Ben Squires
Retirement Income

Do I need a car in retirement?

Despite what overzealous advocates of the horse-drawn carriage would like you to believe, driving is still the easiest way to get from point A to point B. After a lifetime of enjoying this convenience the thought of going without a vehicle can be quite a conflicting one. We take a look at the pros and cons of driving at an advanced aged, so you can figure out whether you need a car in retirement. 

What are the risks of driving at an advanced age?

As The New Zealand Transport Agency notes, “A safe road system has skilled, competent, alert and sober drivers travelling at safe speeds in safe vehicles on safe roads that are predictable and forgiving of mistakes. If there comes a time when it is no longer safe to drive, people will need to retire from driving but can still maintain mobility and independence,” adding, “Older drivers are more likely to be injured or die following a crash than younger people.”

You might be a safe driver, but that doesn’t mean the people you’re sharing the road with are. And, as The New Zealand Transport Agency tellingly adds, statistics show, “Older drivers are more likely to be injured or die following a crash than younger people.”

Advantages of going without a car

While going without a vehicle may be a loss of convenience in some respect, there are also some advantages that come with choosing to go without. We’ve also taken a look at three of the main advantages you can access by choosing to get rid of your car and abandon driving in retirement.

Related links:

5 common mistakes first time investors make

7 common mistakes about KiwiSaver

5 step guide for building a financial safety net

Tags:
retirement, money, car, Driving