car and/or transportation at USAFA

mnolan

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My daughter is a cadet at the US Coast Guard Academy and would like to spend a semester on an exchange with the USAFA. One question we have concerns transportation and so forth.

We would hate for her to go to USAFA for a semester and not be able to travel around and see the area. At what point are cadets eligible to have a car on campus, and whats public transportation like? If they don't have a car can they get into Denver? the mountains? etc...

Thanks
 
Freshman and sophomores are not allowed to have cars at the USAFA. However, they can drive so they can (1) borrow an upperclassman's car or (2) rent a car from the Outdoor Recreation Center. The cadets can rent cars there even if they are only 18. They told me that compact rentals start at $24.99/day and insurance runs around $20/day if the cadet is still not on your auto insurance. Also, they can get rides places, i.e. to the airport for Christmas Break, etc. with upperclassman.
 
The upper two classes can have cars, and it is customary to loan out cars to the lower two. (SOP is to put some gas in the car you borrowed.)
 
Cars

Check with your insurance agent about coverage issues that may arise when your cadet borrows a car. This may be more complicated than you think (particularly if you have reduced your cadet's coverage on your own cars) and will differ by insurance companies and policies. You will want to be sure that you and your cadet understand the coverage issues that may arise with a borrowed vehicle and that you and your cadet are comfortable with the coverage available to your cadet. USAA sells, as I understand it, a rental-non-owner policy that may afford your cadet additional coverage in the event of an accident while driving a borrowed car (I have no affiliation with USAA, but am looking into this policy for our daughter). Again -- this is an issue that should be discussed with your agent and cadet before your cadet begins borrowing other cadets cars.
 
USAA's policy for non-owner coverage is for liability coverage only. By law, the upperclassman's car should have liability coverage. Of course, they could not and be in violation of the law. I have asked our cadet, that if he borrows a car, he should ask to make sure the car is insured and know where the insurance card is in the car. The driver will be covered under the owner's policy just the same as if I let anyone borrow my car.
 
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Cars at USAFA

Thanks everyone for the input.....at USCGA they can only have a car their last year........it looks like transportation is not a problem at USAFA.
 
car question

Freshman and sophomores are not allowed to have cars at the USAFA. However, they can drive so they can (1) borrow an upperclassman's car or (2) rent a car from the Outdoor Recreation Center. The cadets can rent cars there even if they are only 18. They told me that compact rentals start at $24.99/day and insurance runs around $20/day if the cadet is still not on your auto insurance. Also, they can get rides places, i.e. to the airport for Christmas Break, etc. with upperclassman.

My daughter (a USCGA cadet) will be a 3rd year (junior) cadet at USAFA this fall. We'd like her to be able to see the area....so we are trying to decide........do we bring her a car, (500 mile drive from Indiana) or would she be better off renting one. I assume rentals are good for weekend travel...can 3rd year cadets leave campus anytime during the week? (Thereby needing a car I assume). Are there activities off campus where a car would be useful? And/or would a cadet need a car on campus during the week? USCGA is so small that you can walk from one end to the other in 10 minutes so they only use cars to leave base.

Thanks
 
Hmm...you may want to take a closer look at a map and driving distances. "500 mile drive from Indiana" would only get you about half way to Colorado Springs!
 
I would suggest that unless it is a hardship, you should let her have a car at USAFA. The Academy is 18,000 acres, and the cadet area is set way in the back against the mountains. It is several miles from the cadet area to either of the base's gates. It is certainly common to borrow vehicles, but if your cadet wants some freedom to explore the area, then having a car would be much more convenient.

Stealth_81
 
mileage

Hmm...you may want to take a closer look at a map and driving distances. "500 mile drive from Indiana" would only get you about half way to Colorado Springs!

Yeah...I knew that:smile: just didn't say it right....

If we go out we were thinking of spending time in Kansas City to visit relatives THEN driving the car further to Colorado Springs. That's why the 500 sticks in my mind.

Thanks....
 
definitely let her bring her car; you dont want her to rent a car every time she goes out. juniors at USAFA have alot more freedom than that the other two (i'm going to west point for a semester this fall), so i say take advantage of it!
 
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