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College Student Auto Transport

  • 20 Years Experience Shipping Cars
  • 4.6 Average Star Rating Google, BBB, TrustPilot
  • No Personal Information Required for Quotes
  • We changed the auto transport industry!
Ship your car in the U.S. faster, smarter, and safer with #1 Direct Express Auto Transport
Reliable Car Shipping Fast & Reputable

College Student Auto Transport

  • 20 Years Experience Shipping Cars
  • 4.6 Average Star Rating Google, BBB, TrustPilot
  • No Personal Information Required for Quotes
  • We changed the auto transport industry!
Ship your car in the U.S. faster, smarter, and safer with #1 Direct Express Auto Transport

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Direct Express Auto Transport

BBB Accredited Business
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College Student Car Shipping Services

In late summer every year, millions of college students head off to school all over America. Most do not need or have a vehicle. They are just fine living on or nearby their college campus, with plenty to do to occupy their time. On the occasions they need to venture off campus, they can hitch a ride with a friend, catch a bus, or call Uber or Lyft.

As the students get older, or the situation demands it, according to a 2016 US News & World Report, roughly 48% of college students have a car on campus. Roughly half. 


College Student Car Shipping Decisions

There are several options for college students looking to ship their car to school.

  1. Drive the vehicle themselves: This is the most common and easiest option for college students. It allows them to keep their vehicle with them, but it also means they will have to pay for gas, tolls, and other expenses associated with the trip.
  2. Hire a professional car shipping company: This option is great for college students who do not have the time or ability to drive their vehicle to campus themselves. A professional company like Direct Express Auto Transport will arrange for the pick up of the vehicle and have it delivered to the desired location. 
  3. Renting a trailer: This option is a good choice for college students who have a personal vehicle that can tow a trailer. It allows them to transport their vehicle while also having the flexibility to move other belongings. However, it’s also important to note that this option also comes with its own set of expenses such as rental and gas costs.

It’s important to consider the cost, time, and safety of each option before making a decision. College students should also be aware of any special regulations or rules associated with vehicle transport from their school. Quite often, colleges simply don’t allow auto transport trucks on campus, and redirect their students to somewhere nearby. 

Many Parents Are Opposed To College Students Driving Across Country

Maybe it has always been this way and we just didn’t realize it, but it just seems that the world has gotten more dangerous. A young college student on the road driving across the country by himself or herself is vulnerable. It takes a few days to drive thousands of miles, with many stops and probably a few motels. It is the best way to see America. Driving the country can be both thrilling and unnerving for a young person, as anybody can be targeted.

For a young lady, the danger is even more so. Many parents won’t even consider letting their college-bound daughter drive alone across the country. Even a trip with a girlfriend is dicey. The safest and wisest thing to do for a college student is to ship a car across the country, and then fly to their school.

The Math on College Student Car Shipping

It is usually cheaper to drive it yourself … unless one thing goes wrong. A flat tire, blown radiator or transmission, inclement weather, or an accident will make driving your vehicle to campus more expensive than had you shipped your car. If any of that happens, the college student will have wished they just shipped their car.

Here is the difference in cost between driving yourself or shipping your car. Let’s say the student will attend a university 1,800 miles away. That’s a four-day drive by yourself. The average college student could save over $400 driving him or herself to campus from Dallas to Boston. That would pay for that semester’s books, or maybe beer and pizza, depending on the student’s priorities.

But if even one thing goes wrong, as mentioned previously, then it will carve significantly into the savings and maybe cost more than shipping the car. And the math does not weigh the safety aspect of a young college student on the road alone.

How To Plan Shipping A Car To A College Student

Shipping a car is not like calling a taxi. The auto transport carrier is not guaranteed to show up on Monday and deliver by Friday. Most likely there are lots of other people, and college students, vying for car transport space.

The highest-priced and most convenient vehicles will ship first. Because car shipping is not an exact science, it is unpredictable exactly when a carrier will pick up the vehicle, and when they will deliver. It would be unusual to not be inconvenienced at either end of the shipment.

We do a good job of estimating dates, but nobody can guarantee ship dates. Especially for college students, it is best to have a family member meet the carrier at the origination.

For example, since our above scenario is a four-day road trip (1,800 miles), the first date available to ship should be three days before the college student is scheduled to arrive. That way the vehicle doesn’t beat the student to the destination.

If there are any delays in car shipping, the college student will have to make do until the car arrives.

The real problem arises on the return home car shipment. Most college students don’t have a backup support system at their school, because like them, all their friends are also returning home. If there is a delay in car shipping services for any number of reasons, and the student is planning on catching a flight home on a date certain, it can be stressful waiting for a car carrier that may or may not pick up the vehicle on time.

To alleviate the stress, we advise shipping your college student’s car home early. Don’t wait for the rush exodus of college students. Make your vehicle available ten days before you are scheduled to fly home. If it ships right away, then great, crisis is avoided. The student can Uber it for two weeks.

Direct Express Auto Transport has been shipping college student cars for nearly twenty years. Take our advice and plan. You’ll be glad you did.

Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Transport
How much does it cost to ship a car?

Not as much as you would suppose. If only one thing goes wrong, a tire blowout or overheated radiator for instance, then it would be actually cheaper to ship a car across country. About 97% of all auto transport shipments are delivered in an Open-Air trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically few problems. You may notice multiple vehicles being delivered to car dealerships near you in an Open-Air trailer, and that’s because it’s reliable. It is also cheap car shipping. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, however, then we recommend car shipping services with an Enclosed carrier. Expect to pay about 50% more for Enclosed transport. Our car shipping cost calculator automatically adds the extra amount to your auto transport quote

How should I pay for the car shipping costs?

Making a nominal partial credit card payment to the auto transport broker is preferred by car shipping carriers but not essential. Carriers like getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery, and who doesn’t? Services paid immediately for services rendered. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the car shipping carrier trusts the auto transport broker. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us

How long does a car shipping company take to deliver my vehicle?

The auto transport delivery is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned to a car shipping carrier and picked up, not too much can go wrong. It generally takes one day of transit time for every 500 miles of distance. The auto transport driver will call ahead from the road to announce his estimated time of arrival.

Car Delivery Time Estimate

  • 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
  • 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
  • 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
  • 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
  • 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
  • 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 day

Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The car shipping carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

How far in advance should I ship my car?

We recommend scheduling your auto transport service anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to assign your vehicle on the very same day, but providing us with longer lead times allows us to schedule your auto transportation easier. You want the most current car shipping cost, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship. Believe it or not, the auto transport service market can change quickly. It is seasonal. If the car shipping quote is too low, that can delay your order getting on the road. To avoid that, try not to book more than a month in advance and preferably within two weeks, because seasonal changes can impact the current pricing. Conversely, you should enjoy the savings if the rates were to go down, so having the most current pricing is always best. Our auto transport rate calculator on this page was the first one in the industry in 2004.

How long do car shipping companies take to pick up my vehicle?

Over 90% of our car shipping orders are assigned and picked up within one week. Mostly because the overwhelming majority of the U.S. population lives nearby a major metropolitan area.

Can I store things inside my vehicle during auto transport?

Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all auto transport carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it is rarely enforced. Please know that car delivery drivers estimate every vehicle’s weight that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. They must keep the personal items to a minimum to make it through the scales. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, and some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The car transporter is there to ship a car, not move the owner’s personal belongings. Our car shipping calculator will not add a charge for extra items because it would be presumptuous to expect the driver to agree. If you want to include extra items in your vehicle, please discuss that first with the driver and come to a mutual agreement.

Reviews From Our Customers

  • My Auto Transport Experience

    Nancy B. – Orlando, FL

    I am so pleased with my decision to use Direct Express Auto Transport! Ashley was a knowledgeable and confidence inspiring representative and my driver was on time and my car was in perfect shape!

  • Great Auto Transport Service To Texas

    Steve S. – New Braunfels, TX

    Talked to Jessica on Wednesday to have 65 El Camino shipped from Calif to Texas. Was picked up on Thursday the 16th and delivered on Monday the 20th. Beautiful truck and great driver. Sebastian was the driver’s name. Also it was awesome to see all the other great cars.

  • Enclosed Auto Transport

    Derek K. – Oradell, NJ

    Fantastic experience all around, from the office people calling me back on a Sunday when a question popped up, to getting the car delivered very quickly, the whole process went perfectly. Will use them again for sure.

  • My Car Arrived Sooner Than Expected!

    Charlie R. – Mt Clemons, MI

    Driver was very efficient and accommodating! Once he picked up the vehicle he stayed in contact with us all the way to delivery. Thank you very much for hauling this vehicle for us because we have no way of doing it ourselves.

  • Auto Transport From Florida

    Alicia L. – Bradenton, FL

    My car was picked up on a Friday morning and arrived at my destination two days later. The driver made sure that I was on time delivering my car and he made sure my car was delivered to me in a timely manner also. Great customer service from beginning to end. No complaints at all and will definitely use this company again. Great job!

  • Auto Transport Service To Arizona

    Jeff B. – Mesa, AZ

    Another excellent job by Direct Express Auto Transport! This is the 3rd time we’ve shipped with this Direct Express Auto Transport. They’re courteous, professional, and on time. I highly recommend this company and their services!

  • Car Transported California to Texas

    Bill A. – Ft. Worth, TX

    I used the expedited shipping option and they told me it will be picked up within 3-4days. Luckily my car was picked up on the very first day. It was assigned to one of their transport companies and I received my car within 10days. They are very professional.