The costliest universities to keep a car at

A new study has uncovered the universities students should
dodge keeping a vehicle at, should they want to have any loan left after
forking out for parking, insurance and fuel. Our motoring journalist, Tim Barnes-Clay, reports.
By working out the overheads of keeping and owning a car at
British universities, latest research can tell which educational establishments
are vehicle-friendly, and which undergraduates would be at an advantage leaving
their motor at home.
Imperial College London crowned the register of the priciest
universities to keep a set-of-wheels. In spite of London students getting a
bigger loan than other scholars, owning a motor while reading
for a degree at this university will gobble up approximately 75 per cent of
their student loan. Oxford, Sheffield, Cambridge and Norwich are also among the
costliest universities to own a vehicle at.
The five priciest universities to keep a motor at:
University |
% of student loan spent on parking |
% of student loan spent on petrol |
% of student loan spent on insurance |
% of student loan spent on overall costs |
Imperial College London |
41% |
6.55% |
27% |
75% |
University of Oxford |
45% |
8.47% |
21% |
74% |
Sheffield Hallam University |
29% |
8.40% |
29% |
67% |
University of Cambridge |
53% |
8.47% |
22% |
64% |
Norwich University of the Arts |
32% |
8.33% |
22% |
62% |
London students needing to park near to campus for the day
throughout term time can anticipate splurging more than two fifths of their
student loan (£4500, 41 per cent) on parking alone. Then they can
expect to pay another £720.10 on fuel. This, as well as the yearly cost of car
insurance, which for a 17-20-year-old in the area is £1872 (22 per cent). Then,
three quarters of a student loan (75 per cent) is likely to be spent on simply
maintaining a motor in London.
The University of Oxford, while ranking the second most
expensive uni to own a car, offers at least some respite from digging deep into
your pockets. Oxford enjoys the second most low-cost average car insurance price
(£1745). This means students who elect not to park up at the university can
still see a large fall in costs.
The study has also revealed the most generous universities
to keep a motor at. Notwithstanding the south of England’s reputation for being
costly, vehicle ownership there is relatively economical. The five
easiest-on-your bank
balance universities to keep a car at are either in the south or the
midlands.
The five cheapest universities to keep a motor at:
University |
% of student loan spent on parking |
% of student loan spent on petrol |
% of student loan spent on insurance |
% of student loan spent on overall costs |
Southampton Solent University |
9% |
8.47% |
22% |
40% |
University of Sussex |
10% |
8.40% |
23% |
41% |
University of Brighton |
10% |
8.47% |
23% |
41% |
University of Exeter |
14% |
8.40% |
19% |
42% |
University of Leicester |
9% |
8.40% |
25% |
42% |
Those student drivers looking to run a vehicle while at
university might want to be aware of which areas are more predisposed to car crime. Crime records for vehicle
villainy in the last two years reveal that University College Birmingham is the
hottest for vehicle theft (99.961/100). Nearby Aston University, Birmingham
City University and then Sheffield Hallam University come next.
A spokesperson for Car Parts 4 Less, the firm behind the
research, commented: “It’s great to get some solid statistics that definitively
show where is best to keep your car at university, and that the south is
actually not as exorbitant as you’d think. Unsurprisingly, keeping a car at
university in London is a huge cost, however there are other transport options
available in the capital.”
With all the above in mind, our guide to the four most
economical cars for students might help you keep your motoring costs down, if
you need to run a motor at uni.

1. Vauxhall Corsa
Capable of 50mpg and sitting in the lower vehicle excise
duty tax band, a five-door, 1.0-litre, 5 2008 Vauxhall Corsa is a
top motor for students. With an inexpensive price-tag, an efficient powerplant
and in the cheap insurance group 2 category, it’s also roomy enough to
transport fellow students around. In addition, it’s easy to get hold of and
comes with a variety of trim levels. That said; it’s best to avoid the more
athletic Corsa models, which can inflate insurance fees – so keep to the basic
versions of the Vauxhall instead.

2. Renault Clio
Another low-cost hatchback is the French-made Renault Clio. This is a
popular first car choice, and while a tad more expensive to purchase than the
Corsa, it’s a sophisticated, entertaining run-about that gives good value for
money. Go for a 1.2-litre 2006 model to keep the purchase and insurance costs
down.

3. Ford Fiesta
Ford’s Fiesta has been around
over 40 years now, and is perennially well-liked by first-time buyers. The
supermini offers good space and it’s cheap to buy and run. Indeed, this
hatchback is ideally matched to city living and this makes it especially
appealing to uni students.

4. Ford Ka
With exceptionally low road tax, bargain-basement insurance
and excellent running costs, the Ford Ka, while generally
pricier than the majority of cars on this list, is a good car for students.
Very popular with women drivers, the Ford Ka’s raised seat position gives a top
view of the road ahead.
Contact us at
Perrys to find out how we can help you get in to any of the cars, listed above.
There might be other vehicles that’ll suit your needs, too.