Car Tetris - where the goal is simple: fit everything in, shut the boot, and still be able to see out the back window.

The great university migration is officially underway and we’ve got your back! Moving in can be chaotic, so we’ve put together some handy tips for packing everything into a standard 5-door car. We've also got some info on the cars with the biggest boot space and our university packing essentials.

Even if you're not heading to university, the rules of Car Tetris could be super handy if you're moving house, helping someone you know move house (good karma) or doing a massive clear out.

This is your very own “Car Tetris” masterclass so you're ready to move and kick-start the next exciting chapter of your life ✨

The 5 steps of Car Tetris

Step one - the ‘big, sturdy’ blocks 👝 Start with the bulky, solid items first: suitcases, boxes, flat-pack furniture, basically anything that won’t squish easily. This gives you a solid foundation to build around and helps prevent mid-journey slip-and-slides.

Step two - the ‘most awkward’ blocks 🎸 If you’ve got a quirkily shaped lamp, guitar cases, or any large poster tubes – they’re your “awkward pieces.” Rotate, tilt, and slot them in until they click into place together. Don’t be afraid of the reshuffle. (Yes, you will reload the boot at least twice before you’re happy enough to hit the road.)

Step three - the ‘squishy’ blocks. Once you’ve laid your foundations it’s time to fill any gaps with your flexible, squishable items. Bedding, coats, towels, or bags of clothes are perfect for padding out awkward corners and keeping fragile bits safe. They’re here to bend and fill the spaces nothing else can.

Step four - the ‘miscellaneous’ blocks. Passenger footwells, behind-the-seat gaps, the glove box, and even that mysterious space under the passenger seat - they’re all fair game for those smaller, miscellaneous bits. Smaller items like shoes, toiletries, or kitchen bits can slot into these bonus slots as well.

Step five - the ‘leave yourself room so you can see out the back’ blocks. A fully packed car is impressive and might save you more trips, but a fully packed car where you can’t see out the back is a hazard. Leave a clear view through your rear window. Future-you, merging onto the motorway will thank you. It’s tempting to cram until the doors barely close, but leave yourself room to move, adjust mirrors, and breathe. If you can’t change gear without elbowing a bin bag, it’s time to re-think.

While Car Tetris may sound like a faff, getting temporary car insurance sorted isn’t.

If you're borrowing a car to move, or lending your car to someone making the move, then temporary car insurance is a great way to make sure you have the correct insurance in place that is comprehensive and won't affect your no claims bonus.

Do it even faster in our app.

Temporary Car Insurance

Takes less than 60 seconds!

Packing up for uni? These cars have impressive boot space 🚗🎒

We’ve given you our guide to fitting your entire life in the car and on the road, but that can only go so far. Scientifically speaking, you’re going to need a bigger boat 🦈

Some 5-door cars are far better suited to the game of Tetris than others...

Škoda Superb Estate - An incredible 690 litres with the seats up. That’s basically enough room to stash two washing machines side-by-side (we'd stick to just your belongings though, they’ll probably have washing machines there... But it’s good to know right?).

Volkswagen Passat Estate - Pretty much identical to the Superb; it’s like bringing a moving van in car form.

Škoda Octavia Hatchback - With 590 litres, it’ll swallow way more than you’d expect from a hatchback.

Peugeot 5008 SUV - 780 litres in five-seat mode, which is pretty huge!

The small but mighty Renault Clio (petrol version) – Packs a hefty 391 litres of boot space. With the seats folded it can expand to a decent 1,069 litres. To put that into perspective, that’s enough room for about 10 medium suitcases, 265 pairs of trainers, or even a beanbag sofa for your new flat. We think that’s not bad for a “little car,” eh?

Still need more space? Temporary van insurance has you covered

Did you know Covertime can provide temporary van insurance? Well, it’s true! Heading off to uni or moving house means maybe you need to borrow a van to transport your life to your new place! We all like to have our home comforts, especially if you’re heading to uni as a fresher.

Getting temporary van insurance to head to university could not be more simple. You can get a quote anytime for as many hours or days as you need it. One of the best things about a temporary van policy is the flexibility - you only pay for cover when you actually need it. So, if you’re driving to uni but a friend or family member needs to bring the van back, they can simply take out their own temporary policy for the return trip. Easy!

If you’re lending your van to a student going off to university then it’s important to make sure they are legally insured to drive your van. Rather than adding them to your annual insurance policy, a temporary policy is a van-tastic faff-free option.

Getting a quote is quick and easy.

Do it even faster in our app.

Temporary Van Insurance

Takes less than 60 seconds!

So now you hopefully have the tools to pack up the car or van as efficiently as possible, we’ve got to make sure we’re not forgetting anything. Here’s our, ‘as long as you have these things you’ll be fine’ checklist.

You’re probably not heading into the middle of the wilderness to go to uni so it’s okay to forget things - you’ll be able to buy the things you forget when you’re there. Having said that, here are some things we think will be good to try to remember if you can. This will save you time on the other side so you can focus on Freshers Week, rather than heading to the shops.

Essentials: Clothes for all weather, towels & bed linen, toiletries, everyday & night-out shoes.

Study stuff: Laptop & charger, notebooks, pens, course-specific kit.

Kitchen basics: Plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery, Tupperware, small appliances, tea/coffee/snacks.

Extras: Laundry bag, umbrella, small toolkit or scissors, sewing kit

Optional but nice: Fairy lights, decorations, first aid kit, reusable water bottle, games, books, headphones.