The time has come – you’ve spent years at school and college working towards this exact moment.
The moment you leave home and make the trip up to University, where you will spend the next three or so years of your life.
Are you scared? Excited? Nervous? Can’t wait?
Whatever emotion you’re feeling at this point – make sure you’re prepared.
We know that prepping for this moment has likely meant that you have gone out and bought an abundance of home furnishings, clothing, and creature comforts to decorate your new room.
But, now wondering how you’re going to fit it all in your car? Fancy your skills at Tetris?
We will try to guide you through this & maybe remind you of one or two things you’ve forgotten about along the way.
Step One: Prioritise
Understanding your limits is absolutely key in packing for University; unfortunately, unless a close friend or family member drives a van or has a fleet of small lorries, then you may be fairly limited in how much you can bring to your new residence at University.
So, it is important that you prioritise exactly what you’ll need to bring with you to survive at University; you can always bring extra stuff back whenever you head back home (if you choose to), but on your initial trip to University, start with the essentials.
These essentials include:
- Bedding (Duvet, Pillows, Covers)
- Kitchenware (Plates, utensils, pans)
- Stationary (Pencils, pens, folders, coursebooks)
- Clothing
Once these are loaded up, then it’s time to start bringing some home comforts (no, you cannot bring your cat/ dog).
Having a liveable and cosy area will help your mental health at University, so make sure you spend a moment or two styling exactly how you love it.
Step Two: Placement
It might sound horrible – but packing your heaviest, bulkiest and most awkward items in the car first is incredibly important.
Not only will it stop you from draining the last sap of your energy levels, but it gives your car better balance. Over-packing cars can create quite a few problems for a driver – it can reduce balance, decrease the handling of your car and increase its stopping distance; all of which are highly dangerous if travelling at speed. So it’s important that you are very careful and don’t try and take more than your car can handle.
It’s actually in the Highway Code – “you must not overload your vehicle or trailer. You should not tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle”. If you are unsure of what this would be – consult your vehicles handbook, for more information.
Also, putting all of your heaviest items on the boot floor will stop them from crushing your valuables over the course of the journey. God forbid you drive all the way up to University and find out your prized lamp has been smashed because of your kitchen pots.
Step Three: Security
You may find that your boot isn’t sufficient, and your items start to overflow into every available gap in the back of your car.
It’s inevitable.
But check that items are fastened down and secured. If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a car accident, and your things are loose in the back, they could cause serious injuries.
So strap everything down – especially your kitchen knives.
Also, make sure you aren’t blocking any windows or mirrors too!
Step Four: Important Information
If you plan to drive whilst at University or look to be insured temporarily on another car, then it’s incredibly important to take both your insurance documents and your driving licence with you.
Not only will you need this if renting another car, but bringing your driving licence with you is probably the best form of ID to take out when you head to the Students Union bars.
Did someone say responsible drinking?
Double-check you have these, and any other important documents or items before you finally depart for University.
Step Five: Check Tyres
Most would overlook this step – checking tyres in the grand scheme of things seems like a small meaningless task, but adding extra weight to your car will mean that it becomes imperative for you to make adjustments.
Not only will this save you fuel if they are pumped up properly, but it will also mean that the car is safe to drive. The guidance for pumping up your tyres to the correct pressure for the size of load you have can make it much safer to drive along with & less likely to have problems on the road.
We hope that we have helped provide you with some basic information on how you can play car Tetris – and be comfortable doing it.
Moving to University can be nerve-wracking, but have one less thing to worry about on the way up.
Good luck on your next few years. We have a feeling you’ll do amazing!
For a few more last-minute tips, look below…
Our top tips:
- If you are organised enough, then we would definitely recommend going out and buying some plastic boxes to transport your items in. They are great space savers for your car, as well as being heavy-duty, meaning that items won’t get crushed inside.(They also serve another purpose – storage. At University space is often limited, so having boxes to store things in underneath your bed is incredibly important.)
- Buy rubber mats for the boot of your car – these can help protect the interior of your boot and stop items from moving whilst you are driving.
- If you have a roof rack, then this can be another great way of storing your items safely – especially if you have a full carload. But make sure you do not overload the roof rack, as there is often a weight limit which cannot be exceeded.
- Always take your spare key up to University if you are planning to keep your car at your new place. This will avoid a lot of hassle if you accidentally lose your original key.
- If you are keeping your car at University, make sure you let us know about your change of address immediately and find a safe, secure place to park.
If you’d like to get a quote with us, complete it online now, or contact us on 0333 103 7897