Sending your college student off to college is an exciting but emotional experience. When your student is heading hundreds–or even thousands–of miles away, one of the biggest considerations is if they should bring their car to college and, if so, how?
Whether they’re attending school in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, Arizona, California, or anywhere throughout the US, transporting their car with a reliable service like USA Auto Movers can reduce stress, save time, and ensure a smooth start to a new semester. USA Auto Movers has helped families for over 30 years–and we’re here to help yours too!
Should you Ship or Drive the Car?
While there are several options of getting your student’s car to college, it boils down to driving or shipping the car. Your student could drive alone, with you, or with others, you could drive the car for them, or you could use a ride share service like Craigslist to have another person drive the car to the college. Shipping the vehicle involves using a reputable, insured service which ships the car on a car carrier to the destination. Choosing one of these options is dependent upon your family’s needs, budget, timing, and other considerations.
Some of the most important considerations for your family include:
Safety
Long-distance highway driving can be hazardous for anyone–but especially for younger, more inexperienced drivers. Fatigue can lead to slower reaction times, impaired judgement, or even lead to dozing off, significantly increasing the risks of accidents. Bad weather, poor road conditions, and driving in unfamiliar areas could cause stress and an increased risk of accidents. Distracted driving, boredom, and breakdowns also pose risks.
Time Savings
Driving from home to your student’s college can take up to 1-2 days of driving. Driving from Boston to Miami, for example, takes 20+ hours each way. Imagine having those 1-2 extra days together!
Convenience
During a lengthy drive, your college student may need to juggle hotel stays, traffic, road hazards or dangers along the route, detours, and other unforeseen issues that add to the already stressful start of a new semester.
Less Wear and Tear
A typical drive from New England to Florida adds up to 1,500+ miles to a vehicle. That’s significant wear on brakes, tires, and oil life–especially for older vehicles.
Cost-Effective
The costs of driving a long distance really add up – between gas, tolls, hotel nights, and food. If you add on the potential costs for tickets, breakdowns, tire issues, accidents, or other unforeseen issues, your costs could skyrocket.
Why USA Auto Movers Is the Top Choice for College Families
✅ Specializing in New England to Southern Routes
We specialize in major college routes—Boston, Providence, Hartford, and beyond to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, and more.
✅ Flexible Transport Options
Choose between open carrier (most affordable and widely used) and enclosed transport (extra protection for high-value or new vehicles).
✅ Family-Owned Reliability
We’re a family-run business that treats your family like our own. Whether it’s your student’s first semester or senior year, we understand how important your student’s safety and peace of mind are.
✅ Transparent Communication & Service
We pride ourselves on proving the personal touch. When you work with us, you work with us–not chatbots or hidden customer service centers. We are readily available throughout the process and don’t release payment to the carrier until you inspect and approve the vehicle at delivery.
🚗 Open versus Enclosed Carrier Transport
| Feature | Open Carrier | Enclosed Carrier |
| Price | Lower (standard option) | Higher (premium option) |
| Exposure to Elements | Yes (rain, dust, sun) | No (fully protected) |
| Best For | Daily-use cars, sedans, compact SUVs | Classic, high-end, or new cars |
| Availability | More common, quicker to schedule | Less common, book early |
For any other questions about how we work to help you, check out our FAQs.
How the Process Works
| Timeline | What To Do |
| 3-4 Weeks Before | Request a quote and reserve your spot |
| 2 Weeks Before | Confirm pickup/delivery timelines |
| 1 Week Before | Clean and prep the vehicle; remove valuables |
| Pickup Day | Sign inspection report; hand off keys |
| Transit | Track shipment updates and delivery ETA |
| Delivery Day | Reinspect car, sign off, and relax |
Final Thoughts: Let’s Make This Transition Easier
There are enough things to worry about when your student heads off to college and car transport shouldn’t be one of them. Whether your student is starting their college journey in Florida or heading back for another year in Georgia or the Carolinas, getting their vehicle there safely doesn’t have to be a burden. Let USA Auto Movers handle the logistics so you can focus on more important things—like helping your college student settle into their new life chapter.
👉 Click here to request a free quote and see why college families trust us year after year.