This article was first published in NerdWallet. com.
Even a parked car is stressful.
Like when you run out in your pajamas to the sound of the sweeper coming in, cars left unattended for days can become targets for theft or vandals, they still want regime maintenance, occasional car wash, and a couple of weeks to get around. fluids and recharge the battery.
So, with the pandemic transforming the way we work and buy, there’s probably no more time to see what life is like without cars.
Here are 4 reasons for a future without cars:
How many days last week was your car stopped and how many miles last month?
When the pandemic occurred, many companies sent their painters to paint remotely. The total number of kilometres traveled was reduced by 40% nationally in March, according to insurance knowledge analyst Arity. proved that we can get along very well without everyone having their own car.
But he still makes the same car payment as when he drove every day.
Americans have long been encouraged to spend too much on cars, driven by ads that promise that the right car will make us popular or physically powerful and the freedom of wonderful nature.
The average U. S. spent $773. 50 a month, or $9282 a year, on his car in 2019, according to AAA. This is basically because the car bills are very high: Experian says that in 2019, the average monthly payment for a new car $554, and the average of a used vehicle $391.
If you are suffering to make the end of the month, giving up the car bills would be a big savings, not to mention the related expenses of gasoline, insurance, maintenance and repair. If you are not suffering, it is effective to use it to pay off a down payment, a Roth IRA, or write off a debt.
Why not look at exactly how much you pay, and how much you can save, with our total property charge calculator?
If it integrates with your car, it’s a seller’s market. The average value of a used car rose to $708 from June to July, according to Edmunds, who called the trend “an unprecedented old replacement in the used vehicle market. “
On a year-on-year scale, the number of cars used has increased by 16%, depending on the manheim auctioneer’s used vehicle rate.
Another good news: promoting your used car is less difficult than ever. Used car stores online such as Carvana, Shift and Vroom will give you an initial value and pick up your car at home or sell your car to a local racer who craves exchanges for the used car lot.
If you’re selling, protect your assets with a non-owner car insurance policy. It gives you liability coverage if you borrow or rent a car and the owner’s limits are exceeded. for lack of insurance coverage.
The pandemic has opened our eyes to the odds of delivery: groceries, takeaways, school and carpets.
And to the pleasure of walking too, what is available on foot or by bike?A few minutes with Google Maps will surprise you.
Car trips of less than a mile go up to 10 billion miles depending on the year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Replacing those trips with walking or biking will not only keep you in shape, but it will also save money on fuel and reduce pollution.
But you still want a car. First, many closed transportation facilities are operational, providing contactless service at reduced costs with new security measures.
Here’s what you can get for longer distances than cycling:
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Philip Reed is a NerdWallet. Email: articles@nerdwallet. com. Twitter: @AutoReed.