Do I go car-free or not?
Discussion
I'm moving to London where I work and was thinking of getting rid of the car as I'll spend most of my time travelling by tube. My original plan was to just hire a car on the times I go to see the girlfriend, who lives in Lincoln, as most of the time she visits me so I'd only be driving to hers maybe three times a year.
However, if I do that then I will at some point lose my no claims bonus as I won't be insured on a car, so when I do eventually get another car my insurance will be extortionate, plus I frequently work nights when the trains aren't running.
So what would you do? Stick with the original plan of hiring when I need one, or getting a runabout that will hardly be used - but that would be comfortable/capable of getting me to and from Lincoln a few times a year? If the latter, what car should I get? I'd be wary of paying more than £2,000 for a car I'd hardly use.
I've already got rid of the Audi and the car I've still got, (W Reg Mondeo), is on it's last legs.
(Bugger, this has turned into a 'What car' thread hasn't it)?
However, if I do that then I will at some point lose my no claims bonus as I won't be insured on a car, so when I do eventually get another car my insurance will be extortionate, plus I frequently work nights when the trains aren't running.
So what would you do? Stick with the original plan of hiring when I need one, or getting a runabout that will hardly be used - but that would be comfortable/capable of getting me to and from Lincoln a few times a year? If the latter, what car should I get? I'd be wary of paying more than £2,000 for a car I'd hardly use.
I've already got rid of the Audi and the car I've still got, (W Reg Mondeo), is on it's last legs.
(Bugger, this has turned into a 'What car' thread hasn't it)?
. Put it this way, I'm not comfortable driving it to London from Portsmouth as I doubt it will make it.Definitely keep a car, even if its a heap. I don't use mine at all in the week (apart from the odd evening where I have to go to meetings after the tubes shut) but at the weekends its really handy. Ever tried to go to B&Q/Sainsburys/Ikea etc on the bus? It isn't easy. Also easier to get about to some of the more far flung reaches of town with a car than by tube. For example, the no-mans land between Angel/Essex Road and across to Hackney via Dalson and Stoke Newington is really badly connected by tube with only really the Overground serving the area and that is out most weekends.
You won't lose your NCB immediately - normally after 2-3 years it will expire.
So try it for a year - if your current car is no good then get rid. Total up what you'd spend on fuel, insurance, tax, MOT, parking permits and all that other stuff. Use streetcar (which has the bonus of having 7-seaters and vans available for times you need them) or car hire firms or taxis for the times when public transport doesn't work for you. If you think you've spent more after a year than you would have on a car, then go and get one and make use of your NCB.
fwiw, I have a car in London but need it for my job. If I was working in London every day I'd just be riding my pushbike and join my friends who have streetcar membership - if you need a car less than once a week it's a really convenient way of doing it.
So try it for a year - if your current car is no good then get rid. Total up what you'd spend on fuel, insurance, tax, MOT, parking permits and all that other stuff. Use streetcar (which has the bonus of having 7-seaters and vans available for times you need them) or car hire firms or taxis for the times when public transport doesn't work for you. If you think you've spent more after a year than you would have on a car, then go and get one and make use of your NCB.
fwiw, I have a car in London but need it for my job. If I was working in London every day I'd just be riding my pushbike and join my friends who have streetcar membership - if you need a car less than once a week it's a really convenient way of doing it.
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