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As the new academic year gets underway, new research from PEUGEOT has revealed the hidden financial and logistical costs parents face when helping their children move to university, with packed cars, multiple journeys and fuel costs all adding to the expense.
The research found that 85% of parents with children at university have helped with their move, with 90% relying on their own car to transport their child and their belongings. By comparison, just 9% used the train and 8% used a van.
Parents spend an average of £221 on transportation and relocation costs when their child starts university. Fuel and new home essentials, such as kitchenware and bedding, were among the biggest expenses, with 35% of parents saying these costs outweighed even the accommodation deposit, which was the biggest expense for 33%.
The challenge is not just financial. Almost a quarter (23%) of parents needed two cars to complete the move, while 48% described their car as being ‘full to overflowing’. Bedding took up the most space for 62% of parents, followed by clothes (55%), kitchenware (41%) and electronics (36%).
With so much to transport, it is perhaps unsurprising that 82% of parents said they would have benefited from a larger car with more boot space. PEUGEOT’s E-5008 SUV is designed with this type of flexibility in mind, offering up to 2,232 litres of boot space and seven seats as standard, providing plenty of room for passengers and university essentials.
Steve Wass, Managing Director of PEUGEOT UK, said: “PEUGEOT understands the pressures and logistics that come with family life; our cars are designed to handle the everyday drives as well as life's big moments, like the milestone journey when re-locating your child for university.”
The distance involved can also add to the challenge. PEUGEOT found that parents travel just over 100 miles on average when moving their children to university. For 22% of parents, the university was between 50 and 100 miles from home, while 14% travelled 100–150 miles and 9% travelled 150–200 miles.
While 51% of parents managed the move in a single journey, 37% had to make the trip twice and a further 9% made three journeys. For families travelling considerable distances, the ability to combine space with efficient long-distance driving can therefore be particularly valuable.
The fully electric PEUGEOT E-5008 is available with 73kWh and 97kWh Long Range batteries, with the latter offering up to 413 miles of WLTP range. This provides ample range for longer journeys while also offering the flexibility of seven seats and a spacious interior.
The university commute doesn't end once the initial move is complete. PEUGEOT’s research found that parents typically visit their children at university four times a year, with 89% choosing to travel by car. These journeys cost parents an average of £161 over the course of the year, compared with 19% travelling by train and 5% by bus or coach. The findings highlight how university life can create a significant ongoing commitment for families, with the initial move followed by regular journeys throughout the academic year. For parents looking for a vehicle capable of handling everything from the weekly family routine to long-distance university trips, space, flexibility and efficient running costs can all play an important role.