Not everyone needs a car in their life. But, as we all know, life changes constantly. One day you need to pick up a sofa on the other side of town, you need to drive your kids to soccer practice or the company you work for moves to a different town. What do you do if you haven’t saved up the money for a car?
Do you know someone else who needs a car? A friend or a neighbour? Then they might want to split the expenses with you. This could be a great solution if none of you needs to use the car every single day but would like a car for those rare instances.
You can’t just rely on your partner, though. Your neighbour wouldn’t want to buy the car for you. So you’re not entirely done saving money. However, you’ll pay significantly less than if you had made the whole purchase by yourself. Ideally, you would split the purchase 50/50.
If you haven’t saved up anything, there are other solutions. Your friend could buy the car, but you pay for expenses like gas, repairs, and so on. At least for a while. This would allow you to buy a car without having saved up money.
Ridesharing
Some people only need cars once in a while. We all know the benefits of Uber and Lyft. Getting an Uber is less expensive and more convenient than hailing a cab. If you can’t afford your own car, such services are very helpful for getting around.
Uber and Lyft are almost cab services at this point but the original idea was ridesharing or carpooling. At one point, the companies went from ridesharing to ride-hailing. In fact, they have evolved far beyond that, with Uber Eats, Uber Freight, and so on. They’re transportation companies now.
There are still companies doing true ridesharing, however. One of these ridesharing company is called Via. Via tries to fill as many seats as possible to popular destinations. It’s available in more than 20 countries.
Car-sharing
Car-sharing is another example of how great the sharing economy can be. It’s similar to ridesharing or ride-hailing, but it’s not the same. It’s more similar to Via than Uber in terms that it’s peer-to-peer or person-to-person. Getaround is an example of such a car-sharing service.
With these services, you’re not buying a car, but you’re getting access to one. As it’s peer-to-peer, you’re borrowing someone else’s car for a short period and a small amount of money. It’s easy and convenient. Car-sharing is perfect for those who need a car once in a while, perhaps for moving or when buying a new sofa, but who usually gets by with taking the bus, bicycling, or walking.
It works best for people who live in bigger cities. Public transport is usually so well developed that it’s more convenient and faster than riding a car. Nonetheless, it’s great to have access to a car for those rare times when you need one.
Car Loan
Of course, the classic solution is to get a car loan. Some banks demand that you pay a share of the price, others will lend you the entire amount. Have a look at what interest rates you’ll get, what other costs there are and what you’ll need to pay each month. If you find a good offer, a car loan could be a great way to get a new car.
With a car loan, you’ll be able to buy a car without spending a long time saving up money. You’ll be able to spend the money on any car you want – a new car, a used car or even an electric car. You might even get better interest rates if you buy a specific type of car. Some companies have better offers if you buy electric, for instance.
Leasing
Leasing is also a solution but it might be more expensive in the long run. You don’t need to spend a lot on the purchase itself, but you’ll pay per month.
One of the biggest benefits is that you’ll get an entirely new car. With a car straight from the dealership, you’ll get modern technology, the best performance and you might save a lot on repairs and maintenance.
