I’ve Lived Without a Car for 19 Years: What It Saves and What It Costs

I haven’t owned a car in 19 years. That sounds crazy to many people, but I’ve gotten used to living without one. At this point, the thought of buying, maintaining, and paying for a car sometimes seems crazier to me. When I was around 21, I went through a lot of hard times and went from having money to having almost nothing. I had an old Toyota truck that died one day. My family also had a Toyota Camry, but its transmission went out. We couldn’t afford to fix either vehicle. Living in Riverside, California, I started taking the bus for the first time in my life. I was also an avid mountain biker and had plenty of bikes I could use to get places. What began mostly out of necessity gradually became a lifestyle. Nineteen years later, I still don’t own a car, partly because of finances and partly by choice.

Living without a car has saved me a lot of money, but it hasn’t been free. It replaces some financial costs with costs in time, effort, planning, and convenience. Here is what I’ve learned from nearly two decades of getting around without one.

What I Haven’t Had to Pay For

The most obvious benefit of not owning a car is the money I don’t have to spend. I don’t have a car payment, and I don’t have to pay for:

• Gas

• Insurance

• Registration

• Oil changes

• Tires

• Repairs and maintenance

• Towing

• Parking

• Unexpected breakdowns

It’s easy to think, “I just need enough money for the car or the down payment.” But purchasing the car is only the beginning. You must continue paying to keep it insured, registered, fueled, and running. People at work sometimes ask me, “You have a job. Why don’t you get a car?” Technically, I probably could get one. But at this point in my life, much of the money I earn would go toward something I mainly use to travel to work, run errands, and take occasional trips. To me, that tradeoff isn’t currently worth it. A car can provide freedom, but a large payment can also create another kind of dependence. Losing your income becomes even more frightening when your transportation depends on keeping up with a payment. That doesn’t mean owning a car is a bad decision. It means the complete cost should be considered before deciding whether it is worth it.

How I Get Around Without a Car

My primary mode of transportation is a bicycle—usually a used mountain bike purchased through OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace. Because of bike theft where I live, I prefer to spend around $200 to $300 on a used transportation bike. I want something dependable and enjoyable to ride, but not something so expensive that losing it would financially destroy me. I work at a grocery store, and when I shop after work, my coworkers sometimes look at everything I bought and ask, “How are you going to carry all that home?” I smile and tell them, “I’ll manage.” After 19 years, I’ve learned how to carry a surprising amount on a bike. I use a large backpack and sometimes hang lighter bags from the handlebars. I’ve even carried a pizza in one arm while riding. Heavy bags on the handlebars can affect steering, though, so a rear rack, basket, panniers, or bike trailer would be a safer option for most people.

I also fill three-gallon water jugs for home use, often early in the morning at a water machine about a block away. When you rely on a bike, you eventually develop systems for carrying the things you regularly need. I don’t use only a bicycle. I take the bus when I’m traveling farther or going somewhere that makes locking up a bike impractical. Sometimes I combine the two by riding to a bus stop, loading my bike onto the bus, and riding again after getting off. For longer distances, I can use Metrolink or another train instead of spending hours traveling entirely by bus. People are often surprised to learn that I have a driver’s license. They assume that because I don’t own a car, I must not be able to drive. I’ve had a valid license for almost the entire time I’ve been without a car.

I enjoy camping and mountain biking in the mountains once or twice a year. For trips like those, I’ve rented a U-Haul van or pickup truck. I once rented one for five days for under $300, although the final cost depends on mileage, fuel, insurance, taxes, and fees. Paying for occasional transportation can still be much cheaper than owning a vehicle every day. Uber is another option, although I don’t use it often. I also sometimes get rides from my girlfriend, friends, or family.

How Often I Ride—and What I Spend

When I’m healthy, I ride somewhere between five and seven days a week, although not every ride is long. I normally ride to work three days a week, ride for fun or to film mountain biking videos another couple of days, and use my bike for errands in between. One thing people may not consider is that your body needs maintenance too. I purposely try to take one or two days each week when I don’t ride at all. If every trip to work and every errand requires a bike, it can be easy to forget that your legs still need time to recover. My public transportation costs are usually low. When I’m riding regularly, I may take the bus only once a month and spend around $6. When I use it more frequently for appointments, I might spend around $20 to $25 in a month.

At times when I needed the bus regularly, I bought a monthly pass for around $50. That was still much less than the ongoing cost of owning a car. Cycling isn’t completely free, of course. Bikes still need tires, tubes, chains, brake pads, lights, locks, and occasional repairs. Sometimes the bike itself eventually needs to be replaced. Those expenses should be counted, but in my experience, they remain far below what I would spend maintaining a car.

Living without a car doesn’t mean every bike ride is strictly transportation. One advantage of combining a bicycle with public transportation is that I don’t have to plan every recreational ride around returning to a parked car. If you drive somewhere with a bike, you usually have to ride a loop and finish where your vehicle is waiting. I can take a bus or train to another city, get off with my bike and make the entire ride home part of the route. I’ve done this from places such as Riverside, Norco and Upland.

In July 2021, I took the bus to Upland specifically to start a long recreational ride. I rode up to Baldy Creek, then headed east through Fontana and toward Highland. My girlfriend invited me to stop at her place along the way so she could feed me before I finished. By the end, I had ridden 41.2 miles with nearly 1,900 feet of climbing in three hours and 25 minutes of riding time. It was mainly an adventure, but the bus allowed me to begin somewhere different and create a one-way ride without needing someone to drive me or return me to a parked car.

I haven’t done as many rides like this recently because of my knee injury, but once my knee is ready, I want to begin doing them again.

I also feel less anxious when I don’t have a vehicle sitting at the starting point. In the past, part of me would worry about whether someone might break into the parked car while I was gone. When I drove older vehicles, I would sometimes wonder whether the car would even start when I returned. Taking the bus or train removes those concerns. Once I get off with my bike, I can continue toward home without having to retrieve anything later. That doesn’t eliminate every worry—bike theft is still a real concern—but it removes the feeling that an expensive vehicle is sitting unattended somewhere behind me.

The Less Obvious Benefits

People frequently tell me, “You should get an e-bike.” E-bikes are useful, especially for longer distances, hills, physical limitations, or arriving somewhere without getting as sweaty. But for now, I’m happy with a regular bike. Riding keeps me in shape. I’ve never needed a gym membership. Between cycling and doing some push-ups and sit-ups at home, I stay in good enough shape for my needs. You can also eat more without feeling as guilty because your body actually needs the fuel. You may not be buying gas for a car, but you still have to put fuel into yourself. Riding is also good for my mental health. It clears my head and lets me experience my surroundings differently. I notice smells, sounds, people, buildings, and little details I might miss inside a car. Sometimes I jump off curbs or ride down a small set of stairs to add some fun to an ordinary commute.

I also don’t have to worry about my car being repossessed or stress about making another monthly payment. I don’t feel like I must keep a particular job or risk losing my transportation. It is important to recognize both sides: owning a car may make it easier to reach more jobs, but a costly car can also make someone more dependent on keeping a job they dislike. I’m also uncomfortable with how much data some newer vehicles can collect and how expensive they have become. I don’t want to go tens of thousands of dollars into debt for transportation if the alternatives are still working for me. Cities in Southern California are largely designed around cars, which makes living without one unnecessarily difficult. Despite that, I’ve found ways to make it work for most of my adult life.

Bike Theft Is a Real Problem

A decent lock goes a long way, but no lock makes a bicycle impossible to steal. Where you leave your bike, how long you leave it there, and whether you can bring it inside matter just as much. I once ran into a store for a short time after locking my bike outside. When I returned, the entire rear wheel was gone. Another time, I walked out and caught someone in the middle of cutting through my lock. I’ll never forget standing there with a confused frown as I realized what I was seeing. He looked up at me and asked, “Is this your bike?” “Yeah!” “My bad,” he said before walking away with an entire bag of tools used to cut locks. I try not to leave my bike outside for very long. When possible, I bring it inside. At work, there is a small room where I’m allowed to store it.

I’ve also kept both a decent commuter bike and a very cheap bike for places where I know it will be locked outside for a while. If the cheap bike is stolen, it will still be frustrating, but it won’t be as devastating financially.

What Living Without a Car Really Costs

Despite all the benefits, living without a car has serious downsides. The first is time. Traveling two or three cities away may take 30 minutes by car but two hours by bus. That can also mean waiting at stops, making transfers, and occasionally dealing with disruptive or uncomfortable situations on public transportation. Even a ten-minute drive can become a 30- or 40-minute bike ride. Weather is another challenge. I live in Southern California, so the weather is usually manageable, but riding somewhere when it is 100 degrees can mean arriving soaked in sweat. I bring extra clothes and deodorant when I know that might happen. Rain creates a different problem. I’ve woken up for work, heard rain outside, and let out a sigh because I knew I was about to get soaked. A decent rain suit helps, along with extra socks, clothes, and sometimes another pair of shoes. I’ve also learned to put my phone in a quart-size resealable bag so it doesn’t get wet.

You need a dependable backpack, and bike bags can make carrying supplies much easier. Food is another small cost. Cycling burns energy, so you need to eat enough to replace it. I once saw someone online ask whether cycling still saves money after accounting for the additional food. In my experience, it definitely does. If you enjoy eating, being able to eat a little more isn’t exactly the worst downside. But getting enough food is important. I’ve made myself sick by burning more calories than I was consuming. When a bicycle is your transportation, proper food, hydration, sleep, and recovery aren’t just fitness concerns. They help keep you mobile.

Injuries Reveal a Weakness in the System

One of the biggest disadvantages became clear after I injured my knee during a mountain biking coaching lesson. Six weeks later, I was still waiting for a complete diagnosis and couldn’t ride. Suddenly, the transportation system I had relied on for years was unavailable. I had to depend much more heavily on the bus, which meant looking up routes, waiting for it to arrive, and allowing far more time to get anywhere. This experience didn’t make me regret living without a car, but it showed me the importance of having backup options. A transportation plan that depends on your physical ability becomes vulnerable when you get sick or injured. Even if you primarily ride a bike, it helps to know your local bus routes, keep money available for occasional rides, maintain a driver’s license if possible, and have a few people you can contact during an emergency.

People May Judge You

One cost that has nothing to do with money or travel time is how people sometimes judge you. For some reason, when people learn that you don’t own a car, they may assume you’re a loser, that something is wrong with you, or that you lost your license because of DUIs. I can drive. I have simply lived without owning a car for most of my adult life. Not owning a car can affect dating too. I’ve told women, half joking and half serious, “Don’t worry, girl—you can ride on the handlebars.” If she isn’t down with that, she probably isn’t for me. At least you know someone likes you for who you are—not because of your car or how much money you appear to have.

I understand why reliable transportation can matter in a relationship, especially when someone has children or significant responsibilities. But if you choose to live without a car, you have to become comfortable with the possibility that other people won’t understand your decision.

Some Work Opportunities Become Harder

Some jobs are much harder to get without a car. Construction is one example because job sites change and may be far from public transportation. Employers may also expect workers to carry tools or travel between different locations. I once took a train several cities away to reach a construction job because I couldn’t get a ride. I was a new apprentice and didn’t have all the tools I needed yet. The boss was so impressed that I found a way to get there that he bought me some tools during my first week. That story worked out well, but it also demonstrates the problem. Living without a car can make certain jobs impractical or close them off completely. Resourcefulness helps, but it doesn’t erase every limitation.

When Being Car-Free Works—and When It Doesn’t

Living without a car won’t work equally well for everyone. Where you live and how your life is structured make an enormous difference. One of the biggest considerations is how far you live from work. I live about 1.5 miles from my job, so it takes me approximately 15 minutes to ride there. If you work ten or more miles from home, must travel on a freeway, or need to go up and down a mountain road, living without a car may be far less practical. Other questions to consider include:

• Do you have children or other family members who depend on you?

• Are you physically able to walk or ride regularly?

• What is public transportation like where you live?

• Can you safely store a bike at home and work?

• Do you regularly carry tools, equipment, or large items?

• Would living without a car limit your job opportunities?

• How will you get around if you become sick or injured?

• Do you have money available for occasional rentals, buses, trains, or rideshares?

For a parent with children, someone who works at changing job sites, or a person who lives in a rural area without public transportation, owning a car may be essential. For someone who lives close to work and basic stores, the calculation may be completely different.

You Don’t Have to Give Up Your Car Completely

Becoming less dependent on a car doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. You can own a car and still ride a bike to work, walk to nearby stores, combine a bike with public transportation, or leave the car at home for short errands. A hybrid—or “car-light”—approach lets you keep a vehicle for trips that genuinely require it while reducing gas consumption, mileage, wear, and unnecessary short drives. A household with two vehicles might eventually discover that it can comfortably manage with one. You don’t need to prove anything by selling your car tomorrow. Before making a permanent decision, test the lifestyle gradually:

• Ride to a nearby store and bring home a few things.

• Try commuting to work once or twice.

• Learn how your local bus or train system works.

• Practice carrying what you need.

• See how you handle traffic, weather, time, and physical effort.

• Calculate what you truly spend on your car and alternatives.

You may discover that completely car-free living isn’t realistic for you. You may also discover that you can replace many car trips without giving up your vehicle. Either result gives you useful information.

My Honest Conclusion After 19 Years

Living without a car isn’t for everyone, and it certainly has challenges. It requires more planning, takes more time, limits certain opportunities, and becomes much harder when you’re injured. But it has also been freeing in more ways than one. I’ve avoided nearly two decades of car payments, insurance bills, registration costs, gas, and major repairs. Riding has helped keep me physically active, supported my mental health, and taught me how to solve everyday problems with the resources I have. I still occasionally think, “If I had a car, I could do this or go there.” A car would make some parts of my life easier. But I also have to ask what I would give up to pay for that convenience. Right now, I would rather put my limited money toward other priorities and pay for transportation only when I truly need it.

My advice isn’t to sell your car and start riding everywhere tomorrow. Start small. Replace one or two short trips and see how it feels. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and which journeys truly require a vehicle. You might decide that living completely without a car isn’t for you. But becoming a little less dependent on one could still save money, improve your health, and give you more control over your life.