<p>Both my sons had a car at college from sophomore year on. Both lived off campus and it just was more convenient to have one than not.</p>
<p>Son had his car. He paid the parking. It was $100 month. youch.</p>
<p>I think the use of a car is individual. If you s/d needs a car to work/intern off campus in their particular field, then yes. We made that mistake with my 1S. My 2S transferred for hs jr. year to our state flagship that has great public transportation. It is only 4 hrs. round trip so we have been able to manage that. He is a senior now, still living on campus but we did purchase him a car for jobs, etc. He never wanted one at our flagship, was comfortable with public transportation.</p>
<p>I will say though that I was very nervous when he was away at school, depending on other drivers to take him to the airport, stores, etc. He is a good driver with a good value system. I had to trust his judgement when deciding to get into someone elses car.</p>
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<p>This was, to me, an important component about making the decision to send a car to school with son (after Xmas break freshman year). Unless the student is in an urban city with great public transportation, they will be depending upon others for rides. Drivers who may or may not be good drivers, are experienced, have had enough sleep, are sober, etc. So it’s not like they are necessarily safer by not having a car. I would argue it could end up being less safe (unless you have a son or daughter who very is inexperienced or not-so-good driver themselves). I see it as more of a financial decision because it’s someone else’s car and insurance that is at risk. And for a lot of parents that’s a perfectly good reason not to send a car to school.</p>
<p>Minor hijack:</p>
<p>Speaking of other peoples cars,</p>
<p>I have heard of 2 instances in my small circle of friends where their kids have dormmates who are foreign nationals with no license but nice new cars nevertheless. So the kids in the dorm drive the foreign national kid around as needed in exchange for use of the car when not needed. In one case, a new fancy Audi.</p>
<p>How do you insure a car that is with a license-less kid? I can understand that they don’t need collision but you’d think they’d need liability?</p>
<p>The kid probably doesn’t own the car–his parents do. Maybe they list themselves as the principal driver.</p>
<p>^^ Of course. But then the parents are not declaring where the car is ‘garaged’ (street parking on a campus in another country from where the parents live). </p>
<p>I assume my friends kids are not liable for anything driving these cars. The kids are, of course, on their parents insurance.</p>
<p>I want to drive the new Audi!</p>
<p>To the OP, I agree with the other posters that you should not send a newly-licensed driver off with a car–any car. She still has a transportation problem, though. Have you thought about a moped or scooter or some other kind of powered transportation? Is the Target able to be reached without going on main/busy streets or highways? Is the weather where she is attending school amenable to that type of transportation? I had a moped in college and it came in mighty handy and was a lot more convenient and cheaper than a car. I went to school in Texas, though, in a city that rarely if ever iced over or snowed.</p>
<p>I agree with everyone, she needs more independent driving experience before letting her drive around campus and to/from home, etc. My son isn’t allowed to have a car (freshman living on campus) and I am glad. He does get rides with people who have cars to go out, etc. He has no job and he will have to contribute to funding a vehicle. </p>
<p>Wait a year and see how she does. With my son, it’s navigation, he was oblivious on how to get places! Thanks to Tom-Tom, he does OK.</p>
<p>My D has a car at school, but this was after two years of driving back and forth to her high school that was about 1/2 hour freeway drive away. I felt she had lots of experience and felt very comfortable with her driving. Her school is in a suburban area without a lot of public transportation and a lot of kids have cars. Her school also offers those car sharing options for those who don’t have cars so she said she hasn’t had a lot of pressure from others to drive them places. It has been very helpful for her to make runs to the grocery store or to target, although I know she doesn’t use the car that much. I agree with the poster who said to get a AAA subscription. D used it this year when her battery died – called us after the fact to report that she had purchased a new battery when the AAA person couldn’t start the battery after trying for a half hour. I think the battery died in part because the car had spent a lot of time just sitting there.</p>
<p>I agree that it would be best to wait until after the summer and your child has had more driving experience. </p>
<p>As far as costs, I pretty much pay for the car costs however she is at a school where she is receiving a full scholarship, so her having the car at school is basically a thank you to her for selecting the school that isn’t costing me anything. Also, I pay for the base cost for insurance. As long as she is ticket and accident free and keeps her good student discount then there are no extra costs. If she loses her good student discount or her steer clear discount - which is a safe driving program with our insurance company for kids who are ticket and accident free - she pays that difference. The first month she had her license she didn’t complete the steer clear program and she paid me that difference. By the end of that first month she had the program completed. </p>
<p>Her brother does not have a car at school and if D was not at this school, she wouldn’t have a car either. I think if her brother had a car at school, due to the nature of his school - more rural area without a lot of kids on campus with cars, there would be a lot more pressure to drive other kids around. Also, since I am using all my extra money to pay for his tuition since he didn’t earn the scholarships his sister did there is no money left to get him a car. He knows that when he wants a car he will have to buy it himself.</p>
<p>D has been informed and encouraged to give ZipCar a try. It is available at her campus and the rates will include gas, car, and insurance (liability, collision and no-fault). It also requires her to be more conscious of time, as you are penalized $50+ if you return the vehicle late. Her cousin uses ZipCar at Claremont & finds it fairly reasonable and a way of getting where he needs to go.</p>
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<p>Maybe not, if they have no assets in the USA. Other than the car, of course. But that wouldn’t be much of an asset if it got totaled.</p>
<p>Mihcal, liability insurance pays for the damages/injuries to other people’s property. Afaik, it is required at some level in every state in order to register a vehicle. Collision insurance pays for damage to the driver’s vehicle and is optional unless there is a lien on the vehicle (ie. a bank loan).</p>
<p>My daughter will be taking her car to college wherever she decides to go but I think it’s a personal decision that you as a parent have to make. Where we live most kids get their learners the day they turn 15 and their license the second they have waited the year and a day and passed Joshua’s Law. Her grandparents gave her their car when she got her license and her Dad pays all of the tag/insurance/fees etc that go along with it. When we’ve talked about it, it came down to us feeling more comfortable with her being able to be independent of other people if necessary. We know and trust her driving and her car. We won’t know anything about the other kids she’s at school with, at least for awhile. If she goes to her top choice school it will only be an hour and a half away and it would be great for her to be able to come home whenever she feels like it. The only way we may reconsider is if she gets into the Boston or DC schools that she applied at where parking would be a real issue. I just really prefer knowing my kid is behind the wheel when she’s in the car for now.</p>