Please help me make a decision

[BlueIvy]

Everytime I think of getting my driver's license and a car. I get overwhelmed with anxiety .

I'm 29 years old and I don't have a license because I've lived in nyc all of my teen/adult life and it never crossed my mind until I've had kids. My kids are really disappointed that I don't drive and have a car. I admit in the winter it's miserable waiting for a bus or a late train.

Financially I just don't think it's possible because car insurance is sky high in nyc. I priced out insurance and the lowest quote I received was around $621 a month . That's more than my rent!

I told my kids if mommy gets a car we won't get to go to disney anymore because car insurance/gas etc will take up ALL of any extra cash that I have. My kids said they love disney but they'd rather I have a car.

I just don't think it's feasible on my salary. My grandfather said he'd buy me a car if I got my license. (Most likely will be a very old used car which I don't mind)

I net roughly $700 every two weeks . My rent (income based) is $420 a month. My verizon fios triple play package is $180 a month. Cell phone is $50 a month. Groceries I usually spend around $220 a month. (I do get $150 a month in foodstamps)

I would like to save $100 a month for emergencies. Whatever is leftover is what I would have left to spend on car insurance/gas etc..it's not much at all. I'm guessing I have around $400 a month extra toward car expenses. If I'm getting quotes of $621 a month...there's no way I can afford a car but I really want a car.

Is there any way I can get a car without having to move out of nyc ?

My kids are really important to me . I want them to be proud of me . I promised them I would get my license and get a car.

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[tnd]

What about getting the license and using a service like ZipCar for times when you want/need a car? I think learning to drive is a great skill, but the cost of having a car in NYC is so high. Also - where would you park? I have a lot of friends in NYC and parking is always a hassle.

 

[Marionnette]

Everytime I think of getting my driver's license and a car. I get overwhelmed with anxiety .

I'm 29 years old and I don't have a license because I've lived in nyc all of my teen/adult life and it never crossed my mind until I've had kids. My kids are really disappointed that I don't drive and have a car. I admit in the winter it's miserable waiting for a bus or a late train.

Financially I just don't think it's possible because car insurance is sky high in nyc. I priced out insurance and the lowest quote I received was around $621 a month . That's more than my rent!

I told my kids if mommy gets a car we won't get to go to disney anymore because car insurance/gas etc will take up ALL of any extra cash that I have. My kids said they love disney but they'd rather I have a car.

I just don't think it's feasible on my salary. My grandfather said he'd buy me a car if I got my license. (Most likely will be a very old used car which I don't mind)

I net roughly $700 every two weeks . My rent (income based) is $420 a month. My verizon fios triple play package is $180 a month. Cell phone is $50 a month. Groceries I usually spend around $220 a month. (I do get $150 a month in foodstamps)

I would like to save $100 a month for emergencies. Whatever is leftover is what I would have left to spend on car insurance/gas etc..it's not much at all. I'm guessing I have around $400 a month extra toward car expenses. If I'm getting quotes of $621 a month...there's no way I can afford a car but I really want a car.

Is there any way I can get a car without having to move out of nyc ?

My kids are really important to me . I want them to be proud of me . I promised them I would get my license and get a car.

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As the PP pointed out, just parking that car could cost a small fortune. You have also not considered that there's maintenance costs, annual inspections and registration. Sorry, but if there's no way that you can afford a car, I don't know how you will be able to have one and keep your head above water.

The PP's suggestion about joining Zipcar (after getting your license) or a similar car-share service is an excellent alternative for people who cannot afford to keep a car on a full-time basis, but need one at least once a month.

 

[scrapquitler]

What about getting the license and using a service like ZipCar for times when you want/need a car? I think learning to drive is a great skill, but the cost of having a car in NYC is so high. Also - where would you park? I have a lot of friends in NYC and parking is always a hassle.

I think this is a great option! You would have the access to a car when you need it at a reasonable price that you can afford.

I think that in NYC, the price of parking would be more of a problem than anything (not to mention the hassle...I have a friend who lives on a street on the Upper East Side, and she is forever having to move her car to avoid getting a ticket, and worrying about where she's going to find a parking spot).

 

[Aliceacc]

I know that lots of people in NYC don't drive and don't have to.

But I suggest you get your license anyway.

For one thing, it's an easy piece of ID. Anyone anywhere will accept a licence.

And there may come a time when you NEED to drive-- when the driver is incapacitated and you need to be behind the wheel. Knowledge is power-- you may someday need to be the driver.

And, to be honest, you'll be less nervous learning now than down the road someplace. Learn while you're young enough not to be afraid to learn.

Getting a car is a different matter. That's a matter of convenience. And you, like so many in NYC, may find that it's more convenient NOT to have a car. You can always rent one for those times when you want to drive somewhere.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Yes to the license, no to the car. The license is good to have. But you are in NO position to be paying for car expenses. If your kids are old enough to put pressure on you to get a car, then they are old enough to understand that you don't NEED a car in NYC. It's a luxury, and until you can cover all of your current expenses on your own then you don't need the luxury of a car.

 

[barkley]

I had never heard of zipcar before reading this thread-it may be more affordable than car ownership but dang, at $10-$15 an hour on top of the registration/membership fees that's expensive for someone on a tight budget.

op-find out what the laws are in your state if you so much as get a driver's license. where we live a licensed driver who operates any vehicle has to have their own insurance (the car has to be insured by the owner but the driver has to have insurance to operate a motor vehicle). it's why when dd wasn't ready to drive on a regular basis until she was almost 19 we didn't have her get a license (weren't going to pay several hundreds of dollars a month just to be licensed).


what others have said is so true-cost of car ownership is ongoing. there's upkeep/repairs/registration/parking..........and if you live in an area prone to snow and the car isn't 4 wheel drive there's the cost of a second set of tires that most end up paying someone to swap out twice a year.

 

[disneychrista]

Are you sure that it is $621 a month and not for six months? Most quotes give the price for six months. My oldest daughter is 23 and just got her license and pays $475 for six months.

 

[BlueIvy]

I would totally do a zip car but you need to have your license for a full year before they'd let you join. It's 10 an hour or $89 a day. I would take it for the day but its still pretty expensive . It would be way less to take a taxi and handle my business. I definetly want my driver's license no matter what. I would like to atleast be able to rent a car and do quick weekend getaways to the jersey shore with my kids.

It would also make our florida vacations cheaper. We can stay offsite at one of the many budget hotels ,rent a car and buy our park tickets seperately so we won't HAVE to stay onsite with the disney transportation...and my kids would get the opportunity to see me drive lol even if I don't have a car permanently .

Everytime I crunch numbers and think of where i'd like to drive..by the time I add the zipcar fees etc. It comes out way cheaper to just take a bus /train /taxi or flight.

Parking would've been covered by apartment complex however they recently raised the rates. It's now $436 a year for a parking spot! I didn't even consider or add that in my car expenses calculations...aiyiyiyi

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[mjkacmom]

Parking would've been covered by apartment complex however they recently raised the rates. It's now $436 a year for a parking spot! I didn't even consider or add that in my car expenses calculations...aiyiyiyi

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$436 a year?! Everyone I know who has a car in the city pays more than that per month!

 

[havaneselover]

I'm confused. On $18K/year with children in NYC, why is this even a question? Focus on necessities. Sounds like parking, insurance, a car payment, and gas would take up 100% of your income. It's not even remotely possible unless the city/state/federal government are now subsidizing vehicles too.

 

[Chelley00]

If I lived in NYC I wouldn't have a car! You are so lucky to have so many types of public transportation and so many thing within walking distance.

Maybe look at it as some day your kids will be proud of you for making a smart financial decision instead of giving in to their demands to get a car and spending a bunch of money you may not have.

 

[eliza61]

Born and raised in Harlem NY. We didn't buy a car until I left for college. LOL. Having a car in NY is way overrated. I live in Philly now and the main reason I use my car is for work. One of the reasons I moved from the suburbs is because I got sick of driving every where. To get a gallon of milk meant getting in the car and hiking. No way would I have one in NY.
By the way, my dad had to pay almost 300 bucks a month if he wanted a parking space in his building

 

[eliza61]

Are you sure that it is $621 a month and not for six months? Most quotes give the price for six months. My oldest daughter is 23 and just got her license and pays $475 for six months.

Where do you guys live. My 23 year old was paying 500 bucks a MONTH. Insurance in the city is insane.

 

[eliza61]

Are you sure that it is $621 a month and not for six months? Most quotes give the price for six months. My oldest daughter is 23 and just got her license and pays $475 for six months.

Where do you guys live. My 23 year old was paying 500 bucks a MONTH. Insurance in the city is insane.

 

[BlueIvy]

I've made the decision to nix the idea of having a car its just not realistic unless I hit the powerball or move . I'm still going to get my driver's license because i'd like the option to stay offsite and drive on our vacations.

I just hope I don't lose all the skills I've learned driving when I do get behind the wheel

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[MomToOne]

I know several people who live in NY who don't own cars, but do rent them on weekends and such as they need them, from regular rental agencies (not Zip Car). Have you considered that option?

 

[disneychrista]

Where do you guys live. My 23 year old was paying 500 bucks a MONTH. Insurance in the city is insane.

WOW! I wouldn't even own a car if insurance was that much. That is ridiculous.

We are in California.

 

[havaneselover]

WOW! I wouldn't even own a car if insurance was that much. That is ridiculous. We are in California.

Yeah that's more than I pay for my van for a year.

 

[sunnyday123]

I've made the decision to nix the idea of having a car its just not realistic unless I hit the powerball or move . I'm still going to get my driver's license because i'd like the option to stay offsite and drive on our vacations.

I just hope I don't lose all the skills I've learned driving when I do get behind the wheel

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Good idea. Unless having that vehicle will take you to a job that helps you get off assistance, it makes zero sense to have one, especially in NYC.

And I would absolutely not allow my kids to make financial decisions for me, especially when I'm struggling to support them. You can do lots of other things to make them proud.