Despite the popular myth that most Americans own a own car, it\u2019s common for urban residents to be non-car owners. With the convenience and affordability of mass transit in large metropolitan areas, it\u2019s not surprising that city-dwellers choose to let someone else do the driving the majority of the time. When they need automotive transportation, urban dwellers do what many people do only when they travel: They rent.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s becoming more common, however, for residents of other-than-urban areas to forego buying and rent a car when needed, thereby incurring a car expense only when they need wheels.<\/p>\n
Consider these scenarios to determine whether renting a car may be a cost-effective option for you:<\/strong><\/p>\n Temporary ride<\/strong> – When there are multiple drivers in one family, there may not always be enough cars to go around. Even in multi-car households, temporary or short-term situations could arise when another car is necessary. Another car payment may be deemed unrealistic and unnecessary but renting a car for those particular occasions may prove to be the perfect solution.<\/p>\n Try before you buy<\/strong> – Test drives answer a few initial questions about a vehicle but renting a model for several days or weeks can give you decision-making experience with a car. Things like seat comfort may not be easily determined during a half-hour test-drive. By renting the car, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to experience driving it in a variety of situations and locations, e.g. city, highway or long distance driving, providing intel that will help you make an informed purchase.<\/p>\n The right vehicle for the situation<\/strong> – You may need a sedan that seats the family and handles well in inclement weather most of the time, so that\u2019s what you own. But maybe you\u2019re planning a second honeymoon cross-country trip during the summer and would prefer driving a two-seater convertible. Renting a SUV might be appropriate for taking the kids and their friends skiing. Renting a vehicle you want or need situationally is the practical solution.<\/p>\n Avoiding car ownership expense<\/strong> – For some people, incurring the expenses associated with owning a car is simply not practical. Those expenses include its initial cost (which, for many people translates to a monthly car payment for a number of years), auto insurance, license and registration, maintenance and repair, and possibly even parking\/storage fees. If these costs exceed the cost of renting a car situationally (and you have reliable alternatives available for emergencies) renting may be something to investigate in the interest of saving money.<\/p>\n