Can we talk about how I lost $265 to a "discount" auto broker before my car even left the driveway | Auto Shipping Comparisons

Viola Chen · 2026-10-21T12:45:10.514471+00:00

So back in March I was trying to get my Civic moved from Sacramento down to my sister's place in Tucson, and I found this broker online with a 4.8 star rating and a quote about $140 under everyone else. I paid a $265 deposit up front because the guy said it "locks in the rate" and the truck would pick up within 5 days. Five days turns into 11, then he stops answering his phone and the emails bounce back. Turns out the actual carrier he subbed it to never got the deposit, and I had to pay another $200 to a real company to get the car moved. The whole thing cost me almost $500 total when the other quotes were around $390 from the start, so the cheap price was the bait. I should've known when the guy pushed so hard for the deposit over the phone, but I was in a hurry and just wanted it done. Now I only work with companies that charge after pickup, and I check the DOT number on the FMCSA site before I hand over a dime. Has anyone actually gotten a deposit back from one of these brokers, or is that money just gone for good?

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Can we talk about how I lost $265 to a "discount" auto broker before my car even left the driveway | Auto Shipping Comparisons - The Community Guide