For students and parents

Ship or drive a car to college: the one-way student move

Last updated: June 2026

Moving a student's car to or from school? SelectDrive drives it there, packed, in one trip. There is no roughly 100 pound belongings limit, a pet can ride along, and one accountable driver shares live GPS the whole way, so a parent can watch the car cross the country without making the drive themselves.

A student move is almost always one-way, often with a packed car, and timed to a tight move-in or move-out date. That is exactly what driveaway is good at: you fly, and the car arrives drive-ready with everything in it.

Why driveaway fits a college move

• Pack the car. Dorm and apartment belongings ride in the car, with no 100 lb cap. See how it works on moving your car with belongings.
• Bring the pet. A pet that travels well rides in the cabin, not a cargo hold.
• Parents can watch it. Live GPS and photo inspection at pickup and delivery, so you know exactly where the car is.
• One accountable driver. Not a load board or a carrier you never meet.

Iowa campuses and beyond

From the Des Moines hub, SelectDrive serves the Iowa college towns, including Iowa City (University of Iowa), Ames (Iowa State), Cedar Falls (Northern Iowa), Grinnell, and Drake here in Des Moines, plus out-of-state schools anywhere in the lower 48. Whether the car is heading to campus or coming home for the summer, the route is driven door to door.

Time it to the school calendar

The two busy windows are August move-in and the May return home. Because SelectDrive is one owner-operator, dates around the start and end of the school year fill up, so book a few weeks ahead. A one-way summer storage run or a mid-year transfer works the same way.

Honest, flat pricing, no student-discount games

Some brokers advertise a student discount off a quote that can drift upward after pickup. SelectDrive does not play that game. The price is a flat $0.75 per mile with a $500 minimum, itemized and fixed at booking. Use the cost calculator or read the cost guide to estimate your route, and see the honest driveaway vs driving it yourself breakdown if you are weighing the drive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pack the car for the move to college?

Yes. Because a person drives the car, you can load it with dorm and apartment belongings that fit safely below the window line. There is no roughly 100 pound limit like trailer carriers impose. The trunk and seats are the only limit.

Can my student's pet ride along?

Yes. A pet that travels well can ride in the cabin with the driver, with regular stops. Trailer carriers do not allow pets, so driveaway is the rare option that moves the car, the belongings, and the pet in one trip.

When should I book for fall move-in?

Book a few weeks ahead of August move-in, and again before the May return, since those are the busy windows. SelectDrive is one owner-operator, so dates fill, especially around the start and end of the school year.

Do you drive to out-of-state colleges?

Yes. SelectDrive drives anywhere in the lower 48 from its Des Moines hub. Iowa campuses and out-of-state schools both work; the price is a flat $0.75 per mile with a $500 minimum.