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Shipping a car to college
Every August and January, thousands of parents discover that driving a second car 1,300 miles to campus — then flying home — costs more in time and airfare than shipping it. Here's how student shipments work when a parent books and a student receives.
Parent books, student receives — how the handoff works
Most college shipments split the roles: a parent books and pays; the student meets the truck. That's completely standard. The parent is our contact for the quote and scheduling; the student (or roommate, or RA with keys) does the delivery walkaround against the pickup photos on the Bill of Lading and signs. We text the student directly with the delivery window so nobody's relaying messages through a group chat.
The campus delivery reality
Dorm loops, parking structures, and campus cores don't fit a 9-car hauler. Standard practice is meeting at a stadium or commuter lot, a shopping center at the campus edge, or a wide street a few minutes out. Every big school on our corridors — the Arizona schools, the Texas publics, the California systems — has obvious meet spots we've used before.
Timing: the semester crush
- Fall move-in (early–mid August) is the tightest window of the year on CA↔AZ↔TX student lanes. Book 2–3 weeks out.
- Winter break runs both directions — cars go home in December and back in January.
- May is the reverse crush: everything ships home at once, and graduates relocate to first jobs (often Texas↔California, conveniently our corridor).
What it costs and what to send in the car
Student shipments price like any vehicle on the lane — see the route pages for ranges. One student-specific tip: the allowed ~100 lbs of items in the trunk is genuinely useful for dorm gear (bedding, monitor box, winter clothes), packed below the window line. It's not covered by cargo insurance, so the laptop flies with the student.
FAQ
Common questions
Can my student receive the car if I book and pay?
Yes — that's the standard arrangement. We coordinate the delivery window directly with the student, who inspects the car against the pickup photos and signs the Bill of Lading.
Can you deliver to the dorms?
Campus cores can't take a full-size hauler — standard practice is a stadium lot, commuter lot, or campus-edge shopping center a few minutes away. We'll agree the spot with your student in advance.
When should I book for fall move-in?
Two to three weeks ahead for early-August move-in — it's the tightest student window of the year on CA↔AZ↔TX lanes. Winter and May windows are slightly more forgiving.
Get a quote
A firm Sacramento → Houston price from the company that hauls it
Send the basics and we'll come back with a firm quote and the next available pickup window on this lane. No deposit games, no bait-and-switch.