How to Read a Car Shipping Quote (and Spot Hidden Fees)

A shipping quote looks like a single number. It usually isn't. Here's how to read what's really in it — and the three tricks to watch for.

1. The low-ball bait quote

You submit your info and get a suspiciously cheap number. You book. Days pass and no driver picks it up — because the price was set too low on purpose to win your deposit. Then comes the call: "we can't find a carrier at that rate, but for $200 more…" The fix: look for a price that reflects the real market range for your lane, not the lowest number on the screen. A quote that's far below everyone else's isn't a deal, it's a hook.

2. The deposit trap

Many brokers take a deposit up front — before a truck is even assigned. Now your money is committed and your leverage is gone. Honest shipping doesn't need your money before the work starts. On Loadgency the default is $0 upfront and COD: you pay the driver on delivery, and our fee settles then too. Nothing is held.

3. "Fully insured" — insured for what, exactly?

Every legitimate carrier has cargo insurance, but coverage limits and deductibles vary. "Fully insured" on a website means little on its own. What actually protects you is documentation: a Bill of Lading and timestamped photos of the vehicle's condition at pickup and delivery. Without those, a damage claim is your word against theirs.

The one line every quote should have

The driver's price and the broker's fee, shown separately. If a quote won't tell you how much of your money reaches the person actually hauling the car, that's the answer — they're marking it up and hoping you don't ask. A transparent quote has nothing to hide: here's the driver's price, here's our flat fee, here's the total. That's it.