There are obviously a number of advantages to living in the city. There are more amenities and conveniences as well as more job opportunities. Simply put, there is a lot to be said about city living. It is very different to life in the countryside or more rural areas in general. City living is often seen as more accessible, and the public transport links tend to be better. This is why one of the most common questions city dwellers tend to ask themselves is whether or not they need a car. There are several pros and cons to consider here, so let’s dive in.
The Pros
Owning a car has its benefits regardless of where you live. One of the most significant is the freedom that it provides. Owning your own car allows you to go wherever you want whenever you want without the need to rely on public transport or sourcing a lift from someone you know. There are no delays as with public transport, and a car means that you can go door-to-door effectively rather than looking for the nearest stops. You can get a second hand car relatively cheaply, too; they don’t have to be expensive. Although if you want to jazz up your vehicle a little, you could consider a private reg plate from a business like Regtransfers.
Depending on the size of your household, having a car might also make your life easier. If you have children or dependents living in your house, then having a car is likely to make getting out and about a lot easier than it would if you were to try and wrangle everyone onto public transport. Having a car can also make running errands in general easier. Some people with pets might find having a vehicle to be advantageous, too; while some pets are allowed on public transport, being able to take them in the car helps to make errands and trips less stressful.
Having your own car also means that you have more options when it comes to day trips and road trips. A car affords you the spontaneity to go out and explore. Most people tend to factor in the price of fuel into their budget because they need to pay for it anyway. However, if you want to take a road trip or go for a day out using public transport, then the additional cost can be limiting for what you can afford to do. When you have your own car, you can explore more in-depth, heading into the countryside or neighbouring towns and villages that perhaps the public transport links in your city don’t reach.
While it is certainly true that living in a city does tend to provide more job opportunities, you can help to broaden your horizons by holding a licence and owning a car. This could simply be because you can apply for jobs that are a little further away or outside of the areas currently serviced by public transportation. Some jobs require you to either hold a licence and drive company vehicles or have your own transportation. This will be dependent on the job role and the industry, but owning your own car could be advantageous in this respect. It is worth considering the job roles that you are applying for and whether this will come into play for you.
The Cons
Obviously, where there are pros, there are also bound to be a few cons and owning a car in the city can have its disadvantages. Firstly, because bigger cities have a higher population, they are bound to have more traffic. Although the congestion is something that you would have to deal with regardless of whether you are on public transport or not. That being said, a lot of cities have bus lanes and try to prioritise public transport. When driving around a bustling metropolis, you can expect to experience more traffic, and where there is traffic, there are also road rage incidents which is something to bear in mind.
Another downside is the ongoing cost of fuel. Of course, if you use public transport, then you will have other costs to consider. However, there are often schemes and discounts for frequent use which can save you money. On the other hand, the cost of fuel can be unreliable because it fluctuates depending on a number of socioeconomic factors. You might be able to find a cheaper petrol station to fill your car up at, and you can save money by driving more efficiently. Although, in all likelihood, the cost of fuel is still likely to cost more than public transport.
There are several costs associated with owning and operating a vehicle regardless of where you live, and these costs are often a con. However, most people are willing to pay these prices when they live in more rural areas because their car is a lifeline. When you live in a city, you don’t necessarily need a car as much, which makes these extra costs one of the downsides of owning and operating a vehicle in the city. In addition to the cost of the car and the fuel, there are other costs like insurance, tax and various maintenance fees to consider too.
Finally, everyone knows that the biggest hurdle or annoyance when trying to drive in the city is the total and utter lack of parking. Driving around the city is one thing, but there is very rarely any guarantee that you will be able to find some parking once you reach your destination. This might also apply to your living situation. Depending on where you live within the city, is there parking near your home? Some homes have a distinct lack of local parking, others might come with a single parking space and others with street parking, and when you find it, this is something to think about.
The Final Verdict
Realistically, when it comes to deciding whether owning a car in the city is worth it, it is hard to say because there is a multitude of factors unique to you that will need to be taken into account. If you have somewhere to park your car near your home and if you are going to use the car a lot either to commute within the city, for work or to travel outside of the city regularly and you can afford to own and operate a car then by all means. It would probably be worth owning a car in this scenario.
On the other hand, if you don’t often leave the city, or if you are perfectly content taking public transport or if you do not have anywhere to keep your car, then it probably wouldn’t make sense for you to own a vehicle while living in the city. In the end, there are, of course, pros and cons to consider, but you are the only person that can make the choice. Luckily, if you do decide to purchase a vehicle, then there are a few ways to keep costs down, like purchasing a second hand car and using comparison sites to find the best deal on insurance, or choosing a model which has cheaper tax requirements.
