Vetting a pet transporter isn't complicated. It's six steps. Each one screens out a different category of risk — from outright scammers to operators who are licensed but don't have the equipment or experience to handle your pet safely.
The steps get progressively harder to fake. By step six, you're either talking to someone you can trust or you've already walked away.
The Pre-Payment Checklist
Before you send any money
- 1. Verify USDA license number in the APHIS database
- 2. Confirm insurance types they carry
- 3. Read Google Reviews (not just star count — read the actual reviews)
- 4. Talk to them on the phone — ask specific questions about your pet
- 5. Get a signed contract before paying anything
- 6. Verify driver's license matches business name and payment account
Step 1 — Verify USDA Registration
Ask for their USDA license number. Then go to aphis.usda.gov and verify it yourself — don't take their word for it.
You're checking three things:
- The number exists in the database
- The business name and state match what they told you
- The license status is active — not expired or suspended
If any of those don't match, stop. A mismatch between their stated name and the USDA record is a serious red flag.
Remember: USDA registration is the legal minimum, not a quality stamp. It confirms they've filled out the forms. It doesn't confirm they're insured, experienced, or honest. Complete all six steps.
Step 2 — Confirm Insurance Coverage
Ask directly: "What insurance do you carry?" Legitimate operators answer without hesitation. The best ones carry multiple types:
- Pet transit insurance — covers the animals in their care
- General liability / commercial auto — covers the vehicle and operation
- MC Cargo insurance — motor carrier cargo coverage (required for commercial transport)
An operator who says "I'm insured" without specifying what coverage they carry is giving you a vague answer. Ask what type. A professional knows exactly what they have.
USDA registration does not require insurance. An operator can be fully USDA-registered and carry zero insurance. Always verify separately.
Step 3 — Read Google Reviews
Star count is almost meaningless. Read the actual text of reviews. You're looking for:
- Specific mentions of the pet's experience during transport — photos received, updates given, pet arrived calm and healthy
- How the operator handled problems — a negative review met with a professional response is actually a good sign
- Recent activity — 50 reviews from 2020 and nothing since means they may not be actively operating
- Volume — 5 reviews could be friends and family; 80+ verified reviews over multiple years is a real track record
One of the most experienced operators in the community lists Google Reviews before their USDA number in their marketing — because they know pet owners trust reviews more than a license. That instinct is correct.
Step 4 — Get Them on the Phone
Text and email are easy to fake. A phone conversation is harder. Call them. If they don't answer, leave a message and see how fast they respond. An operator who takes 48 hours to return a call before you've paid anything will be harder to reach when you're three states away and have a question.
On the call, ask:
- "Will you personally be transporting my pet, or do you subcontract?" (A private carrier says yes immediately)
- "What crates do you use?" (Crash-tested Ruffland is the industry standard)
- "How often will I get updates during the trip?"
- "What happens if there's a medical emergency?"
- "Have you transported [my pet's breed] before?"
A good operator asks you questions too. They want to know about your pet's temperament, health conditions, medications. An operator who doesn't ask is not thinking about the animal — they're thinking about the booking.
Steps 5 & 6 — Contract and ID
Get a signed contract before paying anything
Every legitimate operator has a contract. It should cover: pickup and drop-off details, payment schedule, cancellation policy, the pet's description, health certificate requirement, and liability limits.
Ask for the contract before you send a dollar. If they don't have one, ask if they'd be willing to sign a basic agreement. If they refuse entirely — that's your answer. The most experienced operators in the community are blunt: a scammer walks away the moment you request a contract. Use that filter.
Verify their driver's license
Ask for a copy of their driver's license with the license number blacked out. Cross-reference the name with their business name and the payment account they give you. If the names match — good. If you're being asked to send payment to a name that doesn't match the operator you've been speaking with, stop.
"That's my secretary." "That's my business partner." "That's a different account name." These are excuses. A legitimate operator's payment flows through an account in their business name or their own legal name — not a random third party.