Hi parents,
I’m planning to go to college in San Diego in 2017. I’m currently living in New York City so it’s a long way away. One topic of conflict that has come up between me and my parents, is how I’m going to get there. They want me to take a flight there and have my car shipped but I think that’s a waste of money and that I should just drive there. It would probably cost around $1000 to ship the car there and it could get scratched or minor damage on the way there. Leaving the car home or having it get their damaged is not an option because this car is very important to me and I put a lot of money into it, it looks like a show car despite being my daily driver. It only has about 4000 miles on it so driving across the country would be no problem for it
So what do you guys think? My parents are dead set against letting me drive it across the country but I feel it is the most logical way to get it there, plus it could be fun to see all different landmarks on the way there. I’ve never seen anything west of New York so it would be a new experience
Unless you were going with a friend, I wouldn’t advise driving all alone. Its a long, long drive. Yes it could be fun, but not by yourself. Believe me. My sister went to college in Wyoming, a 3-day drive from the East Coast where we live. Doing it once was enough to say that flying is better. If your parents will pay for the transport of the car, do it. If not, find a friend to go cross-country with. You need a person to change drivers when you get tired and sleepy. Safer.
“Can you put it in storage? Why do you need a car at college?”
OP is going to college in San Diego.
If your parents are going to pay for shipping, that’s great. Gas and motels are going to cost you at least $500 to get across the country, plus driving such long distances alone is very tiring, and you will inevitably get at least a rock chip in your windshield or a few scratches on your car en route…
Lots of factors to consider: How much driving experience do you have? A cross country trip is long and can be monotonous. Are you planning on going home for the semester break in December and leaving the car in student parking if you are allowed? You will be without a car at home. Then you are faced with driving or transporting the car home in the spring and back to school in August.You also have to factor in the cost of fuel, hotels and meals, plus the added mileage on the car.
Did you say that you are making car payments as a student? As a college student, along with your independence, your priorities may change. You may want to consider that the money could be used for books, entertainment, study abroad, etc.
Option 2, sell the car and buy a used car in San Diego. You may not have to make car payments. You won’t have to worry about the car getting dinged in student parking or at the beach. PS, don’t drive your car into Mexico.
I always cringe when I hear about students driving long distances to school. My friend’s son was killed when a tire blew out while he was driving from CT to Arizona to school. They received the 3 am knock on the door by the local police and parish priest, a parent’s worst nightmare. (I know this can happen driving close to home, but it is amplified for me as a mom because of my friend’s loss).
Our S drove from LA to Tahoe to Chicago and ultimately to DC with his car for work. He took D with him. They took their time and stopped at many hotels/motels along the way–I think they took maybe 7+ days or even longer to get there. His employer reimbursed his expenses as part of his relocation expenses for his new job. They also had a huge fight along the way.
The next time S needed to get a car from SF to DC, he just paid a shipper and had them transport it safely.
Neither of my kids needed or had a car in college until SR year. I’d say NOT to bring a car 1st semester of freshman year and wait until you figure out if it’s NEEDED. It can be a distraction plus a lot of hassle and expense, plus tons of people wanting to bum rides off you and worry about your car being damaged. I don’t get paying for a car when you’re also costing a ton of money to go to college.
Thank you for all the suggestions everyone. My parents probably wouldn’t be paying for shipping it, maybe they would split it with me. Also I am a good driver, I know everyone says that but everyone who knows me compliments my driving skills. Also, I would be coming home to visit but we have 2 other cars here so it’s no problem to leave mine there. I think finding a trusted passenger would be my best option. Even if it did cost $500 with gas and motels it would still be cheaper then $1000 to ship plus $250 airfare.
I said NOT to drive your car into Mexico. It is not worth the risk of an accident. In Mexico, your US insurance is not recognized and an auto accident is considered a criminal offense, your are assumed guilty.
What college are you attending? Do they have parking for freshman? I’m asking as I live in San Diego close to UCSD and parking near campus is a big issue.
Shipping your car cross-country for ~$1000 +$250 airfare is far less expensive than driving it yourself cross country.
You say that you're concerned about the car getting scratched while on the semi truck. Ironically, your car is far more likely to get damaged, scratched, in an accident, etc. by you driving it on the freeways of this great nation than having it securely fastened on the back of a semi trailer.
You need to consider ALL of the expenses of the trip. NOT JUST THE GAS! Lodging, meals, etc. Motels would probably run you ~ $100/night.
The drive is ~2700-2900 miles, based on which route you take. Let's assume for a moment that you have a car that can go about 325 miles on a full tank of gas. And let's say that a full tank of gas costs you anywhere between $40.00 and $50.00. If you divide 2900 miles by 325 miles, that means that you need 8.92 full tanks of gas in order to make it to San Diego. Then multiply that times ~$50.00 every time you fill up, and you're at $446 just in the gas alone.
So sure, if you are an air fern and can subsist on just the air and you don’t eat, you only sleep on the side of the road (very unwise, by the way), then you can probably get to San Diego for $500.
But $500 is a gross underestimate for the cost of such a road trip.
Yes, my son only drove because he was reimbursed for gas, mileage, food and hotels by employer and wanted to drive with his sister. It took a long time and cost A LOT of money.
I’d be very sure about the parking situation at your U before considering bringing the car. I’d also point out that campuses are great places to get your car scratched, dinged or stolen, if those are concerns you have about your car.
Parking and insurance hassles and expenses, maintenance of the car, and always having people wanting to bum rides are among the reasons our kids didn’t get their older used cars until SR year in college. They managed to get around fine without cars until then.
Also, don’t drive your car into Mexico without Mexican car insurance. DON’T DO IT! You do not want to end up in a Mexican jail or prison. I’m serious about this. It’s no joke. There are bus services at the San Diego port of entry who for a few dollars will drive you across the border and you can party it up all you want in Tijuana like all the other 18 yr old college students do (I have family in San Diego & have made such bus trips to Tijuana myself.
You’ll need a passport to go to Mexico, so be sure you have one before you go out to San Diego for college.
Also, just to pass along some common sense (since you’re young & perhaps a bit naive & haven’t gone out to explore the world much yet), if you DO go with friends to Tijuana and if you asked by someone on the street to carry something across the border for them, SAY NO! Don’t inadvertently turn yourself into a drug mule, which will land you in Mexican or American prison, because US Border Patrol has drug-sniffing dogs.
Don’t buy any prescription meds in Mexico to bring back to the US unless you have a doctor’s prescription with you.
Driving the car yourself cross country is the most illogical choice of the ones you have. If you want the drive out west to be one of those great American road trips, that’s one thing. I’m all for doing one of those in one’s lifetime. But don’t try to sell it to your parents about how it would be cheaper.
I see no problem driving cross country. I did it at your age, which was way before the days of cell phones. I found it exhilarating and liberating. Stopping in out of the way towns was great, Las Vegas, New Mexico being one. That being said, as a parent, I have anxiety when my daughter takes a 5 hour road trip. Save your parents the grief and have the car shipped. Then take a road trip later.
I guess I still don’t understand why you need a car in college. You’re likely going to fly home at thanksgiving & christmas (it would take too long to drive) and the car would sit there.
UC-San Diego is a great example…freshmen can only purchase summer session parking passes or are given the alternative of $20 a day during the school year…that’s a lot of dough.
Don't take a car to college. I can't think of one good reason why you would NEED to do this. You can just leave the car in NY. Your parents can drive it once a week.
OR
Sell the car. Then get one when you really NEED it.
Who currently owns this car? You or your parents…in other words…who is named in the title…or the car loan? Whose insurance is this car…and you carried on? You may find that if you own the car, and you garage it NOT in NY that you will need to get your own insurance in CA.
Who will be paying all of the expenses associated with owning a car? Parking (many colleges charge for this), gas, insurance, maintenance, etc?
But really…I am with your parents on this one because I haven’t yet heard a compelling reason to have the car with you at college…at…all.
