Snowbird Routes
What is the best auto transport broker for Minnesota to Florida?
The best broker for a Minnesota-to-Florida move is one that is federally licensed and bonded, knows the snowbird season, and never sells you…
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Does carrier insurance cover my vehicle during transport?
Yes — federally licensed carriers must carry liability and cargo insurance, and the truck that moves your car should show roughly $250,000 in cargo coverage on open carriers and up to $2,000,000 on enclosed carriers; ask for the certificate before pickup.
Ready to ship your car?
Request a no-obligation quote from River Valley Auto Transport. Owner-operated, U.S.-based, and licensed with the FMCSA.
Verify before you book
Two minutes on the FMCSA website tells you who you're really dealing with
You do not have to take any company's word for it. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration keeps free public records on every licensed broker and carrier in the country. Here is exactly what to ask for and where to verify it:
1.Ask for the MC and USDOT numbers
Every legitimate broker and carrier must provide both on request. Our numbers: USDOT #2273104 and MC #774106. If a company hesitates or deflects, stop.
2.Look them up on the FMCSA SAFER system
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and use the Company Snapshot search. Enter the MC or USDOT number and confirm the legal name, operating status and “Authorized” broker or carrier authority match what you were told.
3.Confirm the $75,000 broker bond
In the FMCSA Licensing & Insurance portal (li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov), verify the broker's BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund is active. No active bond means no legal authority to broker your shipment.
4.Demand the carrier's information and payment breakdown
If a company says they have a carrier for you but never sends you the carrier's name, DOT/MC number, driver contact and truck details, or you never get to see how much of your payment is going to the carrier, that is a red flag. A legitimate broker discloses the assigned carrier and explains the broker fee before you book.
When you check our records you'll find River Valley Auto Transport, USDOT #2273104, MC #774106; an owner-operated, federally licensed and bonded broker based in Rosemount, Minnesota, working by phone and email with no walk-in office. You can also read our full carrier vetting process.
What the coverage actually does
Cargo coverage pays for damage that happens in transit between the two inspection reports. Wear-and-tear items — small stone chips, suspension settling, mechanical failures — are generally not transit damage, which is why the bill of lading condition notes matter so much.
- Ask for the carrier's insurance certificate before loading
- Confirm the deductible and who carries it
- Document existing damage with time-stamped photos
- Review coverage carefully for classics and exotics
Your own policy during the move
Your personal auto policy generally follows the car, but the carrier's cargo policy is the first line for transit damage. For high-value vehicles, owners sometimes add a supplemental rider for the difference between carrier coverage and full value.
Key takeaways
- Licensed carriers carry cargo coverage — ask for the certificate
- The bill of lading defines what counts as transit damage
- High-value vehicles may warrant supplemental coverage
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