Deciding whether or not to learn to drive while studying can be a hard choice. There seem to be equal points both for and against, so it really is up to you to decide what is best for your situation. But, to help you decide, here are the top pros and cons if you are wondering is it worth learning to drive at university?
Pros
Reliable
Being able to drive and having a car makes you wildly reliable. This is a great quality to employers in city centres, as, unlike other students who can’t drive, you won’t be at the mercy of unreliable public transport.
You can also rely on your car to get you to and from places, giving you peace of mind. You won’t ever have to run for the train again.
Independence
University gives you independence on its own. However, if you can drive, this furthers what you can do on your own. You no longer have to rely on your parents or guardians when you go home, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want.
Being able to drive means that you can even go and see your new university friends in their hometown, instead of having to wait until classes start back!
See also: My Experience Travelling Solo After University
Flexibility
Car’s give you flexibility in your schedule. Whether this relates to time or distance, you will have more room to organise your affairs and get to and from different places.
You can even begin to look for jobs further afield than your immediate town. This means that you don’t have to settle for the first pub job you find you can really have a good look around at what best serves you and your schedule.
Costs
There are so many costs that come with learning to drive and even just owning and driving a car. First off, you can spend well over £1000 on driving lessons alone. Then you need to pay to take your theory test AND your actual driving test.
Then you have the cost of buying a car and insuring it. This can come at quite a pretty penny for new drivers, so you may need to use some of your savings or ask your parents to hep you out.
Finally, cars need petrol to run and that, sadly, is not free. You will have to get petrol weekly or at least bi-weekly, which eats away at your bank account.
Parking
You need to seriously consider where you will leave your car when you aren’t using it.
- Does your campus have free on-site parking?
- Will you have to leave it on the street?
- Do you feel safe leaving your car on campus?
You may have to pay a set fee to park your car in specific places, which again cuts into your bank account.
Usage
Before buying a car or learning to drive, you should consider whether it is worth it. If you can walk or get the bus or train to most places around your university, it may be more of a hassle to get a car.
Walking, or getting train tickets here and there will be much cheaper than driving a short five-minutes into town, having to find parking and then paying for that parking.
Ask yourself: do you travel far enough to warrant a car?
Read next: How To Prepare For Your Second Term At Uni