Terms of Service

CarShippers.ai is a licensed transportation broker, not a carrier. We arrange transport between shippers and FMCSA-licensed independent carriers. We do not operate the vehicles. Damage during transit is the carrier's liability under federal Carmack Amendment rules — we facilitate claims on your behalf but are not the responsible party for cargo loss or damage.

A "quote" is an estimate based on current carrier supply. A binding contract forms only once you confirm the booking and we assign a carrier. Quotes are valid for 7 days from issuance unless market conditions change materially. Confirming a booking authorises us to dispatch and charge per the agreed terms.

Quotes lock for 7 days. We collect a deposit at booking and final balance at delivery (or via prior arrangement for business accounts on net terms). If a carrier withdraws after assignment, we either rebook at the original price or refund any difference — your locked price is honoured.

Before carrier assignment: full refund of any deposit. After carrier assignment, before pickup: $50 cancellation fee. After pickup: shipment must complete; no refund. Carrier cancellation (rare): we rebook within 48 hours or fully refund at your option.

You or an authorised representative (18+) must be present at pickup and delivery to inspect the vehicle and sign the Bill of Lading. Vehicles must be in a condition matching the booking (running unless declared inoperable, fuel ≤ ¼ tank, personal items ≤ 100 lbs in the trunk only, no hazardous materials).

Damage claims must follow the process below — claims filed outside this process are substantially harder to pursue.

1. Inspect the vehicle BEFORE signing the Bill of Lading at delivery.
2. Note any damage on the BOL in writing — both you and the driver sign.
3. Photograph all damage with timestamps.
4. Notify CarShippers.ai within 24 hours: [email protected] or (888) 555-1234.
5. We contact the carrier and their insurance within 48 hours of notification.

You may not ship: personal items above 100 lbs, hazardous materials, illegal items, live animals, firearms, or valuables (cash, jewellery, electronics) above stated coverage limits. Items in violation are not covered by carrier cargo insurance.

As a broker, our maximum liability is limited to the fees you paid us for the affected shipment. Damage to the vehicle during transit is covered by the carrier's cargo insurance — not by us. This section has been reviewed by counsel and complies with FMCSA broker requirements.

We aim to resolve disputes informally — please email [email protected] first. Unresolved disputes are subject to binding arbitration under AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules in Wilmington, Delaware. Governing law: State of Delaware.

Dealer, fleet, and enterprise accounts are governed by their executed Master Services Agreement, which controls in case of conflict with these Terms. Defaults: net 30 invoicing, monthly volume reporting, dedicated account management, and SLA-backed response times.

Carriers in our network are bound by a separate Carrier Agreement covering insurance, scorecard requirements, and dispatch protocol. Shippers are not party to that agreement but benefit from its protections.