If you’re off to University, you’ll have a lot of tough decisions to make. The big one, of course, is which University you want to go to, you’ll then have to decide on your accommodation, clubs and societies you’d like to join and last but not least if you’ve passed your driving test, whether or not you want to take your car with you.
Taking your car to University
There are many pros and cons to consider when it comes to taking your car to University or leaving it at home. We have put together the biggest pros and cons of taking your car to uni so that you can weigh them up and make a well-informed decision that best suits you.
Reasons to take your car to University
Freedom
When you’ve passed your driving test, you’ll understand the sense of freedom you feel when you finally have your own set of wheels and no longer have to rely on buses, taxis or lifts from mum and dad. Giving up this freedom when going to University could be difficult, and you may miss just being able to pop to the local supermarket or drive to work.
Most people going to University will be moving away from home to a new town or city; this means there will be tons of new places to visit and explore. Having a car at University will make it a lot easier to go and explore your new surroundings with friends.
Visit home whenever you want
A huge pro (or con, depending on how well you get on with your family) is you can visit your family whenever you want. Depending on where you decide to go to University, it may be difficult to get back to your hometown using public transport, if this is the case for you then bringing your car with you is something you may seriously be considering. Some students like to visit their hometowns to see friends and family every weekend, while others go home during half-terms and summer breaks.
Easily move your stuff to and from uni
I think most of us would agree that lugging a heavy suitcase around on public transport is not fun. If you want to avoid having to do this regularly, it may be a good idea to bring your car to uni with you. Whether you’re just popping home for a few days or heading back for the summer, you’re going to need to bring clothes, shoes, toiletries, and books home with you. You might even want to take your dirty washing home with you to save using the facilities at your accommodation as these can often be expensive, depending on where you’re staying.
Always be on time for lectures and classes
If you live off-campus, you may have a bit of a travel to get to your lectures. Rushing to catch the bus to make it to your 9 am lecture is not fun and neither is being late because you missed the bus. Public transport is not always 100% reliable, sometimes buses/trains run late, or services cancelled, it’s just the way things go.
Having your car at uni, the only person you’ll have to rely on is yourself, so if you’re late for your lectures, there’s only one person to blame. If any of your housemates are doing the same course as you or need to be in at the same time, you can give them a lift and score some brownie points. Being able to drive to uni, you will also save yourself time in the mornings, which means you can have an extra 30 minutes in bed or breakfast before class.
Food shopping
Living away from home, the big weekly food shop is now your responsibility, and those shopping bags can get heavy! If you don’t have access to a car, it can be a real struggle trying to get heavy shopping bags home. On a student budget, forking out for a taxi is not a sensible option, and using buses often involves long walks unless you’re lucky enough to have a bus stop directly outside of your house and supermarket.
Reasons to leave your car at home
Can you afford it?
One of the biggest questions to ask yourself when considering whether or not to take your car to uni is can you afford to keep and run a car while at uni? On top of the cost of running a vehicle, you will also have to factor in money for your rent, bills, food and money for social activities. This all depends on your personal finances; you might be lucky enough to have parents who are helping you out or maybe you’re managing the money side of things by yourself.
Whatever your circumstances are, we recommend putting together a spreadsheet to work out your outgoings and income to see how much money you will have to spare each month. This way you can see if bringing your car to University is a sensible financial decision or if it’s going to leave you living off pot noodles and baked beans.
Do you need a car?
This largely depends on your situation and personal circumstances. For example, if you live on campus, just a short walk from everything you need such as shops and lecture halls, you may find that you don’t need a car and in fact, it may just be sitting there collecting dust. If you’re going to University in a city such as Oxford or Lincoln, you might find it’s more convenient to get around on public transport.
However, if your halls or uni house is off-campus and a fair walk from civilisation, you might find that you need a car to get to your lectures and do the weekly food shop. Your course type can also play a part in deciding if you need a car at uni. Many courses such as medicine and dentistry are largely based off-campus with work placements in clinical academies. If you’re doing a course that involves a placement, having a car could make life a lot easier for you.
Is there somewhere safe to park?
Most students stay in halls of residence in their first year at University and usually there isn’t any parking available for students in these types of accommodation. If you’re set on taking your car with you, you’ll need to check for somewhere safe to park your car where you’re staying. Even if there is parking, it might not be free and could end up becoming quite costly for you. This is impacted further if you are in an area that has a congestion charge, like London or Bristol. If you’re moving to somewhere like London for Uni, parking may be an issue and could end up being costly.
The majority of university campuses have parking available for pupils and staff. Still, you will likely need to purchase a permit to be able to park here during the academic year. Each University will have their prices set for campus parking so you will need to check with your uni to find out prices.
Always being designated driver
If you choose to take your car with you, you’ll have to get used to being the designated driver. Admittedly, most students at University don’t bring their cars with them, so if they’re friends with someone who does have a car, (e.g. you) they’re going to be trying to blag a lift whenever they can. If this is something that doesn’t bother you, then it’s a win-win because you’ll benefit from the convenience of having your car and gain brownie points with your new friends.
Make the right decision for you
Hopefully, the points we have made here will help you decide whether or not taking your car to uni is the right option for you. Everyone’s circumstances are different, so whatever you decide, make sure it’s the right one for you and don’t just follow what others are doing.
If you do decide to take your car with you, make sure you have everything sorted before you go, for example, you will need to find a suitable place to park your vehicle and inform your insurance company of your move. If you’re leaving your car at home, it would be useful if a parent or sibling could take it out for a drive now and again and to keep it safely locked away when it’s not being used.
