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Car shipping company lookup

Check any auto transport company before you book. Enter its USDOT number, MC number or name to see if it is licensed, insured and in good standing with the FMCSA — with red flags explained in plain English.

Examples: 2239816 (USDOT) · MC-795152 · or part of the company name. You'll find the numbers on the company's website, quote or contract.

Carrier

First Impression Transport LLC

USDOT 2422219 MC-834473 Essington, PA (267) 495-6384

Email

Check the flagged items before you book

2 things are worth asking the company about. None of them alone means a scam.

What we checked

  • USDOT number is active

    The company's federal registration is current.

  • Operating authority is active

    Authorized for hire across state lines as a carrier (it can haul cars itself) under MC-834473.

  • 3 revocation notices in the last 3 years

    FMCSA warned it would revoke the authority — usually over a missing insurance or bond filing — and the company fixed it in time. Repeated notices can be a sign of money trouble.

  • Liability insurance on file

    $1,000,000 of liability coverage is filed with FMCSA (required minimum: $750,000).

  • Cargo insurance not filed with FMCSA

    Federal rules don't require most carriers to file cargo coverage, so this is common. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing cargo coverage above your car's value.

  • No safety rating

    FMCSA has never audited this carrier. That is normal — most carriers are never rated.

  • In business for 13 years

    Registered with FMCSA since July 2013.

  • Out-of-service rate well above the national average

    26 inspections in 24 months. Vehicles were put out of service in 47.1% of inspections (national average 22.26%), drivers in 11.5% (national average 6.67%). Trucks or drivers put out of service at a roadside inspection had defects serious enough to stop them on the spot.

  • 7 reported crashes in the last 24 months

    3 with injuries, 0 fatal, across a fleet of 38 trucks. Crash reports don't say who was at fault.

Company details

Contact

Address
303 Chippewa Street, Essington, PA 19029
Phone
(267) 495-6384
Fax
(215) 462-4182
Email
1stimpressionauto@gmail.com

Company

Legal name
First Impression Transport LLC
Business type
Authorized for hire
Company officers
Cheri Mitchell, Michael Kennedy
Process agent (BOC-3)
Evilsizor Process Servers Inc — Littleton, CO
USDOT issued
Jul 17, 2013
Last MCS-150 update
Mar 25, 2026

Operations

Operation
Interstate (can cross state lines)
Cargo it hauls
Motor vehicles
Trucks
38 power units
Drivers
25 (25 with a CDL)
Miles driven a year
1,500,000 (2025)
Hazardous materials
Yes, registered to carry hazmat

Safety record, last 24 months

26Roadside inspections
47.1%Vehicle out-of-service rate
National average 22.26%
11.5%Driver out-of-service rate
National average 6.67%
7Crashes
3 with injuries · 0 fatal

Roadside inspections

Police and state inspectors stop trucks to check the vehicle and the driver. Out of service means a problem serious enough to stop the truck or driver on the spot.

DateStateInspectionViolationsOut of service
Oct 5, 2026WVWalk-around (II)9No
Sep 16, 2026PADriver only (III)2No
Sep 1, 2026PAWalk-around (II)1No
Jul 29, 2026MDWalk-around (II)2Vehicle
Jul 24, 2026PAWalk-around (II)1No
Jul 9, 2026MDWalk-around (II)1Vehicle
May 14, 2026PADriver only (III)3Driver
Apr 16, 2026SCDriver only (III)1No
Apr 9, 2026PADriver only (III)3Driver
Feb 26, 2026CTDriver only (III)3No
Jan 15, 2026PAWalk-around (II)2No
Jan 13, 2026PAWalk-around (II)2No
Dec 17, 2025PADriver only (III)0No
Nov 28, 2025NJWalk-around (II)2Vehicle & Driver
Nov 3, 2025PAWalk-around (II)1No
Oct 6, 2025MDWalk-around (II)3No
Sep 30, 2025MDWalk-around (II)6Vehicle
Aug 19, 2025MDWalk-around (II)0No
Jul 15, 2025NJDriver only (III)1No
Jul 10, 2025PADriver only (III)0No
Apr 22, 2025PAWalk-around (II)1Vehicle
Apr 14, 2025MDFull (Level I)0No
Feb 25, 2025PADriver only (III)2Vehicle
Feb 25, 2025PAWalk-around (II)3Vehicle
Nov 21, 2024CTWalk-around (II)2Vehicle
Oct 31, 2024MDWalk-around (II)3Vehicle

Crashes

Crashes reported by state police. The reports don't say who was at fault.

DateWhereInjuriesDeathsVehicle towed
Aug 18, 2026Cambridge, MD00Yes
Jul 29, 2026Lanham, MD10Yes
Jan 12, 2026Philadelphia City, PA00Yes
Dec 17, 2025Upper Moreland Township, PA10Yes
Aug 31, 2025Bristol Twp, PA00Yes
Jul 24, 2025Old Bridge, NJ10Yes
Mar 26, 2025Elizabeth City, NJ00Yes

Insurance and bonds

On file now

TypeInsurerPolicyLimitEffective
Liability (BIPD)National Union Fire Ins. Co. Of Pitsbgh. Pa018-57-9087$1,000,000Jul 21, 2025

Ask the company for a certificate of insurance and check that the insurer and policy number match this table.

Past policies

Earlier filings, newest first. Cancelled, no replacement means coverage stopped with no new policy in place — a gap in insurance.

TypeInsurerFromUntilHow it ended
Liability (BIPD)Canal Insurance Co.Jul 21, 2024Jul 21, 2025Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanyJul 21, 2023Jul 21, 2024Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Occidental Fire And Casualty Co. Of N.c.Jul 21, 2022Jul 21, 2023Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanyJul 21, 2019Jul 21, 2022Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)American States Insurance Co.Jul 21, 2016Jul 21, 2019Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Grange Indemnity Insurance CompanyJul 24, 2013Jul 24, 2016Cancelled, another policy took over

Operating authority history

Every change FMCSA recorded to the company's license to operate, newest first.

  • Granted or reinstated
  • Warning, resolved
  • Revoked or suspended
  • Other
  1. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Jul 18, 2025 — the company kept its authority.

  2. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Apr 7, 2025 — the company kept its authority.

  3. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Jul 19, 2024 — the company kept its authority.

  4. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Jul 18, 2023 — the company kept its authority.

  5. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Jul 22, 2016 — the company kept its authority.

  6. Authority granted Carrier

Source: FMCSA records published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, checked 21 hours ago. Authority and insurance come from FMCSA's licensing records (this company hasn't had a status change since FMCSA moved to its new Motus system in 2026). This report reflects public federal data only; it is not an endorsement or a guarantee of service.

What the lookup checks

Eight things to know before you hand over your keys

Every interstate car shipping company is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The lookup reads that record and flags what matters to you as a customer.

  1. USDOT status

    Every company that moves vehicles across state lines needs an active USDOT number. Inactive means it has stopped operating or was shut down.

  2. Operating authority (MC number)

    Federal permission to ship cars for pay. Carriers hold carrier authority; brokers hold broker authority. No active authority, no legal interstate shipping.

  3. Liability insurance

    Carriers must keep at least $750,000 of liability coverage on file with the FMCSA. Most auto haulers carry $1,000,000.

  4. Broker bond

    Brokers must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. It protects customers and carriers if the broker doesn't pay.

  5. Out-of-service orders

    An FMCSA order to stop operating — after failed safety audits, unpaid fines or an imminent hazard.

  6. Safety rating and crashes

    Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory after an FMCSA audit, plus crashes reported in the last 24 months.

  7. Time in business

    Scammers rarely keep a name for long. A registration only weeks or months old deserves extra caution.

  8. Carrier or broker

    Whether the company hauls your car itself or books a partner carrier — and whether it is actually registered to carry vehicles.

Beyond the records

Car shipping scam red flags

A clean FMCSA record is the minimum. These warning signs matter just as much — most car shipping complaints start with one of them.

  • A quote far below everyone else's. Lowball quotes get raised after booking or sit with no carrier for weeks. Compare with our car shipping cost calculator.
  • A big deposit by wire, Zelle or gift card. Reputable companies take $0–$250 upfront, usually by card, and the rest at pickup or delivery.
  • A name that doesn't match the record. The legal name or DBA on the FMCSA record should match the website, the contract and the truck.
  • "Guaranteed" pickup dates from a broker. A broker can't promise a date until a carrier is assigned — get the date in writing and ask who the carrier is.
  • No written contract or Bill of Lading. Inspect the car with the driver and sign the Bill of Lading at pickup and delivery — our car shipping checklist has a printable inspection form.

FAQ

Checking a car shipping company

Want companies that already passed these checks? Browse verified companies by state.

How do I check if a car shipping company is legit?

Look up its USDOT or MC number. A legitimate company has an active USDOT number, active operating authority (MC) as a carrier or broker, and insurance or a broker bond on file with the FMCSA. Then make sure the name on the record matches the company you are talking to, and be wary of any company registered in the last few months that asks for a large deposit.

What is the difference between a USDOT number and an MC number?

The USDOT number identifies the company and tracks its safety record, inspections and crashes. The MC number is its operating authority — federal permission to transport vehicles for pay across state lines. An interstate car shipping company needs both, and both must be active.

Where do I find a company's USDOT or MC number?

Licensed companies show them on their website (usually in the footer), in quotes and contracts, on the Bill of Lading and on the side of their trucks. If a company won't give you its USDOT or MC number, don't book with it.

Is it a red flag if the company is a broker?

No. Most online car shipping companies are brokers: they book your car with a partner carrier that runs the route. A legitimate broker has active broker authority and a $75,000 bond on file. Ask which carrier will haul your car and check that carrier too.

What insurance must a car shipping company have?

Interstate carriers must file at least $750,000 of liability insurance with the FMCSA (many auto haulers carry $1,000,000). Brokers must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. Cargo insurance — the policy that pays for damage to your car — often isn't filed with the FMCSA, so ask for a certificate of insurance and check that the cargo limit covers your car's value.

What does "out of service" mean?

An out-of-service order is an FMCSA order to stop operating immediately, usually after an unsatisfactory safety rating, unpaid fines or an imminent hazard. A company under an active order must not move your car.

Where does this data come from and how current is it?

From the FMCSA's own records, published daily by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Results are refreshed at least every 12 hours. For a final check before you pay, you can also open the company's FMCSA SAFER snapshot from the report.