In a candid “state of the union” on automotive transport, duPont REGISTRY’s Edward Jones sits down with Steve Yariv of Dealer’s Choice Auto Transport to unpack a surge in thefts that he says has claimed thousands of vehicles in the last 15 months. Yariv details how sophisticated rings exploit dispatch boards with fake carriers, reroute legitimate pickups, swap VINs, and move cars domestically with convincing paperwork—leaving dealers to absorb six-figure losses as insurers tighten coverage. The ripple effects are real: stricter verification, longer pickup times, and growing bottlenecks. His message to dealers is blunt but actionable—stop chasing the cheapest quote, build relationships with vetted transporters, and verify every handoff—because in today’s climate, saving a few hundred dollars can cost you a $300,000 car.
Edward Jones of duPont REGISTRY (dR): Steve, thanks for joining me. I wanted to get your perspective on what feels like a “state of the union” moment for the transport industry. What’s the biggest concern right now?
Steve Yariv (SY): The biggest issue is theft—it’s astronomical. Over the last 15 months, thousands of vehicles have gone missing in transit. Dealers are selling cars, booking transport, and then it becomes a “cross your fingers” situation whether the car arrives.
dR): Thousands? How are these cars being stolen?
SY: It comes down to fake transport companies exploiting dispatch boards. A thief sets up a fake company, accepts the load, and reroutes the vehicle. In many cases, a legitimate transporter physically picks the car up, but the drop-off location is fraudulent. The drivers themselves aren’t stealing cars—it’s where the cars end up that’s the problem.
dR): And dealers aren’t claiming these on insurance?
SY: Right. Insurance premiums are already so high that most dealers just take the loss and write a check. Some insurers won’t even cover thefts during transport anymore. So, a stolen car worth $200,000–$400,000 is simply gone, and the dealer absorbs it.
dR): That sounds like a nightmare. Is this something new, or has it been going on for a while?
SY: It’s been happening for years, but it’s exploded recently. The criminals are more sophisticated now. They’re hacking into DMV systems, swapping VINs, and even generating legitimate titles. I’ve seen cases where a stolen car showed up with a fully authentic DMV record—it looked 100% legitimate.
dR): I always thought stolen cars ended up overseas. Is that still the case?
SY: Not anymore. The majority stay here. Shipping containers are heavily monitored, so criminals have pivoted. They swap VINs, create new paperwork, and sell the cars domestically. In some cases, they’ll even trade a fake car as part of a deal, get a real car in return, and walk away with both the car and the cash.
dR): That’s shocking. How often is this happening?
SY: Daily. It’s organized crime now, with rings of hundreds or even thousands of people involved. They’ll even pay people on the street to “receive” deliveries for a few hundred dollars, making it even harder to trace.
dR): What are companies doing to combat this?
SY: Some now require dealers to submit driver’s licenses and company credentials for every pickup, even if they’re already on file. It’s an added layer of security, but it slows things down dramatically. What used to take 15 minutes at auction now takes hours. Carriers don’t want to sit around all day, so it’s creating bottlenecks.
dR): And yet cars are still being stolen. Is there a real solution?
SY: The only real safeguard is to use a transporter you know and trust—companies like Dealer’s Choice. If you’re just chasing the cheapest quote, saving $100 or $200, you’re putting yourself at risk of losing a $300,000 car. It’s not worth the gamble.
dR): So is this problem going away anytime soon?
SY: No. Why would it? The money is too good for thieves. Until the Department of Transportation or the FBI enforces stricter oversight and treats obvious red flags—like suspicious reroutes or blind deliveries—as criminal activity, this problem will keep growing.
dR): Last question—what advice do you have for dealers reading this?
SY: Don’t cut corners. Don’t chase the cheapest transport quote. Build relationships with reputable transport companies like Dealer’s Choice and verify every detail of your shipments. One stolen car can wipe out years of profit.