<p>I know parking is tight at Lehigh, and there are some strict rules and penalties for illegal parking, but is it possible for a freshman to keep a car at Lehigh, even if it is not, strictly-speaking, legal? I'll be a freshman next year and could REALLY use a car, so where would one hypothetically park, or how could one hypothetically dodge this "no freshmen with cars" rule?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>In very rare occasions I’ve learned of freshman legally getting permits, but it’s rare (like, I’ve heard of one freshman in my 3 years of lehigh getting a car without breaking a bone). You could always keep it off-campus, but that’s not optimal because your car will likely get booted or towed after a while, plus it’s a huge walk to your dorm to get to/from your car. Other than that, there’s no real option. It’ll get ticketed. If I may ask, why do you need a car so badly?</p>
<p>Like are there any streets people can park, or reasons that are acceptable for parking a car there? And I’d like one to be able to get home on short notice, and conveniently, for like off campus jobs, and to visit family and possibly my girlfriend in the area. Its not essential, but as I just got my car, Id love to take it to school rather than leave it at home while I pay insurance on it</p>
<p>Well as for the insurance, I’m relatively sure you can somehow halt payments (there are college student contingencies in plans I believe) when you’re at school… The streets nearby are usually taken up by people who live off-campus, and they also usually have two hour parking (hence you getting ticketed, or worse, booted/towed). The reasons for having a car would have to be really severe, as in you broke your leg and can’t walk down the hill. I heard that soon Sophomores will also be unable to have cars on campus. Parking at lehigh is one of the worst parts of the school, and right now there’s way too many people fighting for few spots all the time. Also - having an off-campus job immediately will be more difficult than you think! College school work takes up a ton of time (plus, you could just get a job on campus)</p>
<p>Finally, where do you live? There’s a bus station right off campus that goes to many places.</p>
<p>Our policy is for all of our family’s cars, so its pretty continual. I wouldn’t need a car for classes or anything, it’d just be nice to have to go home to south jersey, or to visit family in the area occasionally, even if there’s parking within like a 30 min walk. Not a necessity but it’d be convenient. I was thinking either local businesses would allow parking there for like a fee (aka bribe) (privately owned businesses), or if I got a job for, say, 1 hour a month, just to show Lehigh I have the need for a car. I know it’s kinda sneaky but it’d just be a nice convenience for when I need to go off-campus or home.</p>
<p>Don’t let insurance be a determinant. If the car is just going to sit and not be driven you can suspend all coverage on that car except comprehensive (in case a satellite or something falls on it) and cost is minimal. Then just reinstate when you are home for break. You may be able to find a local who will rent you a spot off campus, but there aren’t many other options for freshmen.</p>
<p>Just to offer my opinion, I didn’t bring my car on campus until I took classes last summer as a junior - I’m on a co-op now this fall. As a freshman and even as a sophomore, I never felt like I couldn’t get by without my car. Is it a nice added convenience? Of course, but you do not need a car to survive as a freshman at Lehigh.</p>
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<p>My family’s cars are also under one central plan, but I was able to reduce the payment to almost nothing since the insurance company figured the car was never being driven anyway. I’m sure the same can be arranged for you - if not, get another insurance company, because that’s a standard insurance accomodation made for college students.</p>
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<p>I hear you, it definitely is a nice convenience, but frankly there just isn’t any more room on campus to fit freshmen cars, unless they start building parking garages into the sides of the mountain. And parking off-campus is also very tight and reserved for off-campus residents. There are thousands of freshmen who came before you without a car, and there will be hundreds of your fellow freshmen at Lehigh with no car either - and you’ll all be fine.</p>
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<p>Unless you’re planning on majoring in something silly, you’re not really going to have a ton of time to go home on weekends. Lehigh is a residential campus - most of us stay on-campus except for official breaks. Lots of incoming freshmen think it’s easy, but you have to realize that the weekend is a time to get work done (and socialize, as well). And in terms of a job, it’s easy to find work opportunities on-campus, even jobs related to your major.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
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