Protect yourself from vehicle shipping fraud — learn the warning signs, common scam tactics, and how to choose a trustworthy shipping company.
Check Companies House registration, look for genuine reviews on Trustpilot and Google, verify industry memberships (BIFA, RHA), and ask for proof of insurance. A legitimate company should welcome scrutiny.
Reputable companies typically require a deposit (20–50%) with the balance due before or upon vessel loading. Never pay the full amount before any service is provided.
Report to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk), your bank (for potential chargeback), and Trading Standards. Leave reviews to warn others.
Not always, but quotes significantly below market rates are a major red flag. If it seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
Mostly yes for the established names (Shiply, uShip) but they aggregate quotes from many small operators — the platform vets less than you might assume. Treat every quote as needing the seven-point check above, regardless of the platform that surfaced it.
Customers shipping their first vehicle, urgently, to Africa or the Middle East. Urgency reduces due diligence, and destinations with limited recourse make recovery harder. If a deal feels rushed or the broker pressures you to pay outside normal business hours, walk away.
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