The time has come. Summer is almost over, and fall semester is right around the corner. You've been holding it down in your childhood bedroom for months, but soon you'll be heading back to your dorm room until Christmas break. Unfortunately, that means figuring out how you can consolidate a room's worth of clothing, accessories and furniture to fit into your tiny compact car.

But don't worry – packing up your vehicle for college doesn't have to be a nightmare.  Here are a few tips to consider before you start the process:

Get a tuneup
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Before you begin packing, make sure you take your car in for a tune up. This can save you the hassle of potentially breaking down on the side of the road en route to your college dorm. According to Car Care, you should get the following checked during your maintenance appointment:

• Engine oil level.
• Windshield washer fluid.
• Tire condition.
• Dashboard indicator lights.

Once the technician has performed those tasks, you should be good to go for your trip. Just remember to schedule another appointment in three months for another tuneup. 

Choose efficient storage containers
Sure, large transparent bins might be handy and efficient for the unpacking process, but are they the best choice for the allotted space? Those containers are going to take up a lot of room in your car, which means they'll probably add clutter to your dorm too. Instead of creating unnecessary chaos, choose the space-saving storage option. All You magazine suggested packing your items in medium-sized containers they can stay in, such as plastic carts and storage drawers. Otherwise, use small boxes or bags that don't take up too much of the cabin.

Don't overpack
Once you've determined what you'll use for storage, think long and hard about what you're going to take. Packing light is your best option, as it'll allow more space in the car during the move. Besides, you're heading to a new room, and you shouldn't be trying to mirror your old one. Professional organizer Andrew Mellen told All You that you should be willing to make some changes in college, and bringing everything you own can keep you from accomplishing that.

"Be available for the adventure of college, rather than try to recreate a childhood bedroom experience in your new life," he said.

Only bring items you couldn't imagine living without. Those old high school yearbooks and stuffed animals from the fifth grade? They can stay at home.

Buy essentials later
If your mother is an extreme couponer and loves to shop in bulk, there's a chance she's going to want to give you enough toiletries to last the entire semester. While that's extremely generous of her, those items are only going to take up space in your car that you could use for something else. You can thankfully decline to save some space, or simply ask her to take you for a shopping trip after you've unpacked the car at school. Then, you'll have tons of space to transfer those bulk items back to your dorm.

Don't invite the entire family
If you want to make the most of the room in your car, minimize the amount of people you invite for the trip. Consider leaving the front seat open for one passenger, but dedicate the rest of your cabin to your belongings. If more people want to assist with the move-in process, simple ask them to bring a second car. Maybe they'll even offer up the extra space in their trunk for those items you just couldn't part with.

Need a new ride for college? Head to NJ Auto Auction, where you'll find a lot full of quality, Carfax-certified vehicles to choose from. Or, if your car just needs a good tuneup, head to the shop and let the technicians get it ready for the road.