Is it advisable to buy a car if driving only 4 times a month?

[MacAndres]

It is both advisable and not advisable to buy a car if driving only 4 times a month. Advisable to buy: Driving only 4 times a month may seem infrequent, but if each trip involves traveling relatively long distances to the destination, taking several hours or even more than ten hours per trip, it would be advisable to purchase your own car. Not advisable to buy: Owning a car requires regular maintenance, insurance payments, and other significant expenses. Additionally, infrequent driving can cause certain damages to the car, as various components are prone to aging when not used regularly, making the purchase potentially not worth it.

[EmersonAnn]

I think we need to carefully calculate the costs. After all, driving only four times a month might not justify buying a car. For example, purchasing a car worth around 100,000 yuan would incur at least 2,000 yuan in insurance annually. Assuming fuel costs 30 yuan per 50-kilometer trip, that's 120 yuan per month. Maintenance averages 1,500 yuan yearly, or 125 yuan monthly. Parking fees in big cities could start at 200 yuan per month. So the fixed costs would be nearly 650 yuan monthly. With only four uses per month, each trip would cost over 160 yuan. Compared to ride-hailing or car rentals—taking a DiDi for 50 yuan per trip totals 200 yuan monthly, or renting a car for a weekend day at around 150 yuan—the savings could be better spent on travel or shopping. Plus, owning a car means dealing with annual inspections, maintenance, traffic jams, and parking hassles. For occasional needs, carpooling or renting is more convenient and cost-effective. Of course, if you frequently take long trips or transport large items, buying might make sense, but at such low frequency, it's better to wait. Financially, shared mobility is the smarter choice.

[RafaelMarie]

I don't think buying a car at this frequency is a good idea unless you really love the feeling of driving freely. Think about the hassles after buying a car: once parked, it becomes a cost—insurance, road tax, annual inspections all need to be paid regularly. Using it just four times a month is too infrequent, equivalent to keeping a car idle, which isn't worth the money. Ride-hailing apps are much more convenient; just open your phone and a ride is available on demand, costing just a few dozen bucks each time. Or you can rent a car for a day through car-sharing apps for just over a hundred bucks. With urban public transport systems so developed these days, occasionally taking the subway or carpooling is both hassle-free and cost-effective. Plus, driving so little can lead to minor issues like battery degradation, and repairs can be a hassle. I think instead of buying a car that sits idle, it's smarter to save the money and rent when needed—flexible and burden-free. That's the smart choice.

[IsaacLee]

From an environmental perspective, buying a car is unnecessary if you only drive four times a month. More private cars increase carbon emissions and traffic congestion. Using public transportation or shared mobility options like ride-hailing or carpooling leaves a much smaller carbon footprint. Nowadays, electric bicycles or subways are very convenient, and occasional rides are hassle-free. Owning a car actually wastes resources: both manufacturing and operating vehicles consume energy, and regular maintenance is required, making it cost-inefficient for low-frequency use. Prioritizing green travel is recommended—it saves money and protects the planet.

[DelGianna]

Let me share some personal experience. I impulsively bought a car before, driving it only four or five times a month, and ended up regretting it deeply. Even when parked, the car still costs me hundreds every month in insurance and parking fees. What's worse, minor breakdowns were frequent—once I had to call a tow truck because the battery died. Compared to now, using ride-hailing services costs me just 50 bucks per trip, which is way more convenient and worry-free. Driving only four times a month is too little—buying a car is purely a waste of money. My advice: calculate carefully—a car isn't an asset but a liability. When you really need one, just hail a ride or rent one. Don’t get trapped like I did.

[MollyMarie]

From a financial planning perspective, buying a car for just four uses per month is not recommended. The money spent on purchasing a car could be saved or invested for greater returns, such as earning annual interest in a bank or being used for education and travel. Let's calculate the costs: assuming a car price of 80,000 yuan, with a five-year loan repayment of over 1,300 yuan per month, plus fixed expenses like insurance and fuel exceeding 1,000 yuan. Using it only four times makes the per-use cost too high. Renting a car or taking taxis for a few hundred yuan can save a significant amount of money for value-added goals. Cars depreciate quickly, losing half their value in a few years, making it wiser to save and spend elsewhere.