How much I save not owning a car

If your situation allows it, not owning a car can save you money and have significant lifestyle benefits.

About 13 years ago, a weird random thing happened to my 10-year-old clunker of a car. I had taken it in for a routine oil change. The service center suggested a radiator flush. I said sure, go ahead and do it. An hour later I got the call to pick up my car.

I drove home and parked in our garage. The next morning I started the car and it was fine for a few moments. Then suddenly I heard a horrible sound. The engine had frozen.

When I had the car towed to my usual repair guy, he examined the radiator and it was dry as a bone. He told me there was no way they filled it back up after flushing it. The oil change service had killed my car. Considering the age of the car, it was totaled. The oil change service didn’t want to take responsibility. Suing would have cost me more than the car was worth. So, I donated the car to a nonprofit who took it away.

For a few days I was really bummed out. I had owned a car since moving to California from New York City in 1980. Owning a car was all I had known since then. When I was considering what car to buy next, a thought occurred to me. Maybe I could live without a car. Most of the year I live in San Francisco. Lots of people in the city don’t own cars. Could I be one of…