Most car shipping brokers use a standard industry contract that protects the broker, not the customer. Below is a plain-language comparison between a typical industry contract and our Price Lock contract, so you know exactly what you're agreeing to before you book.
| Topic | Industry Standard | Price Lock (CarHauler247) |
|---|---|---|
| Price locked at booking | ❌ No Price may change at dispatch |
✅ Yes Quoted price will not change |
| Pickup date guaranteed | ❌ No Explicitly no guarantee |
✅ Yes Guaranteed pickup window with compensation if missed |
| Late pickup compensation | ❌ None | ✅ Yes Service free + 4%/day up to 20% added to carrier offer |
| Late delivery compensation | ❌ None | ✅ Yes $40/day from day 13, up to $400 |
| Deposit refund | ⚠️ Non-refundable Even if no service provided |
✅ Fully refundable Except day-of or day-before cancellation after carrier dispatched |
| Rescheduling Fee | ⚠️ Often | ✅ None |
| Data privacy | ⚠️ Often Not Stated Your phone number can be sold to lead farms |
✅ Explicit No data sales; shared with carrier only |
| Broker liability cap | ⚠️ Broker fee only Broker not liable beyond their fee |
✅ Full guarantee Backed by Price Lock compensation terms |
Under the industry standard contract, your deposit pays for the broker's effort — not the result. The broker takes an unspecified fee and offers the remainder to carriers. If no carrier agrees to take the order, the broker stalls or asks you for more money. The price quoted to you at booking means nothing — it can change at any point before dispatch. A profitable move under this contract is to tell you drivers want more money, let's increase the price and pocket the difference. An even more profitable move is to call you on the morning of your last pickup day and claim the truck broke down — but there happens to be another truck available for a higher price. We hear brokers make up to $400 on that one phone call, especially when they know you have a flight or a move date.
Our Price Lock contract locks in your price and pickup window upfront. If we miss our commitment, you are compensated. Cancel any time for a full refund — except when the truck is coming today or tomorrow.