Owning a Car in a UK City - Taking a Look at the Pros and Cons

City living in the UK is one that affords all kinds of wonderful opportunities. You have all the modern conveniences you could possibly need, and typically there is a fair amount of history and lovely architecture that is intertwined within those modern buildings. City living can be perfect for singles, couples, families, and empty-nesters, as there’s a bit of everything offered. With that said, city living is quite different to life in the countryside. It’s not just the scenery and the pace of your everyday; it also affects other aspects of life.

A common question city folk find themselves asking is whether or not it’s worth it for them to own a car? Will that make life easier living in the city, or do the negatives outweigh the positives? So, let’s take a closer look at the many pros and cons to owning a car in a big UK city.

Pro – Complete Freedom to Go Where You Want, When You Want

The biggest pro is also the most obvious, and that’s the sense of freedom a car offers. When you have your own car, you don’t have to worry about how far your home is from the nearest train station or bus station, what the schedule is, how many transfers you may need to make, and how close it gets you to your final destination. With a car, you can literally jump in and go whenever you want.

Pro – Handy for Families with Small Children

If you happen to be a family with small children, owning your own car can make life a whole lot easier. It makes outings and errands smoother and more comfortable for all.

Pro – Road Trips Can be a Regular Thing

When you have your own car, you also tend to be more willing to explore outside your city, and really get out and see the sights and attractions around you.

Pro – It Can Help Increase Your Work Opportunities

Owning a car can also increase your work opportunities since you can look outside of areas that are serviced by public transit.

Con – Traffic and Road Rage

This isn’t an issue that is unique to UK cities – heavy traffic and road rage is something that just about every big city around the world has a problem with. It can be incredibly frustrating when you only have to go a short distance, but thanks to the amount of traffic, it ends up taking what seems like forever.

Con – The Cost of Fuel

The cost of fuel is very much a negative as well, especially as prices continue to climb on what seems like a regular basis. While you might be able to find an independent filling station that undercuts their larger competitors, you’re still going to be forking out a lot for your fuel.

When trying to save fuel, it is worth considering your driving style and looking for alternative routes to be more economical. Alternatively, the rise of electric cars is enticing many city dwellers as a way of saving money on petrol and diesel.

Con – The Cost of Insurance

And it’s not just the cost of the car itself, along with the repairs/maintenance; there is also insurance to worry about. Once you add the monthly insurance cost into your budget, suddenly what seemed to be an affordable car may not be so cost-effective.

One tip to keep in mind is that it can be well worth your time to do a little comparison shopping where car insurance is concerned – you should be able to save a lot more by shopping around for insurance than you would if you were shopping for cheaper fuel prices. You can use the site Quotezone.co.uk which is known for helping drivers find cheap car insurance in the UK. All you’ll need to do is fill in one quick and easy form, and then you are given a list of comparison quotes from some of the top insurance providers on the market right now. That allows you to find a rate that matches your budget better, and hopefully keep the cost of car ownership affordable.

Con – Lack of Parking

Lack of parking also exists in many of the UK’s biggest cities, which can leave you driving around in circles looking for a place to stop.

At the end of the day, owning a car in a UK city is really about a lifestyle choice. Weigh up the pros and cons, and always make sure the cost is justified.

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