Auto Shipping Glossary: The Transport Broker
An auto transport broker is a type of auto transport company that can help you get your vehicle shipped from A to B.
While they do not physically ship your vehicle (as a carrier would), they arrange the transportation of your vehicle and make sure that all the right paperwork is submitted and that everything is on the straight-and-narrow when it comes to transporting your vehicle.
They also help speed up pickup times by finding an auto transporter in your area that can pick your vehicle up in a day or two, though it can take up to a week to have your vehicle dispatched and picked up.
This is a part of the industry that is rather misunderstood, and this can give brokers a bad rap because people think they just steal their money and aren’t looking for a shipper to physically pick their car up. But this is usually far from the case.
With such a vast and geographically diverse country as the United States, there are areas of the country that are more difficult for auto shippers to get in or out of. Likewise, there are areas of the country that don’t see a lot of traffic due to low population density or lack of major metropolitan areas, and there are some areas of the country that are quite isolated and a combination of both (see: Maine).
Therefore, some parts of the country are going to be quicker to find a carrier to pick your vehicle up in than others. Major cities in populated states or areas are generally cheaper than isolated cities. The interstate highway system is also a good indicator of how popular certain areas are.
For instance, Myrtle Beach is a popular location for customers to ship their car, but it doesn’t sit along a major interstate and is only accessible by smaller and less-traveled state routes. On the flip side, Miami sees a lot of carrier traffic because of how easy it is to get into and out of the city; because of this, it’s generally cheaper to ship to or from.
Brokers are ideal middlemen because they actually help keep the carrier prices lower than they would be without them; not only that, but by making sure they only use licensed and insured transporters they force out all the scammers and ensure that your vehicle is only shipped with reputable and reliable carrier companies.
If you are interested in getting a quote to transport your vehicle, you can fill out our free online auto transport quote request form to geta free one from us right away. We are a top-rated broker and work only with top-rated auto shipping carriers. We ensure all of them are fully licensed and insured and we make sure they are top-rated as well. You can also contact us any time over the phone at 800-930-7417 to speak to a representative. They can answer your questions, give you a quote, book your shipment, and more.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.