The right information makes your next move easier. Explore official tools for checking transport companies, researching a vehicle, preparing documents and planning a shipment across the United States.
Whether you are relocating, buying a car out of state, arranging a military move or shipping a specialty vehicle, start with information that answers your actual question. This directory brings together government services, established research tools and practical NIKI car shipping guides.
Each resource has a different purpose. A company lookup, vehicle history report and insurance document are separate checks—not substitutes for one another.
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Check who is arranging your shipment, who will carry the vehicle, and which registration and financial responsibility records apply.
Look up a transport company by USDOT number, MC/MX number or name to review its identity, inspection history and available safety rating.
A snapshot is not a guarantee of service or proof of coverage for your particular vehicle.
Use Motus, FMCSA’s USDOT registration system, to review public registration information for a carrier or broker.
Match the legal company name and USDOT number to your booking documents. Public data can be viewed without an account.
Understand the federal insurance and financial responsibility requirements for different types of carriers, brokers and freight forwarders.
Federal filings do not establish the cargo coverage, exclusions or deductible that applies to your shipment. Request those details separately.
Read FMCSA’s automobile transporter advisory to understand the difference between a broker and a carrier and what to check before booking.
Use this advisory together with the current FMCSA registration tools above.
Research the vehicle before a purchase or shipment. VIN decoding, recall searches and history reports answer different questions.
Search by VIN or license plate for unrepaired safety recalls, or use year, make and model to research broader recall information.
Some recent recalls and older vehicles may not appear. Confirm questions with the manufacturer.
Decode manufacturer-reported vehicle details from a VIN to help confirm the vehicle you are buying or preparing to ship.
The decoder does not provide ownership, accident or title history.
Find approved NMVTIS report providers for title and brand history and reported salvage or total-loss information before buying a vehicle.
Providers may charge a fee. A history report does not replace an independent inspection.
Check a VIN against participating insurers’ records of unrecovered theft and salvage reports using NICB’s free lookup.
Coverage is limited to participating insurer records; a clear result is not a complete vehicle history.
Review the FTC’s guidance on the Buyers Guide, warranties, vehicle inspections and purchase terms before arranging transport for a dealer purchase.
This guide focuses on dealer sales; requirements and protections can differ for private sales.
Find the right starting point for a transport complaint, a suspected scam or help from your state consumer protection office.
Use FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database to report concerns involving a motor carrier or transportation broker.
A regulatory complaint is separate from a damage claim or a request for reimbursement.
Report a suspected scam, dishonest business practice or fraudulent payment request to the FTC.
Reporting supports consumer protection work; it does not guarantee an individual refund.
Find practical next steps based on how you paid, plus guidance for protecting your identity, accounts and devices.
Contact your bank or payment provider promptly when money may have been sent to a scammer.
Find the official consumer protection office for your state or territory for help with business complaints, scams and fraud.
Complaint processes and the assistance available vary by office.
Find state vehicle agencies and federal import information. International import rules are separate from ordinary domestic car shipping.
Find the official motor vehicle agency for your destination state or territory to check title, registration and other vehicle services.
Registration deadlines, documentation and fees depend on the destination and your circumstances.
Find NHTSA’s vehicle import guidance, HS-7 declaration, eligibility information and registered importer resources for a vehicle entering the United States.
Importing a vehicle also involves customs and other applicable requirements; this is not needed for an ordinary domestic shipment.
Review CBP’s vehicle import guidance when bringing a car into the United States from another country.
Requirements depend on the vehicle and type of entry. This resource concerns international imports, not ordinary domestic car transport.
Check the conditions that may affect access, pickup and delivery. Use your transport coordinator for shipment-specific updates.
Use FHWA’s directory to reach state transportation sites with road closures, traffic and travel condition updates along a route.
Road reports can change quickly and do not provide the location or arrival time of a car shipment.
Check local forecasts, weather alerts and radar when planning pickup and delivery or following severe weather along a transport route.
Use the latest alert for the relevant location; forecasts do not guarantee transport schedules.
View Alaska road conditions, closures, cameras and travel advisories before planning a vehicle move that uses the state’s highways.
Check the latest conditions for the exact highway and local access roads on your route.
Plan special routes with the relevant military office, state agency or transport operator. Requirements depend on your move.
Review personal property moving FAQs, including privately owned vehicle shipping, preparation and questions about military move entitlements.
Confirm your orders and eligibility with your transportation office before arranging a privately paid shipment.
Access shipment and storage information, appointments and vehicle turn-in or pickup guidance for authorized military privately owned vehicle moves.
For eligible military POV moves; use NIKI directly for updates on a NIKI booking.
Search installations, programs and services to find a Household Goods/Transportation Office and local contacts for PCS move questions.
Contact the office responsible for your move to confirm requirements and benefits.
Review agricultural restrictions for travel and shipping to, from and between Hawaiʻi’s islands when planning what can accompany a move.
These agricultural rules are separate from the ocean carrier’s vehicle preparation instructions and vehicle registration requirements.
Read official ferry policies for vehicle dimensions, loading, unaccompanied vehicles and restrictions affecting electric or oversized vehicles.
Vehicle space and acceptance depend on the vessel, port and current rules. Confirm details before booking.
Try a broader term such as “vehicle,” “carrier” or “military,” or clear your search to see the full directory.
A directory, not a partner list. These independent organizations provide their own information and services. Inclusion does not imply an endorsement of NIKI or a business affiliation. Use each organization’s current instructions for the service you need.
Straightforward guides to the choices that shape your vehicle shipment.
Understand the steps from requesting a quote to preparing for pickup and receiving your vehicle.
Read the shipping guidePlan your budgetExplore the route, vehicle and scheduling factors that shape a transport quote.
Explore shipping costsCompare optionsLearn about open carrier service and the questions to ask when choosing your transport method.
Explore open transportAdditional protectionConsider enclosed shipping for a classic, luxury, collector or other specialty vehicle.
Explore enclosed transportPickup & deliveryUnderstand how pickup locations, delivery access and safe meeting points affect a shipment.
Plan pickup and deliveryLong-distance movesPlan a longer route around your vehicle, travel dates and destination arrangements.
Explore cross-country shippingKeep the key details together so you can compare quotes, coordinate pickup and follow up after delivery.
Understand what each lookup can tell you before you use it to make a shipping decision.
Start with the FMCSA resources in this directory. Use SAFER for company identification and available safety information, and Motus for public registration information. Match the records to the legal company named on your documents. When a broker arranges the shipment, ask for the assigned carrier’s details as well.
No single lookup establishes the coverage for your specific shipment. Federal registration and financial responsibility records serve different purposes. Ask for the assigned carrier’s cargo coverage details and review the applicable terms, limits, exclusions and claim process before shipment.
Use NHTSA’s decoder for vehicle specifications and its recall tool for safety recalls. NMVTIS-approved providers offer title-related history, while NICB VINCheck searches participating insurers’ theft and salvage records. These tools complement one another; a vehicle history search does not replace an independent inspection.
Government road and weather tools help explain conditions along a route, but they do not track your shipment. PCSmyPOV is for eligible military POV moves. For a NIKI booking, contact your NIKI shipping coordinator or use the NIKI contact page for assistance.
For a military move, review your orders with your transportation office and consult the Military OneSource resources above. For Hawaiʻi or Alaska, review the destination and transport operator’s requirements. An international vehicle import also requires separate customs and vehicle compliance checks.
Tell NIKI where your vehicle needs to go. We’ll help you explore transport options for your route, vehicle and schedule.
