This post is sponsored by Jiffy Lube because they’re committed to helping drivers prepare for the road ahead so they can Leave Worry Behind® this back to school season. However, all opinions and ideas are 100% my own and I’m committed to only bringing y’all posts that I truly believe in. As a college student (like most of y’all), sponsored posts just give me the opportunity to benefit monetarily from my blog so I can keep creating it for you guys!
It’s back to school time, and I hope you guys are just as excited as I am. While last year only a handful of my friends had a car on campus, it’s becoming more and more common to take your car with you to college. However, with having a car comes lots of extra responsibilities. I’ve put together a list of tips for you to keep in mind. These are good for everyone, whether you’re new to having a car on campus or not!
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Buy a parking pass.
Parking on my campus is notoriously bad and hard to find, even though the passes are nearly $500. This number varies from school to school, but in order to park on campus, I can nearly guarantee your school requires a parking pass. On my campus, there is no place to park without a pass and you’ll receive a hefty ticket for parking without a pass. Look into the different passes your school offers (if there are options!) to see what option is best for you.
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Learn where to park.
Because my college offers different passes, there are different places to park! Make sure you review the rules and always check signs so you know where you can park. It’s also important to know which lots are in safe areas, closest to your classes, etc.
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Don’t keep valuables in your car.
Just don’t! If you’ve got everything in your backpack that I recommend having (read about it here), you definitely don’t want that stuff to be sitting in your car. First of all, you don’t want to have to worry about things getting damaged in the heat or the cold. Second of all, you definitely don’t want anyone to have any temptation to break into your car. Dealing with a broken window and missing property (that you potentially need for class) is just not fun at all!
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Check your fluids.
As Jiffy Lube says, your vehicle takes you to many important places throughout the school year. As you pack up and head back-to-school, remember to show your car a little love to keep it in tip-top shape all semester long. One way you can do this is by checking your fluids! “Fluids” means oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, and coolant level in the radiator. Honestly, I would never know how to check these things, but they’re important when maintaining a vehicle. For me, it’d be best to take my car to a place like Jiffy Lube so I can make sure everything gets checked correctly!
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Don’t forget about an oil change.
At home, my dad changes my oil, but that’s a little tough when you’re away at college! From oil changes to tire rotations, the highly trained technicians at Jiffy Lube® help keep you out of the repair shop and on the road. Traditional oil can last you anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 miles, while synthetic oils can last up to 10,000 miles! Changing your oil is an important part of keeping your car healthy, and if you’re driving home often, you’ll probably need oil changes more frequently than you realize! Jiffy Lube says engine oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and manufacturer’s recommend changing the oil and filter at regular intervals. Bring your vehicle to Jiffy Lube® where we can also check your radiator coolant, transmission fluid and windshield wiper fluid — and top off or change them as necessary. Register for the Jiffy Lube Garage, and you’ll find all this routine service information gathered in one easily accessed Web page, your Dashboard.
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Check your tires.
If you’re not using your car regularly, which happens a lot when you can easily walk to class or you only use your car on weekends, this tip is particularly important! A simple glance over to make sure they all look fully inflated can save you a world of trouble by preventing problems with your rims or even a blowout on the road. Occasionally, it’s a good idea to even use a tire pressure gauge (which you should always keep in your glove box!) to check that they’re up to pressure.
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Keep an emergency kit.
You never know what could happen in town or on the long drive back home! Keep an emergency kit for you, with things like bandages, gauze, a flare, and water, but also keep one for your car, like a spare tire, a flashlight, etc. Jiffy Lube recommends that pull together an emergency kit to keep in your trunk. Include items such as bottled water, a flashlight, flares, duct tape, batteries, jumper cables, energy bars, a blanket and pair of gloves, emergency phone numbers, first aid supplies and a can of Fix-A-Flat® inflator and sealer. Include rain gear or other equipment appropriate to the climate where you’ll be driving. You can never be too prepared for seasonal driving.
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Don’t drink and drive.
Never. This is simply inexcusable. Owning and driving a vehicle is a serious responsibility. Any distracted or dangerous driving, like texting or goofing around, puts your life at risk and the lives of innocent people around you. You should know why you should drink in college, but you should never ever drink and drive. Seriously. Just don’t. Call a ride share, assign a DD, or stay the night; don’t drink and drive.
It’s so important to keep your car in perfect shape so it can keep taking care of you as you commute in college! Have I sold you guys on the importance of taking care of your car?
Thanks for reading y’all. Hopefully you feel confident that you’ll be able to take care of your car this upcoming year at college! So, what car do you drive? Let me know in the comments or @ me on social media!
