Most People Don’t Actually Need a Car (But They’ll Never Admit It)

Let’s start with the obvious: cars are brilliant. They’re fast, fun, and give us the illusion of control in a world that’s increasingly automated, outsourced, and digitized. But here’s the thing no one wants to say out loud: “Most people don’t really need a car”. They’ve just convinced themselves they do.

Because of tradition and ego. Because they’ve got a Spotify playlist that only sounds right through their speakers in their car while stuck in traffic.

Let’s break it down.

The Fantasy vs The Reality

Ask someone why they own a car and you’ll get the usual answers: “Freedom.”, “Convenience.”, “I need it for emergencies.” Now ask them how many kilometers they drive each week. You’ll get silence. Or lies. The average urban car owner in the UAE drives less than 12,000 km per year, or about 230 km per week. That’s 30 km a day. You can walk that in two hours. And in a city like Dubai, you could metro in 20 minutes and still have time for a karak. You’re not chasing freedom. You’re chasing parking.

The Cost of Vanity

Let’s do the math — very conservative math.

• Installment: AED 1,500/month
• Insurance: AED 250/month
• Fuel: AED 400/month
• Registration, Salik, tyres, minor maintenance: AED 300/month

You’re at AED 2,450 per month to keep a 4-door box of metal and plastic in your driveway. That’s AED 29,400 per year just to own something you barely use. And which will lose 15% of its value annually no matter how hard you baby it. If your car were a friend, you’d ghost them by now. 

Ride-Hailing Exists. Use It: Careem, Uber, Friends, your cousin with the 2009 Altima who owes you a favor. You don’t need to own a car to get around. The average Careem ride in Dubai costs between AED 25 and AED 35. Take three a week and you’ll still spend less than what you do filling your tank.

Even renting a car occasionally comes out to be cheaper than owning one. You’re paying for potential, not practicality.

Remote Work Killed the Commute

COVID wasn’t just a health crisis. It was a permission slip. Suddenly, we all realized how little FaceTime mattered. And now, even the most paranoid micromanagers have had to admit it: work gets done from home just fine.

If you work from home three days a week, then commute twice, and go to brunch on Friday… congratulations. You don’t need a car. You need a good phone and shoes that don’t squeak.

“But I Have a Family.” Yes, families complicate things. So do pets. So do screaming toddlers with melted ice cream on their hands. But let’s not pretend every family needs two cars. Or that every family trip requires a seven-seater SUV.

For people doing school runs, groceries, and Friday beach runs, it’s fair. For everyone else? You’re hiding behind a family; you don’t drive that much anyway.

The Counterpoint: Cars Still Matter

Let’s be honest. Public transport in the UAE is better than most places, but it’s not perfect. Outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it thins out quickly. If you live in Ajman or Sharjah, you’re not hopping on the metro to reach your office in JLT.

And ride-hailing? Try getting a Careem at 6 pm in a thunderstorm. You’ll be holding your phone in the air like it’s a medieval spellbook. Cars also matter if you work unpredictable hours, live outside central zones, or just enjoy being behind the wheel. 

Many enthusiasts appreciate cars not just for their status, but as beautiful mechanical poetry. Fair play. But these people are the exception, not the rule.

We’re Addicted to the Idea of Driving

Here’s the truth: the car isn’t a necessity. It’s an identity. The thing that says “I’ve made it.” It’s your escape plan, your Spotify cave, your mobile coffee cup holder. You know that feeling when your phone’s at 2%? That’s how most people would feel if they were told to live without a car. 

Not because they use it all the time, but because it represents a sense of independence. Except it’s a very expensive kind of independence that’s more about emotion than utility. So What Now? Sell your car? Maybe. Maybe not.

But at least be honest about what you’re paying for. If you only use your car once or twice a week, you’re better off using ride-hailing or renting occasionally. If your monthly car costs exceed your monthly car usage, you’re doing it wrong.

You’re not buying freedom. You’re leasing it with interest, registration, and the occasional Salik fine.

Conclusion

A car should serve you, not the other way around. If it’s become an ornament for your driveway or a backup plan you never use, maybe it’s time to rethink what “need” actually means. And, yes, some readers will argue that we’re wrong. They’ll talk about emergencies and spontaneous trips and “what if.” But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit: most of the time, you don’t need a car. You just like having one. And that’s fine. Just don’t call it ‘essential.’

Thanks for reading till the end. Let us know what your opinion on this topic. Keep following the Arabwheels Blog for more content like this.