Follow US Immigration and US Life: Have you ever imagined giving up driving and relying solely on Uber, Lyft, or other ride-sharing apps for your transportation needs?
This is certainly a reasonable thought: a DUI conviction can result in penalties exceeding $15,000, and when you add in Los Angeles' notorious traffic—the worst in the United States—the prospect of driving can be quite painful.
However, data from NerdWallet shows that driving your own car is actually cheaper than using ride-sharing apps.
In Los Angeles, the annual cost of owning and driving a car is approximately $11,890, whereas relying on ride-sharing apps daily would cost $6,000 more than driving yourself. Considering that the average annual per capita income in Los Angeles is $27,900, you would find that using ride-sharing apps daily would consume nearly half of your salary. Therefore, driving your own car remains the most cost-effective way to travel in Los Angeles.
So, how many times could you use Lyft or Uber for the cost of driving? NerdWallet tells you:
The cost of owning a car in Los Angeles could cover 14.11 rides per week with Lyft or Uber, which is approximately 734 rides per year.
The situation is largely the same in other cities.
Ultimately, everyone should carefully consider whether to drive themselves or use ride-sharing services.