Cars and College Life: No-Nonsense Advice for Students

College is complicated enough without adding the stress of balanced schedules, work-study jobs, and group projects. Add car maintenance, parking tickets, and gasoline to the combination? You’re fueling the student stress.

College and automobiles have a love-and-hate relationship. You can drive back and forth to campus on a daily basis or ride around in a rickety hand-me-down, but the car of choice is either your best friend or the worst enemy of your college life. 

And with school, part-time jobs, and juggling assignments in between, even taking the car through the wash appears to be another impossible chore.

Why the Automobile Is the College Student’s Best (and Most Practical) Friend

Moving to a university college looks like winning the lottery. Being able to leave campus, go shopping, travel home on weekends, and get late-night takeout? No more crawling, occasional buses or pricey ride-share apps.

But freedom isn’t free. Insurance, gas, maintenance, and repairs make cars a money-draining black hole for the average student.

Breakdown of the Average Student Car Costs:

• Monthly gas bill: $150
• Yearly repairs: $1,200
• Parking tickets: Up to $500 annually

There is not enough time in a student’s life to take care of the changing car budget. There are times when you would rather say, “Do my assignments for me for best price“ and free your time. And that’d be a smart decision on your part.

Car Ownership Cost: It’s More Than Wearing Your Badge

You’re working part-time, carrying courses, and maybe even a second part-time job. And then you’ve got:

• Oil changes every other month
• Flat tires (thank you, potholes)
• Annual registration fees
• Unexpected repairs — like your car has impeccable comic timing
  

How Cars Make Students’ Social Lives More Difficult

Let’s be real — as a student, your car basically becomes your social capital. The friend with the car automatically gets the upgrade to:

• Late-night snack-run driver
• Car travel coordinator
• Airport shuttle bus
• Target-store savior

That sacrifice?

• More freedom
• More spontaneity
• More independence

But also:

• More gas expenses
• More people asking for favors
• More maintenance problems

Add midterms, written reports, and homework to the mix, and you have a burnout recipe.

That’s where PaperWriter enters the picture — whether it’s the research paper or the stats project, they’ll take care of it so you can focus more on getting the car (and your GPA) back on the road.

Commuters vs. Residents: The Dividing Line

If you’re a dorm student, your car likely sits idle for the majority of the year. Commuters, though? Your car is your faithful companion seven days a week.

Commute Problems Come With:

• Fighting for parking spots
• Defrosting the windshield on cold mornings
• Racing rush hour traffic to make 8 AM classes
• Converting your car into a mobile classroom

Commuters gain more freedom, maybe, but after 40 minutes of sitting in traffic? You’ll be ready to go back to the dorm.

Frugality 101: The Graduate Life Tips

Require sanity-saving as much as money-saving tips? Try these student car survival tips:

✔ Learn the basics: oil changes, battery check, and tire rotation
✔ Split gas cost with your road trip crew
✔ Look for car insurance student discounts
✔ Monitor car expenses with personal finance apps
✔ Utilize campus carpool programs for discounted parking

Pro Tip: Carry jumper cables in your trunk — you’ll need ’em, or be somebody else’s semester hero.

Do You Even Need a Car in College?

Before buying a car, ask yourself the following:

• Is your campus walkable?
• Are ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft reliable?
• Will parking be a daily nightmare?
• Can you afford maintenance and insurance?

Often the smartest thing to do is not to buy a car — especially at schools with great public transportation systems. But if you work a part-time job, live off-campus, or just like the freedom, it can be a total game-changer.

Cars, Freedom, and Responsibility – The Beginning of Adulthood

College driving is more than four wheels — it’s a practice for adult life.

You’ll learn:

• Budgeting
• Time management
• Responsibility

Your car will break down. You will run out of gas at least once. You will get a parking ticket. But you will have freedom and memories that will last long after graduation.

It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a broken-down sedan, borrowing your parents’ SUV, or coveting your friend’s convertible — your car becomes a part of your college experience.