We aim to unveil the potential risk of measurement error when using questionnaires to assess universalism in non-US populations, where universalism is more commonly implemented through the state than through direct donations. We emphasize that universalism can be implemented through different vehicles, with the relative importance of these vehicles varying across cultures. In some contexts, the state vehicle may better reflect individuals’ universalism value, with important implications for state capacity and legitimacy. We develop the strategy to compare individual-level measurements of universalism across different vehicles, using data from our own collections in France. Our findings confirm that considering alternative vehicles not only generalizes the empirical measurement of universalism but also deepens its conceptual understanding.