Almost half of UK drivers say they would consider giving up car ownership if borrowing a vehicle was easier
LONDON, UK. September 30th, 2026 – Almost half (49%) of UK drivers say rising motoring costs have made them question whether owning a car is still worth it, with the same proportion saying they would consider giving up ownership if they could easily borrow a vehicle when needed.
The findings come from a survey of 1,532 UK adults commissioned by temporary car insurance provider Covertime.com, as the cost of running a car continues to rise.
Motoring expenditure increased by 7.1% year-on-year, while fuel prices were up 23% over the same period.
Londoners were most likely to be considering giving up their car, with 59% saying they were contemplating doing so this year. Men were more likely than women to consider dropping ownership, at 52% compared with 41%, while 56% of Gen Z drivers aged 21 to 30 said they were open to the idea.
The findings come alongside a rise in the number of households without access to a car. Department for Transport figures show that 22% of households in England had no car in 2024, compared with 21% in 2020.
There has also been a sharp increase in vehicles declared off the road. DVLA data shows the number of cars registered with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) rose from 2.03 million in the first quarter of 2016 to 4.07 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Tom Warsop, motor insurance expert at Covertime.com, believes the figures indicated that some drivers were reconsidering ownership rather than giving up access to cars altogether.
Tom said: “Owning a car is a far bigger financial commitment than it used to be, and for a lot of people it no longer makes sense if they only need one occasionally. This trend isn’t about people falling out of love with driving, it’s about questioning whether owning a car outright is the most sensible way to do it.
“Before deciding whether to keep or ditch a car, drivers should work out what it really costs them each year, including insurance, fuel, servicing, repairs, parking, tax and depreciation. It’s also worth being honest about how often the car is actually used. If it sits on the driveway for days or weeks at a time, there may be other ways of getting access to a vehicle when it is genuinely needed.”
Liverpool-based Carly Skelton, 30, sold her VW Polo in 2024 after rising fuel, parking and maintenance costs made keeping a second car difficult to justify.
She said: “Selling my beloved VW Polo a couple of years ago wasn’t a decision I made lightly – I actually shed a tear when I handed over the keys. But having a car started to feel more like a luxury than a necessity. We were funding two sets of bills but only ever using one vehicle at a push.”
Carly now shares a car with her fiancé and uses public transport, taxis and temporary car insurance when she needs to drive.
She added: “I have no doubt we will invest in an additional car at some point in the future, but I feel reassured this can be done on my terms and doesn’t feel like a need right now.”
Read Covertime’s full research findings on ditching car ownership on the company’s website.
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