12 Alternatives to Owning a Car You Should Try

 

In the US, 91.5% of the population owns a car, 37.1% own two cars, and 22% own three or more vehicles. To say the least, car ownership in the US is a cultural norm. 

But that doesn’t mean you absolutely need a car. In fact, ditching your vehicle comes with many benefits:

  • Save money on car costs. Think auto insurance, gas, repairs, and car registration fees, just to name a few. According to the Amerian Automobile Association (AAA), the annual average cost to operate a new vehicle in 2022 is $10,728.
  • Enjoy the outdoors more. For example, by walking and biking, you can get from A to B while getting in more exercise and fresh air.
  • Reduce your carbon footprint. A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
  • Slow down. Driving everywhere leads to a fast-paced lifestyle that leaves little room for reflection and enjoying the smaller moments in life.

So whether you want to save money, enjoy the outdoors, lower your carbon footprint, or enjoy a slower pace of life, there are many reasons to ditch your car.

If you do, here are several different alternatives to car ownership that you can try:

  • Ridesharing—Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft let you request a ride on an app on your phone. Enter the details and someone will come to pick you up to take you where you need to go. It’s a great way to get around if you only need an occasional ride from here to there.
  • Car sharing—Car sharing programs let you rent cars from others at an hourly or daily rate. Some popular car sharing platforms include Zipcar and Turo. Anyone can become a member to rent a car from other car owners.
  • Public transit—Of course, there’s always a public transit option if you live in or near the city: trains, buses, subways, or trams. Public transportation makes it easy to multitask, and it’s also a great way to meet new and interesting people. Just make sure to check routes and schedules ahead of time so you get on the right ride.
  • Biking—If it’s good weather, why not ride a bike to where you need to go? It’ll give you some fresh air and help you get your exercise in. You can even attach a trailer to the bike to tow a child or some groceries. 
  • Bike sharing—Bike sharing systems are becoming popular in big cities. They let you take and return bikes at select locations across the city to easily get around, and it’s usually pretty affordable.
  • Walking—There’s nothing that says you can’t walk. It can actually be quite convenient if driving or parking in the city is a nightmare. Plus, you can add the walking to your daily step count.
  • Taxis—Most cities still have taxis that you can hail. Many even have apps so you can easily track where they are and see what’s available. 
  • Delivery services—When it comes to getting take out, you don’t need to drive anywhere. You can use delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats to pick your order up and bring it to you. It’s as easy as entering your order into an app. 
  • Carpooling—It’s easy enough to catch a ride with family and friends if you’re all going to the same place. And even if not, there are carpooling apps like Waze Carpool and Via that can connect you with strangers headed in the same direction as you.
  • Working from home—Remote work (aka telecommuting) has been on the rise ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. So why not eliminate your work commute simply by working from home?
  • Shuttle services—Ever fancied yourself being chauffeured around? Then a private shuttle service might be for you. They’re good for trips to and from the airport, work trips, vacations, and more.
  • Shopping online—These days, it’s easier than ever to order things you need on ecommerce sites like Amazon, whether that’s clothes, toys, household items, or even food! If you order things online, you can save yourself countless trips to the store.

The bottom line

At the end of the day, there are many ways to get away with not owning a car. Combine any number of the options above and you’ll be well on your way! 

Give it a shot by going a week or month without using your car and see how it goes. If you find you could easily do without, then maybe it’s time to move toward cheaper, healthier, more environmentally-friendly ways of getting around.

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