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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

Jeff Barnes

Doing business as Barnes Auto Transportation

USDOT 813878 MC-361539 Decatur, IL (217) 422-4705

Email

No red flags in FMCSA records

The company is registered, authorized and insured. Still get the price and terms in writing before you pay anything.

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-361539.

  • Authority was revoked in the past (2012)

    It was reinstated and has been active since. Old revocations usually followed a lapse in insurance or a bond filing.

  • 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 27 years

    Registered with FMCSA since June 1999.

  • No roadside inspections in the last 24 months

    Normal for a small or new carrier, but it means there is no inspection record to judge it by.

  • 0 reported crashes in the last 24 months

    No crashes were reported to FMCSA in the last two years.

Company details

Contact

Address
540 N Water St, Decatur, IL 62523
Phone
(217) 422-4705
Email
jeff@barnesautotransportation.com

Company

Legal name
Jeff Barnes
Doing business as
Barnes Auto Transportation
Business type
Authorized for hire
Company officers
Jeff Barnes
Process agent (BOC-3)
Truck Process Agents Of America, Inc — Fargo, ND
USDOT issued
Jun 7, 1999
Last MCS-150 update
Jul 11, 2025

Operations

Operation
Interstate (can cross state lines)
Cargo it hauls
General freight, Metal, sheets, coils, Motor vehicles, Logs, poles, lumber, Building materials, Machinery, large objects, Construction
Trucks
1 power unit
Drivers
1 (1 with a CDL)
Miles driven a year
37,089 (2024)
Hazardous materials
Yes, registered to carry hazmat

Safety record, last 24 months

0Roadside inspections
—Vehicle out-of-service rate
National average 22.26%
—Driver out-of-service rate
National average 6.67%
0Crashes
0 with injuries · 0 fatal

Roadside inspections

No roadside inspections were reported in the last 24 months.

Crashes

No crashes were reported in the last 24 months.

Insurance and bonds

On file now

TypeInsurerPolicyLimitEffective
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanyWN226403$1,000,000Oct 9, 2017

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)Northland Insurance CompanyOct 26, 2007Aug 10, 2012Cancelled, no replacement
Liability (BIPD)Great West Casualty Co.Oct 26, 2006Nov 29, 2007Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanyOct 29, 1999Nov 23, 2006Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. Of ConnecticutJun 9, 1999Oct 29, 1999Replaced by a new policy

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. Authority reinstated Carrier
  2. Authority revoked Carrier
  3. Authority granted Carrier

Source: FMCSA records published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, checked 20 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.