What is an Auto Transport Broker?

Cars are expensive, and travelling them across the country or even from place to place in your city can be confusing and stressful. If you're about to transport your car, you might have learned that you'll need to contact an auto transport broker. And, since then, you've been wondering what on earth an auto transport broker is, right?

We've got you covered. This blog post will cover everything you need to know about an Auto Transport Broker. What are they? What do they do? How can they help you?

Let's get started!

An Auto Transport Broker: What Is It?

An auto transport broker is an individual or company who works with multiple shipping companies to get you the best quote and the most reliable service for your car shipment.

When you contact an auto transport broker, they will ask you some questions about the car you are transporting. Those shipping companies will use the information they collect while working with you for your car's transportation. Once they have everything they need, they will send a quote to all shipping companies and then wait for a response.

The shipping companies will then send their quotes back to the auto transport broker, who will eventually email you to compare them and choose the best one.

An auto transport broker doesn't own any trucks most of the time, and it simply coordinates transports between vehicle shippers and customers like you. Once you have chosen your favourite quote and communicated this information to the broker, they will assign your shipment to one of their affiliated shippers. Then it is up to them to keep track of where your vehicle is in transit and provide updates as needed!

In other words: An auto transport broker is a person who acts as a third party between the client and the carrier. The broker does NOT move your vehicle but works with many different companies to find an appropriate car transport carrier for your needs.

The Best Auto Transport Broker Will Provide You With:

• An excellent service and communication level;
• Great price;
• Good transportation experience;
• Secure Payment Methods;
• Perks through their expertise in the Vehicle Shipping Industry.

Why Is the Role of An Auto Transport Broker Vital In Car Shipping?

An auto transport broker is your personal logistics coordinator—someone who will take care of all the details for you, so all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy. Here's how it works:

1. You provide detailed customer & vehicle information
2. They locate the best carrier for your transport
3. They give an exact price to you and get your approval to book your order
4. They coordinate pickup, transportation, and delivery of your car

You will need an auto transport broker to transport your car a hundred miles away to someone living there for their present from you. Maybe you want to surprise your son or daughter by sending them a brand new car!

Perhaps, you have bought a new car and sent an old one overseas to your relatives.

Or...You are emotionally attached to your car and want to take it there in the new country because of job relocation. Maybe, you purchased it for a car auction, and now you are selling it abroad!

Whatever the reason, you want to transport it safely to the new destination, but how?

This is where the auto transport brokers play their role. They will transport your vehicle safely and efficiently wherever you want it to reach. That, too, without any damage and by following the legal transportation methods.

They are responsible for gathering information about your car and its destination to provide you with an accurate price quote. They then locate a carrier that will be able to complete your transport on time, within budget, and without issue. Finally, they confirm that the vehicle has been successfully delivered.

In other words, they handle all the work involved in transporting your car so that you don't have to!

What Are the Traits of A Good Auto Transport Broker?

An auto transport broker is a person who acts as an intermediary between the client and the carrier to find the best auto transport service for your vehicle. The critical role is to negotiate with carriers on your behalf and coordinate the entire shipping process.

The best auto transport brokers have many years of experience in this business. It also means they have a wide range of contacts with different transporters and carriers so that you can get the best deal from them. They also know how to choose reliable carriers, thereby ensuring the safety of your car during transportation.

Moreover, experienced auto transporters are trustworthy. They know all the ins and outs of the transportation process, which means they can help you right from planning your shipment to delivering your car safely to your doorstep.

Brokers with excellent communication skills also make it to the best auto transport brokers list. They quickly respond to your calls and queries, which helps build trust among clients. They communicate well with carriers to coordinate everything efficiently without delaying shipments or causing any damage to vehicles in transit.

Brokers with a long and safe track record are also considered among the best ones as they keep their clients satisfied by providing top-notch services. The best auto transport brokers are also dependable, and they are reliable in that they will deliver your car to you on time so that you don't need to worry about it.

Advantages of Working with Auto Transport Brokers:

There are several advantages of taking services from transport brokers, and we have listed some main benefits you gain from your auto transport brokers.

Time Management

Your broker may save your time and avoid the hassle of the long process of transporting a car. This process includes a lot of research on best transportation, then getting quotations, comparing quotations, fixing prices, documentation, receiving payments, and delivery, making this process time-consuming and complex.

But, if you find your best auto transport broker, he will take care of all of the course of action by himself!

They will verify the USDOT credentials for the car carriers by themselves. Your auto transport broker will make you enjoy a stress-free car transportation experience.

Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the tremendous benefits of hiring auto transport brokers. They provide you with quicker services and do complete the export process in a short period.

Shipping Management

One more advantage in hiring an auto transport broker is that they are fully equipped with shipping management tools. They will stand by you and work hard for you, from the pickup of your car to drop it off at the next destination. They'll take care of everything from picking up the car to the port, choosing the container, packing it safely to deliver to the other destination, plus handling the payments on your behalf!

Cost-Effectiveness

They could be cost-effective for you and save you a significant amount of money! As they already have a strong relationship with the auto transporters or auto-carriers. If you directly deal with all agents, they will cost you a high price. At the same time, your auto transport broker will save your money by dealing with all of them! They also let you get access to fleet discounts.

Peace of Mind

You are fully relaxed and enjoy peace of mind by hiring an auto transport broker. They take care of all the shipping processes, and there is no fear of fraud or scammers.

Finding the Best Auto Transport Broker: Your Step-by-Step Guide

There are a lot of options when it comes to shipping your car. There are so many options that it can be overwhelming—how do you know which auto transport company is the best?

We're here to help you decide what's right for you. Here are a few tips to help you find a broker you can trust with your vehicle.

Step 1: Get Quotes from Many Auto Shipping Brokers.

You don't have to go with the first option you find. Take time to compare rates between different brokers and look into their history before committing.

Step 2: Look into the Company's History.

Do some research—find out how long the company has been in business and whether or not they have any complaints lodged against them. A company with a good reputation will have no problem providing positive references from previous customers who were happy with their service.

Step 3: Check their Ratings

Most companies have ratings from third-party companies like Better Business Bureau (BBB). If a company doesn't have these ratings, it's probably because they haven't been around long enough for anyone to review them yet.

Step 4: Make Sure Your Auto Transport Broker is Certified!

Before signing a contract with your auto transport broker, ensure that your auto transport broker is certified! You can check the license of your auto transport broker on the official website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA).

Step 5: Read the Testimonials

One of the first things you should do when looking for an auto transport broker is read their testimonials. Most companies will have testimonials on their website, but it's always a good idea to look at other third-party websites. The more information you can find about a particular company, the better your chances of finding someone who will provide you with exceptional service and value.

Step 6: Browse the Online Reviews of the Auto Transport Broker on Google and Third Party Websites

You can also browse online for reviews about a particular broker on third-party websites like Yelp or Google Maps. These sites are some of the most popular ways to find feedback from customers and business owners alike.

Red Flag! Beware of the auto transport brokers who guarantee you an EXACT delivery date of your car because so many factors can impact the delivery date. To be on the safer side, you should get the delivery date from your auto transport broker in the written contract so that you may be able to take legal action later (if the need arises).

Difference Between An Auto Transport Broker And Auto Transport Carrier!

It's hard to know the difference between an auto transport broker and an auto transport carrier.

Especially if you've never done vehicle transportation before!

There are a lot of similarities, but there are some key differences that can make a significant impact on your move.

The difference between an auto transport carrier and an auto transport broker is that one has trucks, and the other doesn't.

Auto Transport Carrier:

An auto transport carrier has its trucks, and an auto transport broker does not. Having your trucks is that you know exactly what kind of vehicles you're using to deliver your customer's cars. The disadvantage is that sometimes there are no trucks in the area you'd like to ship to, and you have to wait for one to arrive there before moving forward with the shipment.

Auto Transport Broker:

An auto transport broker doesn't have their trucks, but they have connections with carriers who do, which makes access to those trucks much quicker. Brokers also offer door-to-door service, while carriers typically offer terminal-to-terminal service.

What Does the Auto Transport Broker Charge?

One of the most common questions people ask when preparing to ship a vehicle is, "what does the auto transport broker charge?"

In most companies, you'll find a combination of auto transport brokers and carriers. The carrier does the actual work of getting your vehicle from one place to another. They'll have their personnel and equipment, and they'll be responsible for establishing a price for the job.

Finding carriers is difficult because they don't have an online presence. They mainly rely on brokers so that you can find hundreds of brokers online but very few carriers.

Most customers will only deal with brokers, not carriers—because it's challenging to find transportation in the first place! Brokers make money by marking up the fees carriers charge them. For example, a carrier might charge a broker $600 for a given transport. The broker will mark up that fee and charge the customer accordingly. They might charge the customer $690 or whatever mark up they want to make

Charges may exceed for the precious cars. Plus, it depends on the mileage of transportation.

You may think they charge you a handsome amount, but it is time-saving and free from frustration.

Conclusion: Should You Use An Auto Transport Broker For Transporting Your Car or Not?

Auto transports and car shipping services help you quickly and safely ship your car across the country. If you need to move your vehicle, it's a great idea to consider using an auto transport service. This is especially true if you're moving a long distance and don't want to drive your car all that way.

Depending on the type of carrier you use, you can ship your car on its own or with other vehicles. You can also choose between open and enclosed carriers.

You access many different auto transport companies that offer additional services at different rates when using a broker. Brokers work with many companies so that they can find the best prices for your needs and preferences. Brokers are also beneficial in finding the right company for your specific situation. They know which companies offer the best rates, which ones provide the best customer service, and, more importantly, which ones won't scam you out of money!

Brokers are valuable in finding the right company for transporting your vehicle. They'll help you find the best price for whatever service is needed to get your car on time from point A to point B.

For people who have never used a car transport broker before, entrusting your vehicle to a stranger can seem risky and even terrifying. However, every day, thousands of car owners use transporting services to safely ship their cars across the country.

Transport brokers help you find companies that specialize in shipping your specific type of car and those licensed to transport vehicles to your destination state. While it is possible to send a car without a broker, it can be far more convenient and faster using a broker for auto transport!