According to the most recent survey conducted, 56% of the undergraduate students have a car with them while attending school. It has various benefits, including easy access to internships and off-campus job opportunities.
But when you’re moving to college across the state or the country, deciding whether to drive your car to campus or use a student vehicle transport service is still a question many students ponder. With a clear comparison of the pros and cons of both options, let’s find out the answer to this.
Should I Drive to Campus Or Use a Student Auto Transport Service?
It depends. Like most such comparisons, there’s no straightforward answer to this. Whether you should drive your car to campus or get a student vehicle transport service depends on different factors, including your personal choice as well.
So it’s better if you make a pros and cons list for both of these options and then decide which one to choose.
Driving to Campus
In the year 2024-2025, about 16 million students across the U.S. enrolled in college for their undergrads, with many choosing to bring their vehicle along. And while there’s nothing wrong if you decide to drive to campus when moving in, it may come with a few added considerations.
Let’s start with all the plus points of driving your car to campus.
Pros
- Road Trip Experience – As per Gallup data from 2018, 34% of U.S. adults enjoy driving “a great deal.” And if you’re one of them, then you should definitely give yourself another road trip experience.
- Complete Control Over Your Journey – If you choose to drive to campus rather than using a college car shipping service, you will have complete control over your journey. Then, you can plan trips as per your schedule, take breaks when needed, and travel at your own pace.
- Carry Personal Belongings – Since most student auto transport services don’t allow personal belongings inside the vehicle, driving your car to campus will give you the freedom to carry more personal belongings. Plus, you will be able to save a big chunk, as you won’t need to book a separate service to transport your personal stuff.
- Cost-effective for Short Distance – Just in case you’re only moving a short distance, driving your car to campus will be a cheaper option than getting a college car shipping service.
- Skip the Shipping Wait Time – Driving to campus helps you avoid the shipping wait time. You will have your vehicle with you from day one. Plus, some student auto transport services require you to pick up your vehicle from a nearby location if they cannot access the campus area. So if you choose to drive to campus, you’re saving yourself the hassle.
Cons
- Exhaustion of a Long Trip – When driving across a state or cross-country, it can eat up a lot of your energy and is mentally draining as well.
- Wear and Tear on the Vehicle – When driving long distances, it puts extra miles on your car, which can significantly increase the maintenance cost.
- Travel Expense – While driving your car to campus may sound like the easiest, cost-effective option, it’s not as smooth as it seems. You will have to counter in your budget the fuel expense, hotel stays, and meals as well.
- Time Consuming – Freshmen typically move in between two days and a week before classes start, as scheduled by most colleges. And driving your car to college could be a time-consuming experience, especially when you’re on a tight move-in schedule.
- Parking Limitations at Campus – Some college campuses have either limited or expensive parking, and you might end up paying extra or parking far from your dorm.
Getting a College Car Shipping Service
On the flip side, if you want to ship a car to campus, it has its own highs and lows. Let’s go through them and see whether this option suits you or not.
Pros
- Ideal for Long-Distance Moving – Using an affordable car transport for students would be best when travelling long distances (let’s say across states or cross-country).
- Preserves Your Vehicle – If you don’t want your car to suffer from the toll of long-distance travelling, getting a car to campus service is your best option. It saves your vehicle from the added mileage and avoids the chances of breakdown or any wear and tear.
- No Long Distance Fatigue – Studies suggest that a sudden move or relocation is quite stressful for students, and you’re of course adding to the stress if you’re choosing to drive a long distance before moving in. However, an affordable car transport for students saves you from the stress, navigation issues, and weather-related risks.
- Safe and Insured – While driving yourself might put your vehicle at risk of breakdowns and accidents, choosing a transport service is a safe and insured option. Most transport services offer insurance coverage for your vehicle, while experienced drivers will drop it off at your location safely.
- Flexible Option – If you’re tight on budget, an affordable car transport for students has flexible options to choose from. For instance, instead of picking a door-to-door service, go for terminal drop-offs.
Cons
- Advance Planning Required – The biggest con of getting your car shipped to campus is that it requires advance planning and early booking. For instance, you need to book at least 2 months ahead of your move-in.
- Requires Research – Another potential challenge you might have to face if you ship a car to campus is the research part. You will have to start researching for a reliable shipping company at least 2-3 months before the move.
- Potential for Delays – You might not have immediate access to your car when you pick an auto transport service, as delivery windows can vary, or there can be some unexpected delay, due to bad weather, route change, or mechanical issue.
- High Cost – If you want to ship a car to campus cross-country, expect to pay from $925 to $1,350. Plus, the cost can be even higher if you’re booking during the peak season.
How do college students get around without a car?
College students get around without a car by walking, biking, using campus shuttles, riding public transit, or using rideshare services. Many campuses offer free or discounted transportation options, and urban universities often have robust transit systems as well. However, having your own car on campus gives you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want; that convenience is not present with public transport.