Your acceptance letter is printed and framed, the checklist of dorm room supplies is longer than your arm, and the anticipation is building. But for thousands of students headed off to college across the U.S., one surprisingly essential question remains. How to get your car there?
For families facing a cross-country move, the prospect of a multi-day drive is often less than ideal. Between gas prices, the costs of motels and meals, and the significant amount of time lost from work or school, auto transport for college just became a necessity rather than an option. However, choosing the exemplary college student car transport service is an innovative, efficient, and surprisingly affordable option for college move car shipping, providing students and parents with a financially secure and cost-effective solution.
This guide covers everything you need to know about college student vehicle transport options, including how they work and how to save money to ensure your car, truck, or SUV arrives safely on campus ahead of move-in day for an out-of-state or cross-country college.
Helping Students Move to Campus without the Drive
The trek to college for out-of-state students becomes a massive logistical undertaking. While flying is often the most time-efficient option for the student’s travel, it leaves the issue of the car journey an open question. Driving it yourself is the obvious choice, but is it really the best one?
- Long, tiring drives: A cross-country drive is exhausting for even the most experienced road-tripper, let alone a new college student. Starting the semester fatigued is far from ideal.
- Safety first: Driving unusual interstate highways for hours on end increases the chances of having a traffic accident. Parents will always be worried about their child getting to their destination safely.
- Mileage and damage: A long-distance drive adds hundreds or thousands of miles to your car’s odometer, dramatically accelerating depreciation and wear and tear on the vehicle.
- Unaccounted expenses: The real expense of driving a car cross-country goes far beyond just gas. Tolls, food, hotel stays, and even the cost of your time can be staggering.
Typical situations where car shipping makes perfect sense include:
- Moving out of state is necessary because a California company won’t ship a car from California to Florida for a student attending school in Florida.
- The car is not needed during summer, as the student flies home for summer break, but it is needed back on campus for the fall semester.
- Sending a car later – the student flies out to orientation and move-in, and the vehicle is shipped a few weeks after they’ve settled.
Preowned Auto Logistics addresses these very real student needs with tailored solutions. They are familiar with academic calendars and campus configurations, and take pride in doing what it takes to ensure a reliable and peaceful transition for students to college.
How Car Shipping Works for College Students
Shipping your car for college is a simple process. Here’s a detailed insight into what to anticipate:
Step 1: Receive your quote request
Get your free and no-obligation quote online or over the phone. You must provide the vehicle make, model, and type, your zip codes for both the pickup and delivery location (i.e., your home zip code and the one for the college town), and your preferred shipping dates.
With this information, we’ll provide the best possible price by considering the distance, vehicle dimensions, currently available market rates, and season. To find out more about our shipping rates, visit our auto transport pricing page.
Step 2: Book your service
If you’re satisfied with the quote, the booking process is smooth. You just need to review and confirm all the details provided, then pay a small deposit to book your shipment. With this, you’ll lock in your shipping price and guarantee that a carrier will be dispatched to transport your vehicle on the scheduled date. Our agents will explain the entire process and answer your questions along the way.
Step 3: Prepare your vehicle
Preparing your vehicle before the scheduled pickup date will make the process a lot easier for you. Here’s how:
- Clean the vehicle thoroughly: Clean both the interior and exterior of the car for proper damage inspection documentation before shipment.
- Remove personal material: Clear your car of any personal and valuable items. Auto transport insurance and the carrier’s company policy do not allow the transport of personal belongings inside the vehicle.
- Check for working conditions: Prepare your vehicle by verifying that the braking, tire, fluid levels, and battery are in good working condition. Your car must operate on and off the carrier by itself.
- Set the fuel on low: Reduce the fuel level in the gas tank to one-fourth. This reduction is sufficient for loading and unloading without putting excess weight on the vehicle.
Step 4: Schedule pickup and drop off
One of the best features of our transport service is the door-to-door car delivery that offers the convenience of delivering the vehicle right at the customer’s address. This will spare you the hassle of terminal or other strains. You will receive a call from the driver ahead of time to inform you of the anticipated delivery time. Once the driver arrives, you will conduct a brief vehicle inspection to confirm the car’s condition upon pick up using the Bill of Lading (BOL). The driver loads your vehicle onto the truck and leaves, ensuring the safety and security of your vehicle throughout the journey.
The exact process occurs at the destination, but in reverse. The driver contacts you or the student ahead of time to arrange a delivery time that’s convenient for them. They’ll drive the carrier to the student’s dorm, apartment, or a nearby location. Our campus car delivery service is specifically created to deliver the vehicle to your student, providing you with peace of mind and reassurance.
Step 5: Know the timeline
The best tip for a successful shipment is to book early. The period between the end of summer and the end of spring break is busting with auto shippers rounds. They’ll adjust their routes and loads to accommodate the educational cross-country movers, so it’s best to book between 2-4 weeks before school starts or ends. This timeframe is designed to secure the best price and ensure your vehicle arrives just in time for moving in. The distance also plays a crucial role in the delivery speed of your car, and coast-to-coast shipping can be completed within 7-14 days.
Choosing the Right Transport Option for Students
Two primary options exist for transporting cars to and from campus: open and enclosed transport. Your final decision will be made based on your budget and the type of vehicle being shipped.
Open-air transport (the standard choice)
The most utilized method of vehicle transport, open, high-capacity trucks are used to carry multiple cars at once. As the name implies, vehicles will be transported on an open trailer, which is not enclosed, causing them to be exposed to the elements during transport.
Pros:
- This is generally the most affordable option on the market.
- Most auto transport companies will all have availability since there are so many trucks on the road.
- The truck and trailer can accommodate up to 10 vehicles, increasing efficiency and keeping your quote low.
- Approximately 95% of all vehicles transported in the U.S., even brand new, will go via open transport without any issues.
Cons
Vehicles are transported in an open trailer and will arrive covered in road grime and some weather.
Best for: Practically all non-exotic student cars – late-model sedans, SUVs, trucks, hatchbacks, crossovers, and used vehicles. Open transport is the best option for affordable college car shipping.
Enclosed transport (premium service)
This method transports vehicles in a fully enclosed and uncompromised truck and trailer. Road grime, weather conditions, and debris hazards will not affect the car in transport.
- Pros: Ideal for those seeking maximum protection and care for their vehicle.
- Cons: 30-60% more expensive than an open transport option due to the added service.
Best for: Exotic cars, classic cars, collectable classic cars, high-value vehicles, supercars, luxury cars, or if complete protection of a vehicle is your primary concern.
Flexible delivery options
Whether a company specializes in college car shipping or the transport of motorcycles or other vehicles, you can typically choose from a few flexible routing logistics to accommodate your individual situation.
Three may be the most common:
- Home-to-campus: This is typically the most requested route. The vehicle will be picked up at your family’s residence and transported directly to the student’s address at the school.
- Campus-to-campus: This term is commonly used when a student is transferring between colleges, a car is purchased near the current campus, or a vehicle is on campus that will need to be shipped to another school upon posting.
- Terminal-to-terminal: Less common and effective during transport via open carrier and lower tariff seasons, terminal-to-terminal shipping involves dropping off and picking up the vehicle at pre-designated transport terminals. This is a less convenient option without door-to-door service.
Choosing your transport method
The transport decision will depend on three factors:
- Budget: If cost is your most significant factor, you should transport your car on an open truck.
- Vehicle type: A decade-old, daily-drivable Honda Civic is a better candidate for open transport than a 1969 Mustang. When it’s about a cross-country move, enclosed transport is worth the cost.
- Length of transport: If shipping for an extended period takes months, the added stress protection of an enclosed carrier is necessary. However, remember that open transport is safe and defensible in its own right.
Pros and Cons of Student Car Shipping
It’s certainly a service like any other, with pros and cons to consider.
Pros:
- Ultimate convenience: The student can travel by plane, bus, or train, avoiding the long drive and arriving at school feeling refreshed and ready for the semester.
- Time savings + avoided exhaustion: By skipping hours of driving, a student can preserve energy for studying, socializing, or getting settled in.
- Professionalism + insurance: Licensed and insured professionals with the know-how to secure the vehicle properly and load it safely onto a carrier, handling your car with care. Every shipment comes with cargo insurance to cover the vehicle in transit.
- Avoiding wear and tear: Skip all those extra miles that would go on the odometer, thereby preserving the vehicle’s overall value and putting off service appointments that come just from driving miles.
Cons (considerations to plan for)
While we’ve highlighted the benefits of using a vehicle transportation service, there are certainly a few downsides to be aware of before you make your decision.
- Requires a lot of planning: Booking a car transporter two days before your move-in date is a risky move, as it could result in losing both the car and the money you spent. Especially during the peak season, you need to book your service weeks or even months ahead of time.
- Shipping can be expensive: There is typically an upfront expense to shipping your car, though in the end, it may cost less than the actual expense of driving your vehicle across the country.
- Shipping may take time. Although we can estimate your transport time, the date provided over the phone is an estimate. During transport, weather, traffic, and mechanical failures can cause delays.
Your vehicle shipping company may provide a projected arrival window, but since an exact date isn’t guaranteed, it’s best to plan for your car to arrive days or even weeks in advance.
Tips for Affordable and Easy Student Car Shipping
Maximize savings and efficiency on college auto transportation by practicing these tips:
- Schedule early: This tops the list. Costs & availability fluctuate, especially before the fall semester. Book 3-4 weeks in advance for lower rates and guaranteed shipping.
- Choose standard open carrier: Standard open transport is the most affordable college auto transportation option, ensuring your vehicle arrives safely.
- Keep your date range flexible: If your preferred pickup or delivery dates have a 3-4 day buffer, let the transport coordinator know. This flexibility may help carriers stack loads and give you a better price.
- Ask for multi-car discounts: Are you and a buddy shipping two cars to the same college from the same town? Ask about multi-car/group shipping discounts. Serving two vehicles at the exact location costs the carriers less than two individual trips.
- Have your car ready for transport: The easier you make it for the driver, the more advantageous it is for you. Keep the vehicle at a quarter tank of fuel, ensure it’s free of personal items, and check tire pressure beforehand to avoid potential(though unlikely) fees.
- Take photos of everything: Show up to help inspect the vehicle with the driver. Note every ding and scratch on the Bill of Lading. Snap timestamped pictures of your car from all four corners before it is loaded on the truck. It helps protect everyone.
Why Parents and Students Trust Preowned Auto Logistics
When you’re entrusting a significant asset to a company, you need to know you’re working with professionals. Preowned Auto Logistics student car shipping is a trusted choice for families for several reasons:
- Campus delivery experience: PAL is not a generic transport company. They understand the unique challenges of delivering to colleges, navigating narrow campus roads, coordinating with student schedules, and knowing the best spots for door-to-door car delivery at universities across the nation.
- Affordable and reliable: Preowned Auto Logistics strikes the perfect balance between competitive, fair pricing and unwavering reliability. They know students and parents are on a budget, and PAL works hard to provide a service that delivers immense value.
- White-glove customer service: For many, this is their first time shipping a car. PAL’s team is dedicated to walking you through every step, answering all your questions, and providing constant communication and updates throughout the transport process.
- Nationwide network with flexible scheduling: PAL’s extensive network of licensed and vetted carriers means we can serve virtually any campus in the country. We work with you to find pickup and delivery times that work with your academic schedule.
Conclusion
Getting a student to college is a complex puzzle, and the question of the vehicle doesn’t have to be the most challenging piece. Professional car shipping for students is a modern solution that offers undeniable convenience, enhances safety, and, when planned correctly, is an affordable alternative to a long, expensive, and exhausting drive.
By integrating auto transport into your back-to-school planning, you can ensure the focus remains where it should be: on a successful and exciting start to the academic year. It’s an investment in peace of mind, allowing the entire family to enjoy the milestone of moving to college without the stress of the cross-country drive.
Ready to get a quote for your campus move?
Contact Preowned Auto Logistics today for a free, no-obligation quote and experience the reliability of their student-focused car shipping services. Let experts handle the drive so that you can focus on the journey ahead.
