Do You Need a Car at USD?
A hilltop campus, limited parking, and a Trolley nearby — here's the honest case for going light on the car and booking a ride when it counts.
Airport or night out? (858) 522-0264TL;DR
USD's hilltop campus has limited parking and a mobility plan that has raised permit prices to encourage alternatives. The Blue Line Trolley (Morena/Linda Vista, Old Town) covers Downtown and the airport area, and biking/scooters handle the rest. Against AAA's ~$11,577/year to own a car, many Toreros do better leaning on transit and booking a ride for the airport or a night out — no parking hunt, no being the DD. Call (858) 522-0264.
The honest picture at USD
- Limited campus parking + rising permit costs: USD's mobility plan has raised permit prices year over year (USD Mobility & Parking Plan). Check current student rates with USD Parking Services.
- The car itself: ~$11,577/year all-in to own and operate (AAA 2025), before young-driver insurance.
- Trolley access: the Blue Line's Morena/Linda Vista and Old Town stations connect to Downtown, the airport area, and the wider MTS network (MTS).
- Bike, walk, scooter for nearby errands and the last mile.
Less stress, not just less cost
The honest pitch isn't only the money. Skipping the car means no daily parking hunt on a packed hilltop, no one stuck being the designated driver on a night out, and no worrying about your car while you're home for break. For the airport with bags, a trip home, or a night downtown, a pre-booked flat-rate ride is simply easier — and a fraction of a year of ownership.
Book the trips that matter
Airport runs, trips home, safe nights out — flat-rate, no surge, no parking, no DD.
Call (858) 522-0264Sources: USD Mobility & Parking Plan and Parking Services; San Diego MTS; AAA 2025 Your Driving Costs. Verify current permit and transit details with USD and MTS. Last updated June 2026.
Parents: the move-in window books out — reserve early
EGT's small all-electric fleet is the same one that sells out San Diego's concert and event calendar — twelve dates are fully booked as of July 11. August/September move-in weekends at UCSD, SDSU and USD stack airport pickups, luggage runs and campus drops into the same few days, and slots go to whoever reserved first. A named, vetted driver is confirmed before pickup — the rate never changes with demand. Book the airport pickup the day the flight is ticketed: call or text (858) 522-0264, or see student transportation plans.