To have a car when I only do very minimal driving

[Princedelight]

I have a car on finance. High interest(bad credit rating). 2 years left on finance. Its affordable to me.

However, I barely drive. Back story. Late learner. Very anxious re:driving.

Bought car straight after passing, on a bit of a whim.
Plan was to drive lots. Plan never happened. My anxiety about driving has improved loads ,but I'm still a shit ,inexperienced driver! It's never really taken off.

I do drive daily but its just school run, shops etc. Appointments. Apart from big supermarket shop, nothing I couldn't do on foot/public transport.

Up to now, I suppose I like my little car and I like the fact that I have my independence if I need it,or do actually have to drive(rare).
DP has his own car and drives a lot and does all the big trips/holidays and days out.

I've just sat here thinking why am I wasting my money- car finance, petrol, insurance etc for literally 100 miles a month. Its mad isn't it? I'm thinking sensible thing is to get rid when finance is up.
I could get bloody taxis for less. Or is it wise to keep driving and have my own car as back up.

How many of those journeys can you do without a car? School can't be far for example if you do that twice a day, about 20 days a month for less than 100 miles

I'd say if you drive daily, and it's school runs / shops / appointments, then it sounds actually quite useful. It's a bit of independence and if it's affordable to you then I would keep it.

I thought the same, I only did fairly short drives (but not doable on foot) and sold my car. Bought another one 8 months later as it was just so hard being reliant on DH driving me to things, or getting taxis and figuring out who could use the one car left!

I went from doing over 1000 miles a month (which isn’t THAT high, I believe it’s around the average) to doing less than 100. I moved close to work and then started working from home. I’ve thought the same. But then I like being able to take the dog somewhere nice, drive to see my friends, have the ability to go out whenever I fancy. And I don’t know where you are, but where I live it’s been pelting it down for over 12 hours. Having no car in weather like this would be awful.

admittedly, my car isn’t on finance so my costs are probably less than yours. But when my car was in the garage for a few days, I felt lost even though I wouldn’t have used it! How much does it cost you a month and where would you funnel that extra money if you did? If it’ll just get absorbed in general household things, I’d lean towards keeping it.

I think it’s a really fair point, we went to only one car and the vast majority of the time it’s no problem whatsoever.

Could you go on the insurance on your DPs car for emergencies? It’d work out cheaper than running your own.

Couldn't you sell it before the finance is up and pay it off early?

I can see it’s hard once you have had a car to not have one. I’ve never had one (My Dh has a work car which we can use for weekends etc). I prefer it as it forces me to walk/cycle/public transport. Will heavily caveat we live in south London zone 3! Could you get rid and look at zip car or similar? Or an electric bike?

And - if you get rid of the car, your anxiety over driving is unlikely to get any better.

I except the extra car money would just just funneled into the house or on goodness knows what as I don't remember being better off before!!!!
It's great not relying on DP I suppose ,but then again , even before having the car I didn't really have 'lifts' as such.
I suppose I just think most people buy a car and then drive everywhere. I'm the opposite. Got a car and walk almost as much as before.

As I now live in a city, I am pondering the wisdom of my car. I will keep it another year though as it’s just passed it’s MOT again.

like you, my trips are infrequent nowadays, but I do own my old car outright. It was a £400 bargain a few years ago. Nowadays, except for a big shop including dog food, it’s doable on foot or I could get a wee trailer for my bike. I was thinking that I can get dog food delivered. My only real need for my car is that my partner is 50 miles away and it’s 2 trains to get to him and wondering if I can still take dogs on trains.

if public transport is viable or if there is a car club scheme in your area, could that be a workable alternative for you, thus saving you money? Or maybe, get a few more driving lessons, driving schools offer courses for people with driving anxiety and I hear that they are good.

For your nervousness,sign up with the Institute of Advanced Motorists. I was working in a rural hospital,no way of getting there, without a car,my now ex H lost his job. I was knocked off the road by a drunk hit and run driver with no license or insurance,left upside down for dead in a field. My second entrapment, I couldn't even cross the road. The instructor was brilliant and I passed the advanced driving test with a police examiner.

School is about a 30 min walk. One Dc would walk or get bus(good service). Other Dc a bit younger and not really sensible enough to get bus.
But too old to walk with their mum, so I kind of just drop them both off and pick up.
It's no hassle as my work pattern means I'm around those times.

Well yes to this. But I if I did get rid of it then my driving days be over. Otherwise I may as well just keep it.

Can’t you just drive your husbands car on the rare occasions that you need to drive somewhere?

Expect**

Think can take dogs on trains.
Another issue with me is, I too live in a city and everything is very accessible.
Plus I'm so used to walking or getting public transport, that it feels very lazy driving a short distance!!

Can you afford motorway lessons?
I would keep the car. Your skills are definitely building, whether you feel it or not because you are driving the car every day. Some of the most skilled drivers are middle aged women who have ferried kids everywhere for 15 years or whatever. As long as you are safe, keep going.

I actually looked into this a couple of years ago and don't cover my area of the country.

I only use my car at the weekend or annual leave and so trialled not having one for 18 months. I spent far too long getting anywhere by bus and finally cracked when a 5 mile journey too 90 mins. Might be fine if I were retired but not when time is precious. My car is very cheap to run though and no . still feels a bit daft having one just for weekends but there's no parking at work so still have to get the bus there.

I could afford them I suppse(probably not right now) and I have pondered over it,but i feel I'm not even up the speed(excuse the pun!) With my regular driving.

Well obviously you shouldn't drive for the sake of it and things like school runs should be done on foot where possible.

But I'd really push yourself to drive further, you're not going to learn to drive doing the school run in it. Can you drive the next family trip out?

This is me too. Work is about 8 miles away. Sometimes takes me 1.5 hours by bus but parking only available off peak hours, otherwise I I have to pay.

We have a car and it’s a total luxury. Maybe drive once a fortnight. Love having the freedom / flexibility though, it enables us to get out of London and explore (except we usually go to forests / green spaces so not on horrible rainy days like this!)

No not an option. I have an automatic license and a small car.
DP had a 7 seater manual and there's not a chance he would swap it for me.

My husband and I have just had this decision. He hardly drives and I don't Hinksey it worth having the second car. He has decided to keep it one more year. As when we need it it's useful - taxi's have become less reliable here and more expensive. (We also pay no finance on the car so less outlay....although repairs required for mot)

For the sake of the younger child and school run I would say keep it for now.

@woff45
I'm absolutely all for doing stuff on foot. I don't drive if I can walk, which seems to be the total opposite of most car drivers that's know, including DP who rely on their cars too much.

School a bit awkward as youngest a bit too immature to walk alone(dawdle, gets distracted).
I park away from school as always congested and parents trying to get a millimetre to school gate. And they both walk up to the school from there.

I think I have to keep it for now as too much to buy out of my finance.
But I guess I'm.pondering over the future. Like whether to sell once its paid.

Plus DP made a little comment recently about cars need a 'good run out' once in a while. Got me thinking.