Posted on 03/10/22

Car transport Carrier or Broker Pros and Cons

You have probably heard negative things about carriers and brokers. The question now is: "Should a broker or carrier ship my car?"

Continue reading to find out the pros and cons of brokers and carriers.

You have decided to ship your car. Perhaps you are moving to Florida during the winter. Perhaps you are moving to California. Perhaps you are sending an old car to your daughter in Michigan. Whatever your purpose, chances are you have gone online to compare prices and learn more about the process. You have probably been scared by what you've seen and from the experiences of others. Trust your gut instincts if this is the case. This industry can be very frightening.

Carriers: Pros and Cons

Pros

Low price If you can find a reliable driver and their truck is in good condition, you may pay less than you would with a broker.
You are dealing directly with the company that will handle your car. A broker won't lie to you about a delay.
They charge you directly- The price they quote you is almost always what you will pay. They won't usually quote you a price and then show up with your car expecting to pay more than they quoted.

Cons

Repairs can be slow - If the carrier has a mechanical problem, you will have to wait for that truck's repair. This could take up to a week.
Timing is hard- Many carriers have at least one truck. Your chances of matching their timeline are slim.
Your business isn’t really that important The majority of cars transported across the country are used by dealerships. The private customer move is a tiny part of this industry. It doesn't matter if you're not happy with their service. They don't depend on you for continuous business.
Communication If the carrier is an operator, it will be difficult to get them to the phone if they are an owner-operator. Their truck is 75 feet long and could weigh at least 80,000 pounds. We would all prefer that they didn't answer the phone while driving.

Brokers: Pros and cons

Pros

Many options - Brokers can access hundreds to sometimes thousands of trucks. A reliable broker will find you a truck that fits your needs within your timeframe.
There are many plan B options available - A broker can help you find another truck to pick up your vehicle from the truck. This will reduce the time it takes to fix your vehicle.
Industry knowledge There are many bad brokers. There are also many poor carriers. A good broker will keep a list of carriers they use frequently. A good broker (*Cough *Cough Move Car) will have a list that includes companies they don't trust with the delivery of pizzas.
It is easy to reach. This will depend on the person you work with. Good brokers will answer their phones and take proactive steps to resolve any problems that might arise. A great broker is one we know that answers the phone seven days a week. Their logo is probably somewhere on this website.

Cons

Many brokers will tell you that trucks are down or have delays, but in reality, they don’t have your car booked. They will fabricate stories to get more time, as they cannot find a truck to transport your car.
Bait-and-switch Several brokers will give you a price and then say that they actually need to charge more. Hidden fees such as fuel surcharges, insurance, and door-to-door service are common.
It's not that important. Most people don't move a car more than once in their lifetime. Brokers will place your move on hold while they concentrate on their clients' moves.

The Key Takeaways

Let's summarize what we have learned. The good and the bad sides of brokers or carriers are not always equal. This industry has more bad sides than good. The regulation of auto transport is very lax. The key to an enjoyable auto transport experience is research.

We recommend looking at company profiles on the Better Business Bureau site. Yelp also offers great reviews. You cannot buy reviews on them. It is easy to spam sites like Google and other websites with fake reviews. You can sort reviews by star rating if you visit these sites. Take a look at the negative experiences of others. Sometimes things can go wrong. These trucks transport cars. Sometimes things happen. Sometimes a broker, carrier, or agent is dishonest or deliberately tries to deceive a customer. You can look at negative reviews to make your own judgments.