PEUGEOT REVEALS THE HIDDEN COST OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUTE AS PARENTS OF STUDENTS REPORT PAYING MORE ON FUEL THAN A DEPOSIT FOR ACCOMODATION
16 September 2026
As the new academic year gets underway, new research from PEUGEOT* reveals the hidden financial and logistical burden facing parents as they help their children make the move to university, with fuel, multiple car journeys and packed cars adding to the cost of the big move.
85% of parents with children at university have helped their child with moving, with the vast majority (90%) relying on their own car to transport them and their belongings, versus just 9% using the train and 8% using a van.
Fuel and new home essentials such as kitchenware and bedding were the biggest expenses uncovered for over a third (35%) of parents, even ranking ahead of the cost of a deposit to secure their child’s accommodation (33%). Hotel stays were the biggest expense for 11% of parents, while 5% of parents said parking charges and van hire incurred the highest costs when moving their child to university.
In total, parents spend an average of £221 on transportation and re-location costs for their child when starting university.
For almost a quarter (23%), two cars were required to make the move, with almost half (48%) of parents reporting their car to be ‘full to overflowing’ with the necessary moving items. Bedding was cited as taking up the most space (62%), closely followed by clothes (55%), kitchenware (41%) and electronics (36%).
Unsurprisingly, just over four fifths (82%) of parents making the university commute said they would have benefitted from a larger car with more boot space. PEUGEOT’s SUV range includes the fully electric E-5008, which offers up to 2,232 litres of boot space** as well as the flexibility of seven seats as standard, helping it accommodate all the university essentials with ease.
Steve Wass, Managing Director, 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. Our largest SUV, the E-5008, is fitted with seven seats as standard, as well as generous storage and boot space, and with an electric range of up to 413 miles, it's not only a practical choice for busy parents but it also provides peace of mind when it comes to making long journeys too.”
PEUGEOT’s research found the average distance for parents to move their children was just over 100 miles. With almost a quarter (22%) going to university 50-100 miles away from their family home, 14% re-locating 100-150 miles away and 9% going to university 150-200 miles away, the university commute is considerable.
While just over half (51%) of parents with children going to university managed the move in a single trip, over a third (37%) had to make the journey twice, while 9% made the university commute three times.
The PEUGEOT E-5008 is available in both 73kWh and 97kWh Long Range versions, the latter providing a range of up to 413 miles (WLTP) – more than enough to cover the typical journey to and from university.
The research by PEUGEOT also found that parents typically visit their children at university four times per year on average, with 89% choosing to make the journey by car, compared with 19% travelling by train and 5% by bus or a coach. Over the year, these trips cost parents £161 on average.
ENDS
*Survey of 2,000 UK parent drivers whose children started university in the past three years, conducted by OnePoll in September 2026
**with row two and row three seats folded down
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ABOUT PEUGEOT
PEUGEOT offers the widest EV lineup of any European mainstream brand, covering all needs from urban cars to commercial vehicles. The French charisma, the driving sensations and the Designed to last constitute the brand values of PEUGEOT. Established in over 140 countries, PEUGEOT sold almost 1.1 million vehicles worldwide in 2024. Already the leader in electric B-segment and LCV vehicles in Europe, PEUGEOT is now offering a complete lineup of 12 models, of which nine are Passenger cars and three LCVs. PEUGEOT offers 8-year/100,000-mile PEUGEOT CARE coverage on the battery and the vehicle of all its core electric passenger cars for complete peace of mind. PEUGEOT products incorporate the latest technology, showcased by the Panoramic i-Cockpit and ChatGPT® on board across the entire range. PEUGEOT is also committed to educating younger generations by supporting initiatives, such as Born Free and Under The Pole, to bring them closer to nature. Furthermore, PEUGEOT's passion for performance and innovation is showcased through the PEUGEOT 9X8 Hypercar, which competes in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Originally published by Peugeot
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