Is Car Shipping Safe? What You Need to Know

Car shipping is safe — when done through a licensed, FMCSA-registered broker who vets carriers for active insurance and clean safety records. Here's how your vehicle is protected from pickup to delivery.

How Your Vehicle Is Protected

Every vehicle shipped through Uwon Carriers is protected by multiple layers:

1. Cargo insurance — All carriers in our network carry a minimum of $100,000 in cargo insurance per load, as required by the FMCSA.
2. Bill of Lading — A legal document records the vehicle's exact pre-transport condition with photos. Any damage that occurs during transport is provable and claimable.
3. Carrier vetting — Uwon Carriers verifies every carrier's DOT safety record, active insurance certificate, and authority before dispatching them to your vehicle.
4. Real-time GPS tracking — You can track your vehicle's location throughout the shipment.

How Common Is Damage During Car Shipping?

Damage during auto transport is rare. The industry-wide estimate is that less than 0.1% of vehicles experience significant damage during transport. Minor issues (road dust, tiny chips) are more common but are typically covered by carrier insurance.

The vast majority of damage claims involve pre-existing damage that wasn't properly documented at pickup — which is why the Bill of Lading inspection is so important.

How to Vet a Car Shipping Company

• Check their FMCSA license — Verify the broker's DOT number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Uwon Carriers is licensed under DOT #4445336.
• Verify insurance requirements — Legitimate brokers require carriers to carry minimum cargo insurance.
• No deposit required — Reputable brokers never charge upfront deposits. Payment is collected at pickup or delivery after a carrier is assigned.
• Check reviews — Look for reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and the BBB. Verify the company is BBB-accredited.
• Read the contract — The contract should clearly state insurance coverage, delivery timeframes, and the claims process.

Red Flags to Avoid

• Asking for a large upfront deposit or full payment before service
• No verifiable DOT/MC number or FMCSA registration
• Prices that seem too low (often bait-and-switch or unlicensed carriers)
• No physical address or difficult to reach by phone
• Pressure to book immediately without a written quote