Is it good to have your own car?

Is it good to have your own car?

In America, about 88% of people own a car.

Getting your own car is almost a rite of passage into adulthood if you can afford one. They can be expensive, so you should weigh out your options if you really need one or not.

However, there are so many great reasons to own a car! But if you’re still on the fence about it, we’re here to help convince you!

1. The Convenience

With your own car, you’ll enjoy the convenience of being able to travel anywhere you want, any time you want.

You’ll enjoy being able to have your own independence and not having to rely on public transit, ride-share systems, or carpools. With your own car, you’re in charge of when you leave, arrive, and wherever you go.

Depending on where in the United States you live, this might actually be a necessity to get around. The public transit system isn’t always the best, and walking everywhere isn’t doable if you live in a spread-out city. This is where having a car will come in handy.

2. Have Your Own Freedom

Part of owning your car is enjoying the convenience but also experiencing your own freedom.

With ride-shares, you don’t have complete control over it, and it can start to get expensive anyway.

In addition, some ride-shares and public transit don’t travel far outside of city limits. If you have your own car, you have the ability to apply for new jobs, move, or visit family and friends.

Many people commute to work in their own car, and very few people actually live in the city where they work. Having your own car means that you can have the freedom to live where you want because now you have a reliable mode of transportation.

3. Can Take Road Trips

One of the best parts of owning a car is that now you have the ability to take your own road trips.

Sure, you may have taken some with your family or friends, but now you don’t have to rely on them to go. You can also decide when and where you want to go all on your own. However, some of the best road trips are the ones that aren’t even planned!

You could drive across the country, or even into Canada if you really wanted to.

Road trips will also save you a lot more money if you have a family. Instead of playing for several expensive plane tickets, now you can just load everyone up into your brand new car and start driving.

4. Saves Time

In the long run, having your own car will save you time. When you don’t have to spend time waiting for a bus, carpool, or ride-share system, you can leave work or your home whenever you want. You may have to sit in a little bit of traffic while driving, but really you get to determine your schedule.

If you’re trying to drive across cities or towns, it will really save you time because you won’t have to get off one bus to wait for and board another.

You’re probably already busy all of the time, but with your own car, you can definitely make it a little bit easier on yourself.

5. Great for Families

Buying your own car isn’t great just for family road trips. While it’s one of the pros, having a car if you have a family is just so much easier in general.

If you have a big family, you should try and find a big car to try and accommodate all of them.

Public transportation with a family can be a nightmare and expensive. You’ll have to find seats for each of your children, and some of the seats may not even be all together. You’ll also have to pay for each person that gets on the bus.

On top of that, you’ll have to ensure that your family all works together to make it to the public transportation stop on time to even get on the bus. If you miss it, you’ll have to waste more time waiting for the next one.

However, if you have your own car, you can make sure they’re safely seated in the back, away from any strangers. It can also be great for hauling any extra things you need, like a diaper bag or stroller.

Depending on the car you get, these can all fit easily into the trunk of your car, and you won’t have to worry about lugging it onto public transportation.

6. Shows Responsibility

Having your own car just shows that you can be responsible.

If you’re a teenager, this can be a way to prove to your parents that you can be trusted with more adult-like responsibilities. Not only will you have to pay for the car, but you’ll also be in charge of taking care of it and keeping up with the maintenance on the car.

Cars require a lot of maintenance, and if you get behind on it, it’ll end up costing you more money in the long run. You’ll also have to keep up with the registration as well.

If you’re not a teenager, taking out a loan on the car can be a great way to build up your credit and show potential investors that you’re trustworthy.

If you’ve never taken out a loan before, you can learn more about an auto loan here.

Discover More Reasons to Own a Car

These are only a few great reasons to own a car, but there are so many more out there.

Once you’ve decided to buy a car, do your research and shop around to make sure that you find the best one with the best deal.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more just like this one!

 June Potter wrote this article on behalf of Free Up. Free Up this the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. Free Up only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.

Times Union and Hearst partners may earn revenue when readers click affiliate links in this article.

What are the disadvantages of having your own car?

The cost of a car is the biggest disadvantage for most buyers. Regardless if it is a new car or a used car, you're still going to need to budget for maintenance costs. There are also car fees, such as monthly payments, an interest rate, and insurance premiums to consider.

Is it worth it to keep my car?

Keeping your old car makes sense if: You're on a Tight Budget. You'll almost always save money by hanging on to your old car for as long as possible. Even if a new car costs less to repair and fill up, those savings are dwarfed by the upfront cost, monthly payments, and higher insurance.