Auto transport has its own language. Brokers use it. Contracts are full of it. Here's every term defined in plain English, so you know exactly what you're agreeing to.
The market value of your vehicle at the time of a damage claim, accounting for depreciation. If a carrier's insurance uses ACV, you may receive significantly less than what you paid for your car — especially for older vehicles.
Always ask whether a carrier's cargo insurance uses actual cash value or agreed value. ACV can mean a payout far below your expectation if damage occurs.
A type of insurance policy where the insurer agrees to pay a predetermined amount — typically the vehicle's appraised or declared value — in the event of a total loss, regardless of depreciation.
For high-value, classic, or luxury vehicles, agreed value coverage is strongly preferable to actual cash value. Request this specifically and get it confirmed in writing.
A deceptive practice where a broker quotes an artificially low price to win the booking, then increases the price at or near pickup — often when the customer has no practical alternative. The most common consumer complaint in auto transport.
If a quote is significantly below market rate, it is almost certainly a bait-and-switch setup. The Red Flag Checker analyzes quote ranges and company history to flag this pattern before you commit.
The single most important document in auto transport. A legal contract between the customer and carrier that serves as the official record of the vehicle's condition at pickup and delivery, the agreed price, and both parties' signatures. Any damage claim lives or dies on this document.
Never sign a blank or incomplete Bill of Lading. Every existing scratch, dent, and chip must be documented by the driver before you sign. At delivery, do not sign until you have inspected every panel and compared against pickup photos.
A licensed intermediary who arranges auto transport on behalf of the customer — sourcing carrier trucks, negotiating rates, and managing the logistics — but does not own or operate the trucks themselves. Brokers must be licensed by the FMCSA with active MC authority.
Most companies you'll get quotes from are brokers, not carriers. This is normal. The key is whether the broker vets their carriers, holds the price guarantee, and takes responsibility if something goes wrong.
Insurance carried by the transport carrier that covers damage to vehicles while they are in transit. Required by FMCSA. Minimum levels are set by federal regulation, but deductibles, exclusions, and actual vs agreed value terms vary widely between carriers.
Ask every carrier for their cargo insurance certificate, the name of their insurer, the deductible amount, and whether they use actual or agreed value. Call the insurer directly to verify the policy is active.
The company that actually owns and operates the trucks that transport vehicles. Unlike brokers, carriers hold operating authority as motor carriers (MC designation) and are directly responsible for the physical transport. A carrier may also broker loads on routes they don't serve directly.
A payment arrangement where the remaining balance is paid directly to the driver at delivery, typically in cash or cashier's check. Common in auto transport. Knowing your COD amount in advance lets you prepare the correct funds.
Know your COD amount before pickup day. Drivers typically cannot accept credit cards. Having the wrong amount causes delays.
The amount the customer is responsible for paying before the carrier's insurance covers a damage claim. Auto transport deductibles range from $250 to $2,500 or more. A carrier may advertise "$100,000 in cargo insurance" but have a $2,000 deductible — meaning small to moderate damage claims come entirely out of pocket.
Always ask for the deductible amount specifically. A high deductible effectively makes insurance useless for the most common types of damage.
The process by which a load (vehicle shipment) is assigned to a specific carrier truck and driver. After dispatch is confirmed, the carrier knows the pickup and delivery details and the driver is officially assigned. In Full Service, Transportvibe handles dispatch on behalf of the customer.
A transport service where the driver picks up and delivers the vehicle as close as safely possible to the specified addresses — rather than requiring the customer to bring the vehicle to a terminal. The most common and convenient option, though it may not always be physically possible with large trucks in dense urban areas.
A unique identifier assigned by the US Department of Transportation to commercial vehicles and carriers that operate in interstate commerce. DOT numbers are used for safety monitoring, inspections, and compliance tracking. Distinct from the MC number — a carrier may have a DOT number without active broker authority.
When a driver attempts a pickup or delivery but cannot complete it — usually because the customer is not present, the vehicle is not ready, or the location is inaccessible. Dry runs typically incur a fee charged to the customer.
A structured feedback form completed by customers after delivery that captures pricing accuracy, timing performance, vehicle condition, and service quality. Transportvibe uses debrief data to calculate TrustScores, update route pricing intelligence, and improve AI recommendations.
Your debrief directly improves the platform for the next customer on your route. It takes 3 minutes and feeds real verified data into carrier scoring.
Vehicle transport in a fully enclosed trailer that protects the vehicle from weather, road debris, and other environmental exposure during transit. Typically 30–50% more expensive than open transport. Recommended for luxury, classic, exotic, or high-value vehicles.
The price premium for enclosed transport is roughly 0.3–0.6% of the vehicle value. For vehicles worth $80,000+, enclosed transport is almost always the right choice.
The US federal agency that regulates the commercial trucking industry, including auto transport brokers and carriers. The FMCSA issues operating authority (MC numbers), maintains safety records, and tracks complaints. All legitimate auto transport brokers and carriers must have active FMCSA authority.
Before booking with any company, verify their operating authority at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Enter their MC number and confirm status shows "Active." If it shows "Inactive," "Revoked," or cannot be found — do not book.
The earliest date the vehicle is available for pickup. Carriers use this to match loads to trucks on their routes. A more flexible first available date (broader window) often results in faster pickup and better pricing, as the carrier has more scheduling options.
An additional fee applied by carriers to account for fluctuating fuel costs. May be included in the quoted price or added separately. When comparing quotes, ask specifically whether the fuel surcharge is included or separate to ensure you're comparing true totals.
Real-time location tracking of the carrier truck during transit. Not all carriers or brokers offer this, and the quality varies significantly. Some offer live web tracking; others provide manual updates by phone. Clarify what tracking is available before booking.
The illegal practice of a driver loading a vehicle and then refusing to deliver it unless the customer pays more than the agreed price. A specific and serious form of fraud. Legally, this constitutes extortion or breach of contract, but is difficult to fight in the moment when your car is on a truck.
If this happens: document everything (video record the conversation), call your broker immediately, and call the FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238. Pay under written protest if necessary, then dispute via credit card and file a formal complaint.
An additional charge applied when transporting an inoperable vehicle. This fee compensates the carrier for the extra time, equipment, and effort required to load and unload a non-running vehicle using a winch or forklift.
A vehicle that cannot be driven under its own power. Inoperable vehicles require special equipment (winch, flatbed, forklift) to load and unload, and typically carry an additional surcharge of $150–$300 or more on top of the standard transport rate.
A joint walk-around inspection conducted by the customer and driver at pickup, and again at delivery. All existing damage is documented on the Bill of Lading with the driver's signature. This inspection is the only legal protection against disputed damage claims during transport.
Take timestamped photos of every panel, bumper, roof, and underside before the driver arrives. Compare these against delivery photos before signing the delivery BoL.
The amount of advance notice before your first available pickup date. Standard advice is 2–4 weeks for most routes. During peak seasons (summer, January, around holidays) or for remote locations, 4–8 weeks is recommended. Booking with very short lead time (<1 week) limits carrier options and increases cost.
A hydraulic platform on the back of a truck that lowers to ground level to help load and unload vehicles, particularly inoperable ones. Not all carriers have liftgate-equipped trucks. If your vehicle is inoperable or has very low clearance, confirm liftgate availability in advance.
A digital marketplace where available vehicle shipment jobs (loads) are posted and carriers can bid for them. Brokers post loads to load boards after booking with customers. The carrier acceptance rate and speed depends on the route desirability and the posted price.
A unique identifier issued by the FMCSA that represents a company's operating authority as a motor carrier or broker. Any legitimate auto transport company must be able to provide their MC number. This can be looked up at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov to verify active status, safety record, and complaint history.
Always ask for the MC number and verify it yourself. Never book with a company that refuses to provide an MC number or whose MC number shows inactive, revoked, or not found.
The standard open transport carrier that can transport 7–10 vehicles at once on a two-level trailer. The most common and economical form of auto transport. Vehicles on the lower level are more protected from weather; upper level vehicles may be exposed to more road debris.
Vehicle transport on an open multi-car trailer, exposing the vehicle to weather and road elements. By far the most common form of auto transport — the majority of new cars purchased at dealerships are delivered this way. Typically 30–50% less expensive than enclosed transport.
Open transport is appropriate for most vehicles. The risk is road debris (which can cause minor chips) and weather exposure. For vehicles worth less than $60,000 and driven regularly, open transport is generally the right choice.
A vehicle that starts, drives, and brakes under its own power. Operable status is required for standard transport pricing. Carriers may check operability at pickup and charge an inop fee or refuse the load if the vehicle does not meet their stated criteria.
A mandatory military relocation order that requires service members and their families to move to a new duty station, typically within 21–45 days. PCS moves create significant demand for auto transport, particularly in spring and summer. Military members are entitled to government-paid vehicle shipment in some cases through the DOD.
A date range (not a specific date) within which pickup is expected to occur. Carriers work routes — they pick up multiple vehicles along a corridor and cannot guarantee a specific day. Providing a wider pickup window (5–7 days) significantly improves your chances of faster pickup and better carrier selection.
Never book a flight or schedule a move based on the first day of your pickup window. Build 3–5 days of buffer into your plans.
A written commitment that the final price will not exceed the quoted amount. Not standard in the industry — many brokers quote a price that is "subject to change." Transportvibe Full Service provides a written price guarantee on every shipment, which means the price in the written confirmation is the price you pay, period.
If a broker will not put the price in writing with explicit language that it cannot change at pickup, do not book. Verbal price assurances are legally unenforceable.
The written contract between the broker/carrier and the customer confirming the agreed shipping price, pickup and delivery locations, vehicle details, and payment terms. This document is your primary legal protection if a price dispute arises. Review it carefully before signing — look for any language allowing price changes.
Do not allow your vehicle to be loaded until you have a signed rate confirmation in hand with a locked price. If the driver presents a rate confirmation with a higher price than quoted, do not sign.
A small trailer that transports one vehicle at a time, typically used for specialty, inoperable, or very low-clearance vehicles. Generally more expensive than multi-car trailers due to the dedicated capacity.
Any additional fee added to the base quote after the initial booking, such as fuel surcharges, location access fees, inop fees, or last-minute route changes. Supplement charges should be disclosed upfront — charges sprung at pickup are a red flag.
A physical facility — usually a large parking lot or warehouse — where vehicles are temporarily stored between segments of a multi-leg transport journey. Using terminal locations can sometimes reduce cost but requires the customer to drop off and pick up the vehicle at the terminal rather than door-to-door.
A partial terminal transport service where the vehicle is dropped off at a carrier terminal at origin, then delivered door-to-door at the destination (or vice versa). Can be less expensive for routes with major terminal hubs, but requires more logistics coordination from the customer.
The number of days between vehicle pickup and delivery. Varies widely by route distance, carrier type, and time of year. Rough benchmarks: under 500 miles = 1–3 days; 500–1,500 miles = 3–6 days; cross-country = 7–14 days. These are estimates — carriers do not guarantee transit times.
Transportvibe's proprietary carrier rating system, calculated from verified debrief data across six dimensions: overall satisfaction, pricing accuracy, pickup timing, delivery timing, vehicle condition, and communication quality. TrustScores are weighted by recency and route relevance — a score for a carrier on your specific corridor is more predictive than their overall score.
A TrustScore under 75 is a meaningful warning. A pricing accuracy score under 80% specifically suggests a history of price changes between quote and delivery. Both are visible on every carrier's profile.
Most standard auto transport trailers are limited by federal law to 80,000 lbs total combined weight (truck + trailer + all vehicles). This affects load planning and can occasionally delay pickup if a truck is already near weight capacity on its route. Overweight vehicles (heavy trucks, modified vehicles) may require special trailers.
A vehicle transport job spanning coast-to-coast or covering long interstate distances, typically 2,000+ miles. These routes are generally more competitive in carrier availability but also more susceptible to weather delays, longer transit times, and higher prices during peak seasons. Average cost: $900–$1,400 for open transport on a sedan.
Check any carrier with the Red Flag Checker, or let Full Service handle everything with a written price guarantee.
