No Car?

As I am getting more and more sure that I will move to Southern California I decided to get my car fixed, because I don’t think I could stand it without air-conditioning in that hot weather. And then came the shock. I took it to the mechanic where I learned that it would cost $833. Furthermore the radiator is leaking and that would need fixing: $445. That would be more important, because not fixing it can break the car down, while the AC is just for convenience. Finally I also asked about how much would it cost to fix the speedometer: $596. The 3 items together almost $1900. The Blue Book value of the car if I am to sell it as a private person is $1200 now and even if I fix these things would be only $1500. Therefore it is not worth fixing. I decided to sell it. I don’t know when yet, but may do it before I leave for the summer. Or may sell it only a few weeks after my return, so it could help me settling in at my new place. The disadvantage of this later option is that I would get less money for a car without AC in the South than in the North. I also started to think whether I want to buy a new car at all. I want to consider it carefully. On one hand here are the associated costs of having a car for a year. Gas – 480 (assuming 2 filling per month, each $20) Insurance – 1000 AAA membership – 40 Registration – 200 Oil – 120 (4 oil change, each $30) Repair/checkup/tire – 600 (this is just a wild guess, it can be way more.) Washing – 60 (4 times $15) Parking – 100 (I am sure it is more expensive in SoCal) Total: 2600 On the other hand if I just use my bike and public transportation, it would cost me in a year: Bus – 360 (either with individual tickets or bus passes, I assumed $30/month) Non-owner policy – 200 (It is useful to maintain continuos insurance even if I don’t own a car. I can use it when I am renting, and can get cheaper rate if I decide to have a car later.) Rent-car, taxi – 640 (I assumed I would need a car 16 days a year, $40 each time) Total: 1200 From this point of view it is cheaper not having a car. However there are additional factors to consider. One of them is time: using the public transport and the bike would take longer. (Most of the time. in an LA gridlock it may be the other way around.) So how important it is for me to save time. Not that. I love to ride the bike and this way I would have more opportunity. And when I am riding the bus I can use the time for reading. The final and probably most important factor is my peace of mind and sense of freedom. Having a car allows me to go anywhere any time. This is what I need to think, whether I am ready to give up. I don’t know. I will just have to wait and see how life without car works out for me. Once I sold my current car and won’t have a new one I will either be OK or not OK. If the latter happens I will buy one. Another side note. Getting rid of the car also eases my mind a bit. It is a kind of responsibility. I don’t want it, would free me. I don’t have to think of protecting a “valuable” property.