Student Car Shipping
Student car shipping costs $630-$1,350 for standard open transport, with most campus deliveries completing in 5-10 business days. Same rates as everyone else -- no student markup, no gimmicks. Just reliable door-to-door transport with $0 deductible insurance included on every shipment.
Ship Your Car to College (Without the Road Trip)
You got into a school across the country. Or you're transferring. Or you studied abroad for a semester and need your car waiting when you land. Maybe you just graduated and you're moving to a new city for your first job. Whatever the reason — you need your car somewhere it isn't right now.
That's where we come in. Bold Auto Transport ships cars for college students (and their parents) every semester. We pick up at your home, apartment, or dorm and deliver straight to where you need it — anywhere in the U.S.
Parents: You can book and pay for the shipment on your student's behalf. You'll get all the updates and tracking info. Your student (or their roommate, friend, or anyone you trust) just needs to be there at pickup or delivery to sign the paperwork and do a quick walk-around inspection.
The process is simple: get a quote, book a date, hand over the keys. We handle the rest.
How Much Does Student Car Shipping Cost?
Student car shipping costs the same as regular consumer shipping. We don't add a "student discount" because we don't inflate prices to begin with. Here are the current averages for open transport (the most common and affordable method):
| Distance | Average Cost | Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $630 | ~$1.26/mi |
| 500–2,500 miles | $1,135 | ~$0.76/mi |
| Over 2,500 miles | $1,350 | ~$0.54/mi |
These are standard open transport rates. If your car is worth over $50,000 or has special value, consider enclosed auto transport for full weather and debris protection (costs about 30–40% more).
Use our free car shipping cost calculator to get an instant price based on your school's location.
When to Ship
College shipping follows a predictable calendar. Here are the three windows and what to expect:
- August (Fall Semester): The busiest time for student shipping. This is also peak season for the entire auto transport industry, so prices are higher and carriers book up fast. If you're shipping for fall move-in, book by mid-July.
- January (Spring Semester): Lighter demand. You'll often get better rates and faster pickup windows. A good time to ship if you waited until spring to bring your car to campus.
- May (Summer Break / Graduation): Moderate demand. Students heading home or moving to a new city after graduation. Rates are reasonable and carriers have solid availability.
The golden rule: Book 2–3 weeks before you need the car picked up. This gives carriers time to schedule your route and gives you a buffer if anything shifts. Last-minute bookings in August can mean higher prices and tighter windows.
Popular College Shipping Routes
These are the routes we run most often for students. Prices vary by season and vehicle size, but this gives you a ballpark:
| Route | Common Schools | Distance | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| California → Boston | MIT, Boston University, Northeastern | ~2,980 mi | $1,250–$1,500 |
| California → New York | NYU, Columbia, Fordham | ~2,800 mi | $1,200–$1,450 |
| Texas → California | UCLA, USC, Stanford, Cal Berkeley | ~1,500 mi | $950–$1,200 |
| Florida → Northeast | Penn State, UConn, UMass, Rutgers | ~1,100 mi | $850–$1,100 |
| Midwest → East Coast | Georgetown, UVA, Duke, UNC | ~700 mi | $700–$900 |
| Midwest → West Coast | U of Oregon, U of Washington, ASU | ~1,800 mi | $1,000–$1,250 |
Don't see your route? No problem. We ship to every state. Get your exact price here →
What Students Need to Know
First time shipping a car? Here's everything you need to do before the carrier shows up:
Who Can Be There at Pickup / Delivery
You don't have to be there yourself. Anyone over 18 can sign the Bill of Lading on your behalf — a parent, roommate, friend, or anyone you trust. Just let your transport coordinator know who will be meeting the driver.
What to Remove from Your Car
- Clear out the glove box — registration, insurance card, and any loose items
- Empty the back seat and front seat completely
- Remove any toll transponders, dash cams, and parking passes
- Take off any loose accessories (phone mounts, air fresheners, etc.)
You Can Keep Up to 100 lbs in the Trunk
Good news — you can leave up to 100 pounds of personal belongings in the trunk. Items need to stay below the window line. Think clothes, bedding, books. Don't pack anything fragile or valuable because personal items aren't covered by the carrier's insurance.
Before the Driver Arrives
- Take photos of every angle of your car (all four sides, roof, and any existing scratches or dents)
- Reduce your fuel to about a quarter tank — less weight means safer transport
- Disable your car alarm so it doesn't drain the battery or go off on the carrier
- Check tire pressure and battery — the car needs to roll on and off the trailer
- Leave one key with the driver (you'll get it back at delivery)
Why Students (and Parents) Choose Bold
- $0 deductible insurance included — Full coverage cargo insurance on every shipment at no extra charge. If something happens (it almost never does), you pay zero. Most competitors charge extra or have $250–$500 deductibles.
- One dedicated coordinator — You get a real person who manages your shipment from start to finish. One phone number, one point of contact. Not a phone tree, not a chatbot.
- Transparent pricing — The quote is the price. No surprise fees at delivery, no hidden costs. That matters when you're on a student budget (or paying for your kid's student budget).
- Door-to-door delivery — We pick up from home and deliver to the dorm, apartment, or any address. No terminal drop-offs, no extra driving on your end.
- Flexible scheduling — Move-in dates change. Lease start dates shift. We coordinate with your actual schedule and work around orientation, housing move-in windows, and all the chaos of semester transitions.
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Popular Car Shipping Locations
We ship vehicles door-to-door across all 50 states.
Student Car Shipping FAQs
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