normally, DOT numbers can be found printed on the side of each company truck, being one of the ways our government identifies a certain carrier out of the crowd when gathering info from compliance reviews, audits, inspections, etc.

Verifying The Certifications And Approvals Of Your Car Hauling Company

To verify if your company meets auto transport licensing requirements, you may want to take the following steps:

1. Cross-check the US DOT number, which is normally found on the doors of trucks belonging to the company.
2. If the DOT number is valid, you can check the numbers with the FMCSA website and see if you get a match there as well. This would mean the company is insured and licensed, possessing a valid US DOT number.
3. Afterward, visit the Better Business Bureau website to check for negative evaluations or bad remarks regarding the company. Usually, you won’t find mentions about certifications or licensing requirements here. However, it’s a great resource when trying to confirm the ability and reputation of a particular company. You may also be able to pick up on pretenses or illegal activity if there is any.
4. Finally, visit the transportation department in your state to ensure the shipping company possesses all the commercial and required licenses to offer its services legally inside the state.