With how the world has changed over the past few years, a lot of people have been considering if they still need to own a car. Are you one of those people? Maybe you’re considering buying a car but aren’t sure if you actually need one/should get one? Well this article will help you figure it out.
Why Do People Get Cars?
Let’s start off really basic here: Why do people get cars in the first place? There’s a couple reasons we can figure. Getting around is much simpler with a car, it’s more convenient than walking or using public transport. Some people may need a car for their job if they’re job requires moving from place to place or carrying things around, or if their office is in a place that they couldn’t get to on public transit.
Some people just like cars, they think they’re cool and they want one. These are the primary reasons people own cars. So, do you actually need a car to get where you want to go?
Costs of Car Ownership
All of those reasons come at a significant cost, which is probably why you’re even considering letting go of or buying a car, but let’s lay them out anyway.
There’s of course all of the financial costs: the initial purchase of the car plus any payments towards loans, there’s monthly fuel costs, maintenance costs, car insurance premiums, and many more smaller costs. Car Ownership is a significant financial investment.
There’s of course an environmental concern for many people as well, daily car driving significantly increases your carbon footprint.
What’s The Alternative?
If you were to try and live car free, what’s the alternative? Well it primarily depends on where you live, if you live in the city center close by where you work, or if you work from home like a lot of people these days then you may be able to get by just by walking from place to place, which would save a significant amount of money at the expense of your legs.
If you live a bit further out then buses or perhaps trains may be your primary source of transport, or if you prefer Uber/Lyft. Though public transport may be more reliable. It does have a cost attached though still much less than you’d be paying for the equivalent car journey.
Some things will be harder to replace, like doing a big shopping, you’ve only got two hands, though you can again borrow a quarantine standard and have all your shopping delivered instead.
Do You Need A Car?
Honestly geography is probably the biggest factor in this question, where you live and what places are around you. If you live close to the store and your work then you do not need to own a car, if you can also deal with the lack of freedom.
Not owning a car means every trip further than walking distance has to be a plan. More than convenience, that’s what you’re giving up when you get rid of your car, the freedom to just go places whenever you want.
Either way, We’d happily take a car off your hands or set you up with a new one! Click here to contact us today.