Safe Auto Trucking Review: Is Pennsylvania's Highest-Rated Car Carrier Worth It?

Safe Auto Trucking Review: Is Pennsylvania's Highest-Rated Car Carrier Worth It?

Transportvibe
June 10, 2026
10 min read

Safe Auto Trucking has 1,007 reviews on Transportvibe with an average score of 4.57 out of 5. That's hard to ignore.

But look closer. Their BBB profile shows a C rating, 32 complaints filed since 2022, and 2 still unresolved. Several recent reviews on TransportReviews describe the same pattern: a low initial quote that climbs before pickup.

Both of those things are true at the same time.

This review covers what Safe Auto Trucking actually is, how their scores stack up across platforms, what their pricing looks like by route, and whether they're the right choice for your shipment.

Get matched with verified auto transport brokers, compare quotes, read real reviews, and book with confidence. Get your free TransportVibe quote today.

Who Is Safe Auto Trucking? Company Background And License Check

Safe Auto Trucking LLC is a licensed auto transport broker based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They match customers with third-party carriers to move vehicles across the lower 48 states.

Most review sites skip past this: the word "trucking" in their name doesn't mean they own trucks. Their FMCSA record shows zero power units. They don't operate a single truck. When you book with Safe Auto Trucking, a separate carrier moves your car.

That matters because it changes what guarantees they can actually make.

FMCSA record (as of June 2026):

Field

Detail

USDOT Number

3829832

MC Number

MC-1388861

Entity Type

BROKER

Authority Status

Active, Authorized for Broker

Power Units

0

Inspections / Crashes

N/A (standard for brokers)

Safety Rating

None (standard for brokers)

Address

13512 Bustleton Ave Apt 5304, Philadelphia, PA 19116

You can verify this at the FMCSA SAFER database — enter USDOT 3829832.

Safe Auto Trucking registered with the FMCSA in February 2022. They're one of the newer brokers in the Pennsylvania market. Office hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Safe Auto Trucking Ratings Across Review Platforms

BBB Rating And Complaint History

Safe Auto Trucking holds a C rating on the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB-accredited.

Since filing in June 2022, they've collected 32 complaints. For a company operating for just 4 years, that's a notable volume. Of those 32, 2 remain unresolved at the time of writing.

The complaint pattern is specific. Customers report receiving a quote, paying a deposit, then being told the price has gone up before pickup. That sequence — low quote, then a price increase after money changes hands — is a documented bait-and-switch pattern in auto transport.

Two unresolved complaints might sound minor. But a C rating combined with non-accredited status is worth knowing before your deposit leaves your account.

Transportvibe, Transportreviews, And Movecars Scores

On Transportvibe, Safe Auto Trucking has 1,007 verified reviews with a 4.6 out of 5 average. That's genuinely strong. Most brokers in this space can't sustain that volume with consistent ratings without delivering acceptable service the majority of the time.

On TransportReviews, the picture is more mixed. Their 2-year average shows 5 stars, but individual 2025 reviews tell a different story. A September 2025 review calls them "bait and switch scam artists" on a route from California to Alabama. An April 2025 review describes a quote that climbed before the move. A June 2025 reviewer flagged a request to pay via Zelle, which is a red flag in any service transaction.

On MoveCars, their entity type is confirmed as Broker, with active authority covering the continental U.S.

The honest summary: most customers ship without incident. The complaints that come in tend to be about one thing. If you go with Safe Auto Trucking, read your contract carefully before any deposit leaves your account.

What Services Does Safe Auto Trucking Offer?

Safe Auto Trucking brokers auto transport across the lower 48 states. They don't cover Hawaii, Alaska, or international routes.

Open Car Shipping

Open car shipping is what most customers use. Your vehicle loads onto a multi-car trailer — the same type you see moving new cars from factory to dealership. It's the lowest-cost method, and it works fine for daily drivers, sedans, and most SUVs.

Safe Auto Trucking connects you with carriers who run these open trailers. Because they're matching rather than moving, the quality of the carrier they dispatch matters as much as anything Safe Auto Trucking does.

Enclosed Vehicle Shipping

For classic cars, luxury vehicles, and anything with significant value, enclosed vehicle shipping puts your car inside a fully covered trailer, protected from weather and road debris. Pricing runs 40–60% higher than open transport. For vehicles with real sentimental or market value, that premium is worth it.

Safe Auto Trucking brokers enclosed transport as well. If you're moving a collector vehicle through them, ask explicitly which carrier they're dispatching and request that carrier's FMCSA DOT number before you confirm anything.

Safe Auto Trucking also handles tow-away and drive-away transport, per their MoveCars listing, for specific vehicle types or situations where the car can't be driven onto a trailer.

Safe Auto Trucking Pricing — What Real Customers Paid

The following data comes from verified shipments processed through Safe Auto Trucking, sourced from TransportReviews:

Route

Average Cost

Notes

Florida to Florida (in-state)

$593

Short haul, most affordable

Florida to California

$1,112

Cross-country, longest transit

California to Texas

$1,049

Common Southwest corridor

California to California (in-state)

$883

High-demand route

New York to Florida

$917

Seasonal snowbird corridor

Florida to Texas

$769

Southeast to South-Central

Texas to Texas (in-state)

$279

Short haul

Source: TransportReviews shipment data, last verified June 2026.

A few things to know about these numbers.

Pricing in auto transport isn't fixed. It moves based on vehicle size, pickup window, time of year, fuel costs, and how far in advance you book. Cross-country routes in summer often run 15–25% higher than off-peak.

If you get a quote from Safe Auto Trucking that comes in noticeably lower than the ranges above, treat that as a signal. Low initial quotes are the first step in the bait-and-switch pattern this company has documented complaints about.

Safe Auto Trucking Is A Broker — Here's Why That Matters For You

Safe Auto Trucking does not own trucks. They don't employ drivers. When you book with them, they find a carrier willing to take the job through a dispatch network, and that carrier moves your car.

That setup works fine most of the time. Brokers often have broader carrier networks than direct carriers, which means more flexibility on routes, timing, and pricing. The catch is accountability.

When something goes wrong — damage, a delay, a quote that changes before pickup — the chain of responsibility runs through the broker first. If the broker doesn't push back on their carrier, you're left navigating a dispute with a company you never directly hired.

For a full breakdown of what this means for your final price, read: How broker vs. carrier pricing differs and why.

The positive reviews on Transportvibe suggest Safe Auto Trucking generally does their job connecting customers with workable carriers. The BBB complaints and negative TransportReviews entries point to a breakdown in how price changes get communicated.

Compare verified auto transport brokers side by side: real ratings, real routes, no surprises. Get your free TransportVibe quote today.

Who Should Use Safe Auto Trucking?

Safe Auto Trucking could be a solid choice for:

  • Individual owners shipping standard vehicles on high-traffic corridors (Florida to California, New York to Florida) where broker competition keeps pricing honest.

  • People relocating across state lines who want a Pennsylvania-based point of contact rather than a large national broker.

  • Snowbirds doing the seasonal New York-to-Florida run. Their average on that corridor sits at $917 — competitive for the route.

  • Motorcycle owners looking for broker coordination, though you should confirm that the carrier they dispatch handles motorcycles specifically.

  • Military families with PCS moves on domestic routes where cost is a priority, though military-specific brokers with established PCS experience may serve this audience better.

Who should look elsewhere:

  • Classic car and exotic car owners needing enclosed transport with a vetted specialty carrier. Safe Auto Trucking can broker enclosed transport, but the lack of direct carrier control is a risk on irreplaceable vehicles.

  • Anyone shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally. Those routes aren't covered.

  • Anyone with a low tolerance for pricing surprises. Given the documented pattern in their complaint history, the risk is real enough to justify pricing out alternatives first.

How Safe Auto Trucking Compares To Other Pennsylvania-Area Shippers

Safe Auto Trucking isn't the only option out of Pennsylvania. Here's how they line up against three others in the region:

Company

FMCSA Type

Specialty

Best For

Safe Auto Trucking

Broker

General auto transport, open and enclosed

Cost-conscious shippers on domestic routes

Fisher Shipping

Direct carrier

Specialty, classic, luxury vehicles

Collector car owners, high-value vehicles

Intercity Lines

Direct carrier

Enclosed-only transport

Classic and luxury cars requiring extra care

Reliable Carriers

Direct carrier

High-end enclosed transport

Exotics, auction cars, dealer-to-dealer moves

The critical difference between Safe Auto Trucking and the other three: Fisher Shipping, Intercity Lines, and Reliable Carriers own their trucks and employ their drivers. Safe Auto Trucking brokers the job to whoever in their network accepts the dispatch.

For standard vehicles on common routes, that may not matter much. For anything rare or irreplaceable, a direct carrier gives you more control over who actually handles your car.

What Shippers Ask Most

Real questions from people who looked up Safe Auto Trucking before booking. Straight answers, backed by the data in this review.

Is Safe Auto Trucking Licensed And Insured To Operate As A Car Carrier In Pennsylvania?

Safe Auto Trucking is a licensed broker, not a carrier, registered with FMCSA under USDOT 3829832 and MC-1388861. Their broker authority is active. Verify insurance details at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before sending any deposit.

How Much Does Safe Auto Trucking Charge To Ship A Car From Pennsylvania To Florida?

The New York-to-Florida corridor averages $917 based on verified shipment data. Pennsylvania-to-Florida pricing is comparable. Final costs depend on vehicle size, pickup window, and whether you choose open or enclosed transport.

What Is Safe Auto Trucking's Bbb Rating And How Many Complaints Have They Received?

Safe Auto Trucking holds a C rating on the BBB and is not accredited. They've received 32 complaints since 2022, with 2 still unresolved at the time this review was written.

Is It Cheaper To Use A Local Carrier Like Safe Auto Trucking Or A National Broker For Pa Shipments?

Safe Auto Trucking is a broker, not a local carrier. Pricing between brokers varies by route and timing. Get quotes from at least 3 brokers — rates on the same route can differ by $100–$300.

How Many Days Does Safe Auto Trucking Take To Deliver A Car From Pennsylvania To Nearby States Like New York, New Jersey, Or Maryland?

Short-haul routes from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, Maryland, or New York typically take 1–3 business days. Actual delivery depends on carrier availability and when your pickup is confirmed.

Before You Book With Safe Auto Trucking, Do This First

If you're leaning toward booking, work through these 5 steps before a dollar moves:

  • Verify their FMCSA record. Go to FMCSA.dot.gov and confirm USDOT 3829832 is still active.

  • Ask for the carrier name. Before any deposit, ask Safe Auto Trucking which carrier they're dispatching. Get that carrier's DOT number and verify it separately.

  • Get the final price in writing. Not an estimate. A written confirmation of the final price, before you pay.

  • Avoid Zelle or cash payments. Use a credit card where possible. Disputes are harder when payment can't be reversed.

  • Read the contract. Look for price-change clauses, cancellation fees, and damage claim procedures before you sign anything.

If the price changes after you've already received a written quote, that's not normal. You can walk away.

Compare quotes from verified auto transport brokers before you commit. TransportVibe shows real ratings, real routes, and no-surprise pricing. Start your free quote now.