A lot of this year has probably been spent inside, and you have probably done a lot of your college courses online. However, things are slowly starting to get back to normal again, and your college campus is beginning to allow their students back on the grounds.

You’re most likely over the moon to get back to college and to see all of your friends again – but how are you going to get there? Having a reliable car to get you to college and back is going to make the difference between making it on time to class or not. However, if you’re on a bit of a budget right now, you’ve got to choose wisely. Let’s talk about how to choose the best car for college.

1. Ask a Friend for a Recommendation

The good news is that if you're a bit stumped on which car to choose for college, you're bound to have a friend who has already gone through the car buying process. This is where word of mouth comes in handy so that you can find the best car for your future college days.

Ask them how they bought their car and why they did. Figuring out what kind of vehicle model is working best for them in regards to getting to and from college every day is going to make your decision a whole lot easier. Make sure that you can find a friend who can give you an honest recommendation so that you don't choose something that isn't going to meet your expectations.

2. Make Sure It’s Fuel Efficient

If you're trying to save money right now so that you can get yourself through college, then you'll want to make sure you find a fuel-efficient car. Of course, the fact that we are in 2020 means that there are a lot of electric cars on the road, but they're not necessarily cheaper than their gas counterparts.

Despite this, you've still got every chance of finding a gas-powered car that is easy on the fuel tank. You might even want to go for a manual option if it means that you can keep your weekly gas bill down.

3. Test it Out Virtually

One thing that you might struggle with right now as you choose the right car for college is being able to test it out. A lot of people are still trying to maintain a good amount of social distance, so getting in touch with a dealer or a buyer who is prepared to meet you in person before the sale could prove to be a bit of a challenge.

Don't worry, though – this is what the internet is for. These days, many car companies are choosing to help their buyers out by featuring their cars for sale online through a virtual showroom. This is where you can get online and check out the car you're interested in. The best part? It's a completely immersive experience, so you can see what it looks like both on the inside and outside. If you're trying to keep a distance still, this option is perfect.

4. Don’t Go Beyond Your Monthly Limit

If you haven’t got enough in the bank right now to pay for a car outright, you are probably thinking about financing it. One of the most important things to remember when financing a vehicle for college is to not go over your weekly or monthly limit.

You might be tempted to splash out on a car, especially if you’re not paying upfront for it – however, those weekly payments can quickly become overwhelming. Make sure that you stay on the conservative side of things when thinking about how much you can afford to spend on a weekly payoff for a college car.

Purchasing a car right now for college isn't as easy as you might think. With this in mind, consider the above tips for choosing one so that you can create an easy, convenient process.