One-car household

Astraeus

Have any cohabiting partners made the transition to a one-car household successfully? We both work full-time and a number of our trips (into and out of the city centre) are duplicated. My partner's car insurance is coming up for renewal and it is likely also that she'll need to put some money behind getting it ready for its MOT which she would be unlikely to recoup in a sale.

The benefits are manifold, saving £500 on insurance and whatever the garage bill is going to be, not to mention car tax, petrol, future repairs and breakdown cover. It seems to me that we're sacrificing a bit of flexibility/freedom for a heck of a lot of cash. She'd be added to my insurance for absolute peanuts.

Has anyone made the transition? She isn't hot on it at the moment and I'm running out of justification!

sharp82

Yep, we did it 3 years ago when our son was born. She also wasnt keen, but manages to get a lift and from work... if she cant then I drop her off and pick her up

She only had her car for a year beforehand, so wasnt that much of a loss

hgotsparkle

I've been trying to convince OH to move closer to my job so that I can get rid of my car and walk instead. His argument is that we will be left with only a 2 seater van and thats no good for trips out with family who can't drive.

Norman_Castle

Try it for a few months. Her ncb will be valid for 2 years. Is it possible she is reluctant as your car will remain your car and not become our car?.

InsideInsurance

We only had only 1 car for most of our time together and it was made worse at the end by the fact it was only a 2 seater but the Mrs didnt drive for most of the time.

I commute by train/ tube and normally walk to the station, she couldnt drive so walked to university. At weekends we spend our time together and so for us the one car really wasnt much of an issue and had been factored into where we lived. The two seater aspect was more troublesome when going out with friends or if she was going on a day trip overseas with a classmate etc because we couldnt ever off them a lift/ it was always them collecting her etc.

We currently have 2 cars now she has passed her test as she isnt wanting to be driving my car having only recently passed but will probably go back down to 1 car in a year or so

andrewf75

We've only ever had one car between us and making sure that neither or at least not both of us rely on a car to get to work was a major factor in where we chose to live. Most of the time neither of us uses the car, she cycles to work, I cycle to the station. I know its not practical for everyone but it save a lot of money and improves your quality of life.

Gloomendoom

Manifold?

We did it for a couple of years but we work at the same place.

Even now we rarely need to use two cars at the same time so having just one probably wouldn't be an issue.

Astraeus

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Manifold?

Yup.

Thanks for the insights. Our commute is to the same office. She is hesitant because she loses freedom and some convenience because she goes to the gym three times per week before work. It seems a small inconvenience but then again I appreciate it isn't my inconvenience! I'd be minded to say, on those occasions, that I'd take the bus to work so she can drive.

Norman Castle - very thoughtful. She hasn't said it but I get that sense. I own my car outright having bought it as a gift to myself when I moved back from France. I think that makes her nervous and also as though she'd be in 'my' domain. I guess that is just not being used to it, however, and it's no different to buying something second-hand.

I'll discuss it again and see if progress can be made. It just seems fiscally such a rewarding move!

windup

join the gym.

unless it's a long way away, getting a taxi 3 times a week is probably cheaper than the running costs of a car, which include buying it in the first place

arcon5

Has anybody made the transition to a one-car household?
Erm, well you'll find a significant number of people could only ever dream of having 2 cars in the household in the first place - especially since it seems the benefit of the second one seems to simply be to get to the gym 3 times a week.

My OH works 15 miles away from our town in one direction and I work 20 miles away from work in the complete other direction. Even with a child we manage, so i'm sure you'll be able to cope!

Gloomendoom

Astraeus wrote: »

I'll discuss it again and see if progress can be made. It just seems fiscally such a rewarding move!

Good luck!