Can You Bring a Car to College?

If you or someone you know is moving to college soon, you might be wondering if you’ll be able to fit a car into your new life. For example, do you need a car for college based on where you’re living? Can you even bring your car onto campus? The last thing you want is to have to worry about these questions, so Auburn Honda has put together a handy guide addressing some key issues about driving in college. Read on, then check out our online inventory of new and used Hondas to pick out one of the best used cars for college!

Do You Need a Car For College?

The first thing you want to ask yourself is if you’ll even need a car in college, considering your location and living situation. If you’re living in a high-rise with limited parking, or if you’re in a big city with sufficient transportation, you can probably get by without a car of your own. The last thing you want to do is commit to buying or leasing a car and then finding out you don’t need it in your day-to-day life. On the other hand, if you’re in a more rural setting without a lot of trains, buses, or ride-sharing, you’ll probably find that it’s essential to have a car of your own to get around.

Can You Bring Your Car To College?

Once you’ve made a decision over whether or not you need a car in college, the next question you want to ask yourself is if you’re able to bring it onto campus. There are two important components to this question, so be sure to consider both carefully.

First: Is it logical to have a car on campus? As we discussed above, urban campuses make it difficult to own a car, whereas rural campuses tend to be more equipped to handle driving and parking. 

Second: What is your college’s policy on parking? Even if you’re allowed to drive and park a car on campus, the university will probably have pretty stringent rules about student parking. The last thing you want is to be dealing with parking tickets throughout your first semester! If you find that your college has too many restrictions on parking, there are usually long-term parking lots where you can pay a monthly fee and leave your car instead.

Car Tips to Keep in Mind

Once you’ve brought your car to campus, there are a few important things you’ll want to keep in mind to make sure your car is safe and in top condition:

• Look for parking tickets. If you’ve accidentally parked your car in the wrong place but you don’t use it very often, you could be accumulating parking tickets without realizing it. Make sure to do a routine check once in a while to make sure nothing is wrong.
• No visible items. No matter where you park your car, make sure you’ve put all your items and valuables completely out of sight to deter would-be thieves. 
• Check for discounts. Depending on how often you’re driving your car around campus, you may qualify for a low-mileage discount from your insurance company.
• Keep up to date on passes. As with checking for parking tickets, make sure to routinely check things like registration and parking passes just to ensure everything is proper and up to date.

Best Used Cars for a College Student at Auburn Honda

If you’re looking for an affordable ride to bring to college, Auburn Honda has a large inventory of used and certified pre-owned vehicles for you to choose from. We’ve also got used car specials updated all the time to help you save even more on your next Honda! If you have any questions or want more information about the buying and leasing process, contact our office anytime.