Financing a car or to quit driving?

[Seriesfiftytaketwo]

Has anyone given up driving for any reason and didn’t regret it?

I don’t enjoy driving, I do it for some independence as I walked for hours prior to passing my test (6 years ago) and couldn’t do a lot of things I wanted to, and also to take my teen to school as it’s not walking distance and there isn’t public transport to it. Someone hit my car earlier this year after pulling out on me and speeding, and I’ve been nervous ever since. I will still be able to walk to the local shops and take my primary school child to school, and my husband drives so we can still do days out on weekends. My teen is happy to change schools to a local one (we moved house and kept her there out of ease but it isn’t practical any longer)

Yet I worry I will regret it because I’ll essentially be tied to a small walking area or expensive public transport. It will also limit my options for jobs when I finish maternity leave at the end of the year as my job no longer exists to return to.

My husband has a brand new car which is reliable, although he isn’t available in the week due to long working hours, we still have a form of transport to travel. We can’t car share for this reason. My car is old and battered, broken down several times and needed a lot of money spent on it. I can’t afford a newer car outright and I don’t know if signing up for finance would be a sensible thing to do. My car is currently in the garage yet again as the gearbox has failed, I don’t particularly want it back as it feels like a death trap.

So with this information would you give up driving or sacrifice some income and get a new car on finance?

I'd get rid of the old car and see how you feel after a while. You may find you're more relaxed knowing you can't drive somewhere and have to sort alternatives.

You can always look at options in the future if it turns out to be too inconvenient

Occasional taxi may be cheaper than keeping an unreliable car on the road. I have a 2008 reg fiesta. I generally do low mileage and spend about £15 month on fuel, £15 month on Road tax (high because it is an old car) and about £18 month insurance and £40 MOT.
Luckily it is low mileage and very reliable plus I still enjoy driving.

It is costing me about 40p per mile - which is not cheap but i still use it to get to the airport a couple of times a year and to visit relatives a couple of times a year so it would be more expensive for me not to have it. Plus I like the independence and convenience.

Most of what I get from mine you get from your husband having a reliable car. I think, in your position, I would seriously consider getting rid.

Add up all your costs for it for a year and divide by the number of miles you do in it. See how much it is really costing you. It would probably cover the cost of the occasional taxi if you needed/wanted one.
Can you be added to your husbands insurance - just in case of need.

Get rid of the car and try to live without it. At the same time, save for a new (second hand) car, so that if you do decide to get another you'll have funds available. This is much better value for money than finance.
In the meantime, get insured on your husband's car and take it for occasional trips, otherwise if you are not a confident driver and you stop entirely you will likely totally lose your mojo.
There are driving instructors who would help you with confidence and skills if you want to improve and feel safer.
You could also look into car share clubs if there are any locally.