Transportation
- Parking at Main Campus
- Shuttle Services
- Police Escort Service
- Public Transportation
- Bicycles
- Cars and Automobiles
- Rideshare & Rental Car
Parking at Main Campus
Parking can be difficult around campus. On-campus parking permits are expensive, far from the center of campus, and there is usually a wait list for students. For more information, visit the PATS website at https://pats.unm.edu/ or call (505)277-1938 The PATS office is Located southwest of the UNM Bookstore and is open Monday-Friday, 7:30am – 5:00pm. They provide information on:
Shuttle Services
UNM Shuttle Service offers free shuttles between UNM parking lots and UNM buildings including Lobo Village and Lobo Rainforest. Visit the PATS website for up to date information on bus routes and schedules.
Police Escort Service
Public Transportation
The City of Albuquerque is responsible for the city bus system, information about ART, and offer a number of resources for budgeting and purchasing tickets/passes as well as finding bus routes/schedules. Rio Metro offers a train that travels between Santa Fe (north of Albuquerque) and Belen (south of Albuquerque) several times daily. The train is a great option for visiting places around Albuquerque with several stops as well as connections with local buses. For more information go to https://www.riometro.org/
Rail Runner Express
Bicycles
Biking is a great way to get around campus and to and from campus if you live in the area. There are various streets with bike lanes or speed limits designed to optimize bike circulation. UNM Johnson Center has a Bike Shop with accessible prices for all UNM students. Contact them for more information at (505) 277-8182 or visit the Lobo Bike Shop page. There are several bike shops in the UNM area where you can buy a new or used bike and where you can take your bike for maintenance. There are also used bike auctions put on by the UNM police department in some Spring semesters.Bike Tips and Safety
Buying a Bike
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Buy/Sell Apps (OfferUp, Letgo, etc.) are great places to buy a preowned bike. Remember not to make any payments online or before seeing the bike you are going to purchase.
Cars and Automobiles
You might decide that buying a car is a great option for you. It is important to do a lot of research about the type of car, price, and other factors such as car insurance or car maintenance. If you have never acquired a driver’s license in your home country and/or have never driven before, you will need to take a driving class to prepare to get your driver’s license. Driving schools charge a fee for their services, but they may be a necessary option if you do not know how to drive already. Driving schools must be licensed by the Traffic Safety Bureau (TSB) of the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). For a list of licensed schools contracted with the MVD please MVD Contracted Driving Schools and for pricing information call the driving school directly. The New Mexico MVD issues a secure driver's license to help protect you from identity theft. Persons applying for a first-time driver license, a license renewal or a license replacement are issued a temporary license while their regular license is being processed and mailed. All services are offered at the Department of Motor Vehicle Department. The closest location to UNM is 1100 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. More information on obtaining an NM Real ID can be found on the New Mexico MVD website. Purchasing a Car: When purchasing a used car always thoroughly investigate the condition of the car (ask to take it to a mechanic for a check-up) and bargain for the best price. The driver's license process requires taking a "written" knowledge test. Prepare for your test by viewing the following helpful resources:Learning to Drive
Getting a Driver’s License or State ID
Cars Tips and Safety
Practice Tests
Rideshare & Rental Car
Uber and Lyft are inexpensive ways to get around town by riding with a private car owner. Using the mobile app, riders can be connected with drivers who will pick them up and take them to their destination on demand. Both reservations and payment are done through the cell phone app. For more information download the Uber or Lyft app. For longer term car rental (such as to take a trip), there are several car rental companies to choose from that can be found online. Most rental companies require renters to be 25 years old with a major credit card. Renting a car can be very affrodable in the U.S. To shop prices and availability for the dates you wish to rent a car, visit: https://www.rentalcars.com/.
Uber & Lyft
Car Rental
Buying a Car
You should plan on getting a New Mexico driver's license and purchasing insurance before taking ownership of a car. Here is some advice that every buyer should know before purchasing an automobile. Before you start, please visit www.kbb.com. You have to do your homework on the car you would like to purchase. Most dealerships/sellers will try to get the best price they can, so you need to be well prepared to bargain and to not get taken advantage of. If you do not want to have to bargain or negotiate the price of the car, there are a few dealerships, such as CarMax and Houston Wholesale Cars that offer set prices for both new and used cars.
How to Purchase a Used Car
Find out how much you can afford Research the right car for you Find your car's value Contact and Communicate with a seller Get both safety and history information on the car Conduct a thorough inspection both inside and outside of the car Conduct a thorough test drive Assure quality: pay a mechanic to check the car Negotiate your best price depending on whether you are buying from a private party or a dealer
How to Purchase a New Car
Know your shopping style Narrow down your shopping list Calculate what you can afford Do your research online Know when the price is right Understand the advantages of leasing vs. buying Find financing, warranties, and insurance Sell or trade your current vehicle Consider your buying options Get the most out of your test drive
Important Information
In New Mexico, as in most US states, it is mandatory that all automobile operators carry proof of Liability Insurance for the automobile they are driving. You must supply proof of automobile insurance upon demand by any qualified state official. Insurance may be purchased from a number of reputable companies which can be found online. In New Mexico, as in most US states, it is mandatory that all automobile operators carry proof of Liability Insurance for the automobile they are driving. You must supply proof of automobile insurance upon demand by any qualified state official. Insurance may be purchased from a number of reputable companies which can be found online.Automobile Insurance
Registration
Useful Tips
http://www.abqjournal.com/drive
http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cta
These sites might have some really cheap cars, but if the seller does not post their phone number, beware of scams. Never trust the advertisements without a phone number.
1. After you see a car you like, you can call the owner to get the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN number (a 17-digit number). With this number, you can check the history of the car to find out whether it has a clean title (no accidents) or salvage title (it was wrecked and repaired) and also check the official used car price at http://www.carfax.com/ or http://www.kbb.com/.
2. If it is a clean title, ask the owner if you can take a test drive and pay a mechanic to check it out.
3. Shop around for and buy adequate insurance.
4. When you buy the car, the owner should give you the keys, any information on the car (such as the user's manual) and the Title of ownership to the car. The owner needs to sign the Title (certificate of ownership) over to you.
5. To register the car and Title of ownership you will need to get an emissions test. Check the yellow pages for emissions testing locations.
6. Process the change of title and car registration with the New Mexico Motor Vehicles Division (MVD).