having a car at uni

I thinking of buying a car, but I’m not sure how useful/convenient it will be in uni. I’m going Cardiff Uni in September , so i’m not sure if i’m just gonna be wasting money.

Is it worth it?

Reply 1

Scienceisgood

Will it be useful to have? Yes, very much so as you can use it for runs to the shops (you can only carry so much in your hands shopping wise and also keeps you dry when raining).

HOWEVER, you also need to factor into account parking when looking into accommodation and/or university as if there are no spaces available (especially if living in houses with over five people), where would you put it?

I currently live in a 12 bed house (albeit not student accommodation) and as such, chose not to bring my car with me and leave it at home (chose to get a bus pass) as I have absolutely nowhere to park it as 12 new cars on a street is simply unviable.

Factor this into account during your decision.

Reply 2

Robby Gardner

Original post

by bbless_

I thinking of buying a car, but I’m not sure how useful/convenient it will be in uni. I’m going Cardiff Uni in September , so i’m not sure if i’m just gonna be wasting money.
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Honestly it really depends on where you're living and what you're planning to do outside of uni. If you're staying in halls or somewhere close to campus, you probably won't need it much day-to-day since Cardiff's pretty walkable and has decent public transport. But if you're thinking of exploring Wales on weekends, visiting home regularly, or doing a part-time job somewhere off-campus, then having a car could be really handy. Just keep in mind the running costs add up quick - insurance, petrol, parking permits, and maintenance can easily hit £200+ a month. Cardiff does have some student parking options but they're not cheap, and street parking near campus can be a nightmare. Maybe see how you get on for the first term without one, then reassess? You can always get a car later if you find you actually need it, but it's harder to get rid of one if you realize it's just sitting there costing you money.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 3

CardiffUni Rep 2

Official Rep

Original post

by bbless_

I thinking of buying a car, but I’m not sure how useful/convenient it will be in uni. I’m going Cardiff Uni in September , so i’m not sure if i’m just gonna be wasting money.
Is it worth it?

Hi there!

As others have said, it really depends on what you'll be finding yourself doing, but usually, its not really necessary as Cardiff is a very walkable city and many students get by without driving.

I think a car is pretty convenient if you plan on travelling a lot, or if you have hobbies/interest in certain activities that is a bit farther. For example, sports clubs like climbing or skating society access their gyms/ice rinks a little further away from campus, so a lot of students take public transport. It is also convenient if you want to shop from alternative, bigger supermarkets. We have a very convenient Lidl on campus and lots of corner/grocery shops, but say if you wanted to shop from the big Tesco or Asda, you may have to go further out away from campus :smile: