Whether you are heading to Montana State in Bozeman, the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana Tech in Butte, or any of the state's community colleges, having a reliable car is not optional in Montana.
What College Students Should Look For
Keep it practical: low purchase price (under $20,000), good fuel economy, reliability, AWD or 4WD for Montana winters, and affordable insurance rates.
Top Picks Under $20K
Subaru Impreza / Crosstrek
Standard AWD, excellent safety ratings, and great fuel economy. The Crosstrek adds ground clearance for snowy parking lots. These hold their value well in Montana.
Honda Civic / Toyota Corolla
The reliability champions. Low maintenance costs, excellent fuel economy, and affordable insurance. A good set of winter tires makes them surprisingly capable in snow.
Mazda3
More fun to drive than a Civic or Corolla, with similar reliability. Available with AWD in newer model years.
Hyundai Tucson / Kia Sportage
Compact crossovers offering AWD, good cargo space for dorm moves, and competitive used pricing.
Ford Escape
Available with AWD, reliable, and plentiful on the used market which keeps prices reasonable.
Financing for Students
First-time buyer? Our EZ Credit program in Bozeman helps students and young buyers get approved. Get pre-qualified online in minutes with no credit impact.
