Federal, state and private grants exist to help students pay for tuition and other educational expenses. While no major grants are offered to specifically help low-income students purchase vehicles, funds from other grants can be used to buy a car. As long as the vehicle is used to further your education -- whether you're driving to class, to a for-credit internship or to the library -- you can purchase it with refunded grant money.
Financial Aid
File your FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov by the deadline set by your college or university. Once your Expected Family Contribution appears, you'll know how much money you're expected to put toward your education from your own resources. Although most grants are used to first pay tuition and expenses, you get the remainder of the money to put toward other educational necessities, like room, board, books, supplies and transportation.
Federal Grants
Federal grants are based on your income. Once the grants have been applied to your tuition and fees, the excess will be refunded to you. As long as you're using your vehicle to further your education, you can purchase it with your refunded federal grants. The Federal Pell Grant can provide more than $5,000 to help you. Other federal grant programs include the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, which can give you $4,000; the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant, which can give potential teachers $4,000; and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, which provides up to $4,000 to students with a parent who died serving in the armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan.
State Grants
While some states use the FAFSA as their rubric for financial aid allotments, some require additional paperwork. Once your state grant money has been applied to your school tuition and fees, the additional money will be refunded to you. Once you've received a refund, you can purchase a car with the money as long as you're using the car to attend school. Some state grants require a certain grade point average or high school attendance in the state. State grants are available through the financial aid office at your college and are offered in your award letter.
Private Grants
Many private grants are offered by professional organizations and other groups. The National Health Services Corps, for example, provides funding to students studying to become health care professionals. Even if a private grant is small, it can be combined with state and federal grants to fund your entire education and, depending on the cost of the vehicle you want, transportation needs. Many websites, including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Education Place, Scholarships.com and Students.gov, can help you find grants that meet your needs.
Tags: Grant which, purchase with, your education, applied your, been applied, been applied your