Students who live away from their family home for most of the year can still be fined for using a visitor permit when they return - Edella/Photo Italia LLCDear Alex,Parking permits apply to our street. Another resident’s son, a full-time student living away, came home for a few days and used a visitor permit. But his family was fined for misusing the permit, since the car was registered at the home address and therefore he was not considered a visitor. The council has refused their appeals. We use our visitor permit for the same purpose, as do many other neighbours with students who change addresses frequently. Surely it isn’t expected that students change their car’s registered address every year?– SRDear SR,The council’s logic is understandable. If the student’s car is registered at the home address, it is considered part of the household. In the same way that if the student were living at home and parking there all the time, or hadn’t taken the car away to university, it would be required to have an additional resident’s permit.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf, on the other hand, the student’s car is registered to their term-time address, it is no longer considered to be part of the household and would then be permitted to use a visitor permit.Some councils limit the number of parking permits a household is allowed. If this is the case and you’ve already reached that limit, there’s no easy solution – the student simply can’t register their car at the home address and expect to keep it there.Registering the car at the term-time address will indeed require a change of address each year, which I appreciate is a bit of a faff. But it has its upsides. For one thing, it reduces the risk of being stopped by police checking why a car is a long way from its registered address.It will also make insurance easier. If the student’s term-time address is where the car spends the majority of the time – in other words, if it stays with the student for the full 30-32 weeks of the university study year – they will be expected to insure it at that address.AdvertisementAdvertisementInsurers usually allow you to declare that the car is insured at one address and kept at another, but keeping the insurance and registration at the same address makes life a little simpler when renewing.One workaround might be to have the car registered at the home of a friend or family member who doesn’t live in the same parking permit area. As long as you still inform the insurer where the car is kept for the majority of the time (at the student address) there would be no legal issue with doing so; the car would then be eligible to use a visitor permit at the parental address.The Mercedes E-Class estate is a reliable choice for drivers wanting to travel long distances without foregoing luxury - Mercedes-Benz AGWhich large estate or SUV will last the longest?Our brilliant 2015 Mercedes C200 estate is approaching 200,000 miles and we need a replacement that’s larger, to carry five adults with their kit without struggling for power. I would prefer a non-hybrid estate and have narrowed my list to a Mercedes E400d, Volkswagen Arteon R, Audi Q7 or Volkswagen Touareg. Skoda and Volvo are off the list, while friends’ BMWs and Land Rovers proved hopelessly unreliable. I’d be looking to buy used, up to four years old; running costs are no object. Which of the above do you recommend to run for eight to 10 years? Should I consider anything else?– NFDear NF,All of your suggestions have their merits, although my preference would be for the Mercedes. The E-Class estate has always been the go-to choice for those needing to haul lots of stuff in luxurious surroundings over long distances; the 400d you’ve suggested makes a lot of sense.AdvertisementAdvertisementI’d put the Audi Q7 in second. It’s getting on a bit, but every time I drive one I’m reminded of what a class act it is, with acres of space, high-quality materials and a range of powerful engines.The VW Arteon R is a bit of a hidden gem; tricky to find and quite thirsty, although the most rewarding of the bunch on a challenging road. But how often will you be driving it in that manner? For the majority of the rest of the time, the Mercedes will be more frugal and more comfortable.While the Touareg is large and comfortable, the Q7 simply does it better. The last Touareg I drove also had a jittery, unsettled ride quality – and an interior that didn’t match the Q7’s.As for alternatives, normally I’d suggest a Lexus but you don’t want a hybrid. However, if I could convince you otherwise, an RX is undoubtedly a good choice – and you can keep it in warranty for most of your eight to 10 years of ownership, something that can’t be said of any of the other suggestions.AdvertisementAdvertisementFinally, a BMW is worth a look. Your friends may have had some poor experiences, but BMW has been working on its reliability and the results of the latest What Car? Reliability Survey uphold this; BMW was sixth of 30 manufacturers, whereas Mercedes and Audi were joint 22nd.Besides, a 5 Series Touring is one of the finest estates around and easily a match for the Merc in terms of quality, while bettering it on driver enjoyment. On balance, especially since you’ve probably built up a relationship with a Mercedes dealer or specialist, the E400d will suit you best – but I wouldn’t rule out the BMW quite so readily.Do you have a question? Contact carsadvice@telegraph.co.ukTry full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.