Sending a child to college is a big moment, and somewhere on the long list of arrangements is the car. If campus is a few hours away, you will probably just drive it there. If it is several states away, or your student is coming to Alabama from somewhere distant, shipping deserves a look. This guide covers the questions parents ask us most.
First, should the car go at all?
Check the school's rules before anything else. Some universities restrict or discourage cars for first-year students, and nearly all require a parking permit that must be bought in advance and is assigned to a particular zone. At large campuses such as Alabama and Auburn, permits for the most convenient zones go quickly. Buy the permit before the car arrives, so it has a legal place to park on its first day.
Think about need as well. A student in a residence hall on a campus with good transit may be happier without a car for the first semester. One who lives off campus, has a job, or will be driving home for weekends will want it.
Ship it or drive it?
For a trip of under five or six hours, driving makes sense, particularly if you are making the journey for move-in anyway. Beyond that, compare the real costs. A long one-way drive means fuel, a hotel night, meals, and a flight home for whoever delivers the car. It also takes two days. Shipping on a route of 500 to 1,500 miles typically costs $700 to $1,300, which is often close to the cost of driving.
When to book
College towns everywhere get busy at the same moment. Early to mid-August is the peak, with a second rush in May. For an August delivery, book three to four weeks ahead. Many families find it easier to have the car arrive a few days after move-in weekend, when campus traffic has calmed and the student knows where things are.
What it costs
- Under 500 miles: $350 to $700.
- 500 to 1,500 miles: $700 to $1,300.
- Over 1,500 miles: $1,100 to $1,800.
These are typical open-carrier prices for a standard car. Open transport is the right choice for nearly every student vehicle.
Who has to be there?
This is the part that makes college shipping easy. The person who books and pays does not have to be at either end. A parent can arrange everything from home. At pickup, a parent or another adult hands over the keys. At delivery, the student meets the driver, inspects the car, and signs. We need both phone numbers, and the driver calls ahead each time.
Make sure your student knows what to do at delivery: walk around the car, compare it with the pickup report, write down anything new before signing, and take photos.
Where the car is delivered
Car carriers are long and tall. They cannot enter parking decks, and most campuses do not allow them on internal streets. The driver will arrange to meet your student at a large retail lot close to campus. It is normally a few minutes from the residence hall or apartment. This is standard, and it does not cost extra.
Getting the car ready
- Empty it. Do not pack it with dorm supplies. Belongings are not covered by the carrier's insurance.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
- Remove the toll tag and any parking passes for home.
- Check the battery and the tires, especially if the car has been sitting.
- Photograph it, and give the driver one key. Send the spare with your student.
Insurance and registration
Tell your insurance agent where the car will be kept during the school year, since the garaging address can affect the policy. In most cases a student's car can remain registered in the home state, though it is worth confirming the rules where the school is located.
Summers, internships, and graduation
The same service works in reverse. Your student can ship the car home in May, or send it directly to a summer internship in another city. If the car will not be needed over the summer, leaving it with a friend or in local storage avoids two shipments. At graduation, a first job across the country is one more good reason to ship.
A simple plan
Buy the parking permit, get a quote, book three to four weeks before the semester, and brief your student on the delivery inspection. That is all there is to it. If you have questions along the way, a dispatcher is available at any hour.