HOW to decide whether to rent a car, use public transportation or use Uber/Lyft
(within the U.S).
There are many factors that influence this decision for me while I plan a trip. Time, expense, convenience and safety are the few main things that I look at before making the final call. Because each person’s needs are different, it’s hard to say renting a car is the only way to go, or public transport is the best for this specific city.
Instead, I have gathered some thoughts and questions that I go through while deciding what the best option is for a trip. You can ask yourself these questions if you find yourself stuck and unable to decide.
- How long are you visiting and are you traveling from one city to another
If you are visiting a city/town for a longer period OR if you are traveling from one city to another, renting a car would save you time and money in the long run. - The number of people you’re traveling with
This one is big. The more people you are traveling with, the more you will save renting a car instead of using public transport. Because each time you travel, you are paying for a higher number of people. Ex; if you are getting tickets for bus/train, you will have to get a ticket per person. But if you are just 1-2 people traveling, tickets for public transportation might cost less than Uber/taxi.
For Uber, with more than 4 people, you will have to choose the car for 4-6 people, which bumps up the price for each ride. - Who you are traveling with
This one is also a big factor. For our next trip, my parents will be traveling with us. We will be using more private cars and taxis instead of public transportation. This is taking into account the convenience aspect of traveling instead of cost. - How big the city is & distance between the places you are visiting
If the distance between the places you are visiting is not significant, you can get away with walking, using public transportation or Uber. If you have a longer commute between the places you decide to visit, you’re probably better off renting that car. Example, we are renting a car from one city and driving to another city…this cuts down our travel time from 6 hours using public transportation to just 2 hours with a car. - Is public transportation available and accessible?
Some smaller cities may not have much public transportation. There may not be many Uber drivers around either (which possibly increases the price and wait time). - How costly/safe is public transportation?
If you are in a major city (ex; up in Northwest) public transportation and Uber prices can be a higher than average. At the same time, gas prices may also be higher. Check out the prices for transportation and compare with the cost of renting. (Don’t forget to include gas money) If cost is not an issue, think about another main factor, like safety. - Gas prices?
Check out the gas prices before you rent a car - How expensive is a car for the duration you are there?
Sometimes it’s cheaper to rent a car for a few days instead of one day. Check out the prices online. Pay with a credit card that offers rental insurance so those additional charges won’t sneak up on you. - Is parking available? How costly is parking in the area you are in?
If you are leaning towards renting a car, research the average parking prices close to your tour sites. Are the rest of the sites walk-able if you get a day parking in the city?
If you have any other factors or tips for deciding whether to rent, Uber or use public transportation, comment below!
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