College students often depend on cars to achieve independence and convenience; however, their purchase can become expensive when considering upfront costs, fuel, maintenance and insurance expenses.

Students looking to keep costs under control should choose vehicles that provide exceptional value, taking into account environmental considerations as part of their purchase decision.

Size

College students typically don’t require large vehicles unless they have a long commute to work; they simply want something they can use around campus and take friends out for coffee and lunch as well as taking weekend or spring break road trips.

Small cars such as hatchbacks or subcompact SUVs will fit easily into campus parking spaces while offering competitive mileage. A sedan like the Honda Civic with its sleek design and host of standard tech features also makes an excellent option.

Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid cars may be an ideal choice for college students with short commutes and convenient access to EV chargers, who require efficient yet comfortable transportation solutions. They boast strong Kelley Blue Book ratings, Consumer Reports reviews and gas mileage.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy (commonly referred to as gas mileage or miles per gallon (mpg) is an essential consideration when purchasing a new vehicle. Not only can its fuel efficiency save you money at the pump, but it can help mitigate climate change while lessening our reliance on fossil fuels as well.

Fuel efficiency can be defined as the distance a car travels on one gallon of fuel when tested against an established test cycle. In the United States, this measure is most often expressed using miles per gallon (mpg); however, other countries use either liters per 100 kilometers or imperial gallons when reporting fuel economy figures.

Fuel efficiency is a key consideration when purchasing a car, and can vary significantly depending on your driving habits and environmental conditions. Acceleration quickly and frequently as well as excessive idling can have a major negative effect on fuel economy – but there are steps you can take to increase mpg such as avoiding drive-thru services and obeying speed limits.

Safety

College students face a considerable responsibility when it comes to having a car, especially new drivers prone to texting and distracted driving, with limited financial resources at their disposal. Therefore, safety must always be top of mind when selecting a vehicle. Footnote 1

Safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) should be of prime concern when selecting your new car, and Edmunds provides this data.

Finding a car loan may be challenging for students without established credit histories, and cosigning from someone with longer standing credit histories may increase their odds of approval. Furthermore, you might be eligible for discounts when purchasing certain vehicles through your preferred manufacturer – for instance GM’s College Appreciation program provides $500 off certain models; other automakers offer similar programs. And some automakers even provide road safety scholarships for high school and college students who complete defensive driving courses!

Style

College students often view purchasing their first car as the start of adulthood and independence; however, for parents already helping fund tuition and living expenses it can also become a significant financial strain. Therefore, before investing in one it is vital that they carefully consider their student’s individual needs before investing in any vehicle.

As you shop for a car for college students, it is essential that they keep in mind how fuel, maintenance and insurance costs will influence its total cost of ownership. A great place to begin researching this is Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost-to-Own page which compares vehicles based on lowest total ownership cost per vehicle model.

Other key factors to keep in mind include safety, comfort and resale value. Honda Civic is a great pick for students as it is safe, reliable, fuel efficient and offers easy campus parking lot navigation; moreover it comes equipped with an impressive warranty and good resale value making it a smart investment on a tight budget. Meanwhile Mazda CX-5 SUV provides impressive fuel economy while offering advanced safety features – not to mention looks stylish too!

Budget

Before purchasing a car for yourself or your child in college, there are a few considerations you’ll want to keep in mind. First and foremost, determine how much of an affordability limit there is. Take your regular take-home income as well as any extra sources such as student loan payments or income from part-time work into account and subtract all monthly expenses such as rent, food utilities and entertainment (such as daily cappuccinos ) from this figure to arrive at an estimate for how much car can fit comfortably within that budget.

Don’t forget about gas costs either; with fluctuating oil prices, selecting a model with good fuel economy will help lower both loan payments and driving costs. Aiming for no more than 15%-20% of your budget dedicated to transportation-related costs like loan/lease payments, insurance payments and fuel usage is ideal in order to stay financially healthy as you start living independently.