How to Cut Transportation Costs 26 Tips

How to Cut Transportation Costs for Colleges Student

1. Some colleges have free shuttle service on campus to help you get around easily and quickly. If yours offers this service, there's no sense in bringing a car onto campus, where you'll probably have trouble finding parking and may end up getting a parking ticket. Take advantage of the shuttle service instead.
2. If you're in the market for a car, buy used. You can get a like-new two- or three-year-old car for nearly half the price of new because cars depreciate in value so quickly the first few years.
3. Resist the urge to use your limited funds to add cool additions to your car while you're in college, like raising or lowering it, adding decals or a spoiler, getting a custom paint job, or installing a fancy CD player or stereo system. You'll end up borrowing to cover other expenses. Wait until you're out of school and have more expendable income.
4. Gasoline expands in the heat. If you buy during the cool part of the day, when gas is less dense, you'll get a little more for your money. Also know it doesn't make sense to "top off" your gas tank. When gas expands in the heat, you'll lose some down the overflow tube. Besides, those short bursts on the pump handle run up the meter but don't really deliver much gas to your tank.
5. Don't buy premium gasoline. It's considerably more expensive and only cars with high-performance engines require it. That doesn't include your Honda Civic or your VW Bug. Like most cars, they're perfectly happy with regular.
6. Check the pressure in your tires every week. Every pound of underinflation costs you 6 percent in gas efficiency. If you normally pay $60 a month for gas, and you're riding around on tires that should have pressure of 32 psi but only have 29 psi, you'll end up paying an extra $11 a month in gas.
7. College students can be sitting ducks when it comes to auto repairs. Repairs can be expensive and the auto repair industry has more than its share of rip-offs. Check around in your college town for a reputable repair shop and ask locals for recommendations before you need work done. You'll be able to act quickly when you have a problem, without the stress of finding a mechanic on short notice, and you'll reduce your chances of getting ripped-off.
8. Check your oil often and have it changed every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. It's the number one way to extend the life of your car's engine and help avoid costly repairs. If you're handy, you can do it yourself. Just be sure to use the type and weight of oil recommended by the manufacturer.
9. Learn a little about cars so you can spot small problems before they turn into big, expensive problems. Learn what looks like trouble, sounds like trouble, smells like trouble, and feels like trouble, and act promptly when these symptoms appear.
10. Stay within the speed limit. Speeding tickets are expensive in more ways than one. You'll not only get slapped with a substantial fine, you'll have a speeding ticket on your driving record, which will raise your car insurance premiums.
11. If you have a car at school, transportation may be one of your biggest expenses after tuition and room and board. Drive a gas-efficient car, not a gas-guzzler like an SUV, and keep your driving record clean to keep your insurance costs down.
12. If you're planning to rent a truck to haul your stuff to college, consider UHaul's free online bulletin board that helps you hook up with other students headed in the same direction. By sharing a truck and taking turns driving, you can save money and make the trip more enjoyable.
13. If you rent a truck to move your belongings to or from college, check with your insurance company to see if your auto policy will cover the truck. If not, be sure to sign up for the insurance offered by the truck rental company so you're protected from any liability.
14. If your car isn't covered on your parents' auto policy, shop around for auto insurance. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars a year by choosing one company over another, so get quotes from at least three.
15. Save big bucks by keeping a clean driving record. Auto insurance for anyone under twenty-five is very expensive (especially for men) and a speeding ticket or drinking violation can add thousands of dollars a year to your costs.
16. Contrary to what Detroit would have you believe, you aren't what you drive. Buy cars based on reliability, quality, safety, price, and cost to maintain, not on looks alone.
17. If you'll be buying a car to take to college, look beyond the purchase price or the monthly payment, and consider the cost of ownership. Does that model have a good repair record? Is it a gas hog? Will it cost more to insure? You might be able to afford to buy the car but not be able to afford to own it.
18. Gas has become a major expense for anybody who drives a car. Save money on gas by driving the speed limit, making smooth starts and stops, keeping your car tuned, and keeping your tires properly inflated.
19. If you buy a used car to take to college, check out its history by using an online service like www.carfax.com. Provide the car's vehicle identification number (VIN), usually found on a metal plate inside the windshield, and for a reasonable fee ($20 or so) you'll receive a history of the car's repair record. Stay away from cars that have been in serious accidents or floods, have a history of costly repairs, or have had their odometer tinkered with. Cars that were previously rental cars may not be the best choice (driven hard by many people), but leased cars are often good buys (taken care of because they have to be turned in at the end of the lease).
20. Warming up your car by letting it idle wastes nearly a quart of gas every 15 minutes and is a habit that can add up to a chunk of change over time. The engine actually warms up faster when driving than it does when idling.
21. You may be used to having a car at your disposal to get you around at home, but chances are you won't need one in college. Most campuses are compact and well laid-out, making a car unnecessary. You'll save a lot of headaches and a lot of money by leaving the car at home, at least for the first year or two.
22. Your auto insurance premiums are affected by your credit rating, so keep it squeaky clean. Pay bills on time, don't have too many credit cards, and don't max them out. You'll pay lower auto insurance premiums.
23. When buying a car, new or used, consider the total purchase price, not the monthly payments, which can look very attractive when stretched out over a longer period of time. Try to buy a car that you can pay off in three, or at the most, four years, or you could end up still making payments on a car that is worth less than you owe on it, which means you're stuck with it whether you still want it or not. You'll also pay much more interest.
24. If you decide you just can't do without your car at school, you'll save money on car insurance if you get good grades. Most major insurers offer a 25 percent discount to students under 25 who are on the Dean's List. Make sure your insurance agent knows you're a good student.
25. Leave your car at home and walk or bike whenever possible. You'll save money on gas, reduce wear and tear on your car, avoid parking tickets on campus, and keep off the infamous "freshman 15."
26. If you have a car at school, consider raising your deductible for collision coverage. If your car is more than eight years old, drop the collision coverage altogether and keep only the liability coverage. If you have an accident, your insurance will only pay the book value of the car, and after about six years, the book value on most cars is very low.