College for many is a time to experience freedom and independence for the first time all while studying and working hard as a student. A part of the freedom and independence that can help the feeling grow is having your own car with you on campus. It will allow you to rely on nothing but yourself to get from place to place. You would not have to rely on a bus schedule or bug your friends for rides. But having your own car on a college campus is a huge responsibility. You have to remember to abide by the rules of the road, the rules of the school, and likely the rules of your parents. Here is a quick guide that will help ease some of the stress of the responsibility.
Keep Up to Date with Maintenance
When you lived at home, you had parents that you could rely on to take care of things like car maintenance. Now, you may not have that luxury. Make sure you are aware of when you need to change your oil or take your car in for a tune-up.
Get In, Lock, and Leave
Young people are somewhat known for being a bit preoccupied a lot. This is seen when just getting in and out of your car. A lot of young people get in their cars and sit there on their phones or talking. They often do not get in and lock the door, so when you are in college, we suggest you work to break that habit. For your own safety, it is best to get in and lock the door ASAP. We suggest you take it one step further and leave ASAP as well, limiting the amount of time you just sit in your car unmoving.
Watch Where You Park.
Parking situations vary from school to school, but oftentimes parking on campus involves an additional fee. Additionally, parking passes are also restricted to use in specific parking lots and areas. Make sure you have a permit or pay any applicable fees if needed and you follow the instructions and park only in the designated zone.
Keep Valuables Out of Sight
This is generally a good rule of thumb to follow when driving around anywhere, but especially in college. The last thing you want to do is leave your laptop in your car on the backseat and then come back to see your car vandalized and your laptop missing. We suggest not leaving any valuable items in the car, or at least hiding them. If you have a covered trunk, you could leave items there or cover them in the interior with a blanket or other object.
