Say you need to get your car to another part of the US, possibly because you are ­relocating or going on an extended vacation or sending the car off to college with your son or daughter. Shipping it by trailer could save thousands of miles of wear-and-tear on the vehicle and isn’t much more expensive than driving it yourself or hiring someone to drive it, once you factor in the expenses you would incur in driving, including gas, food and lodging.

To ship your car economically…

Get quotes from at least three reputable companies. You can find both in-state and national companies and reviews at websites such as MoveCars.com and TransportReviews.com. Well-known shippers: ­AmeriFreight (AmeriFreight.net)…Reliable Carriers (ReliableCarriers.com).

To avoid scams, check the shipper’s complaint records with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hotline (FMCSA.dot.gov)…the Better Business Bureau…and/or any online reviews of the company. See whether there are numerous complaints against the carrier such as damage to vehicles…taking too long to transport vehicles…or being nonresponsive.

What to expect: Your vehicle typically is transported in an open-air, two-tier carrier, like you see on the highway transporting new ­vehicles. A coast-to-coast trip can take anywhere from 10 to 20 days.

In general, shipping a midsize sedan between New York City and San Francisco would cost about $1,400…between Miami and San Diego, $1,000…between Chicago and Los Angeles, $1,000…and between Florida and New York City, $850.

Strategies to keep costs down…

Opt for terminal-to-terminal shipping. Quoted prices usually are for door-to-door service, meaning that the carrier picks up and delivers from and to your home or workplace. You may save 5% or more if you drop off and pick up the car yourself at a central shipping ­location.

Note: Some shipping options can significantly increase your shipping costs, but they may be important to you. Example: If you have a luxury or classic auto, you might opt for an enclosed carrier, which offers protection from weather, dirt and road hazards. That typically adds 50% to the cost. If you want your car delivered on a specific and guaranteed date, it could cost 25% more.

Take pictures and/or a video of your car’s condition during the inspection report at pickup. Upon delivery, check for damage, including scratches and dents on the roof and under the bumpers and cracked glass/mirrors. If you see damage, note it on the final bill of lading that the driver gives you and make sure that he/she signs it before you contact the shipping ­company.

Make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage. The government requires auto shippers to carry liability and cargo insurance. But their insurance won’t cover damage or loss in transit that is not due to the carrier’s error or negligence, and it limits damages to the market value of your car. Ask your own insurer what it covers when your car is shipped. You also can purchase low-cost gap insurance to cover what the carrier’s insurance doesn’t from the specialty insurer AFTA Plan for about $55 per vehicle (AftaPlan.com).

Consider Amtrak’s Auto Train if you are relocating on the East Coast. It’s an 18-hour trip that carries passengers and their automobiles between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, DC), and Sanford, Florida (near Orlando), allowing you to avoid some of the most congested stretches of I-95. Cost: $300 and up.

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