LONDON DITCHES THE CAR AS COSTS SOAR AND SHARING GOES MAINSTREAM

London is pushing the country out of car ownership, according to Turo’s 2026 Car Ownership Index, as 15% of London drivers plan to stop owning a car within the next year alone, the highest of any region in the UK and nearly double the national figure of 8%.

The survey of 2,009 UK adults also found that a further 13% plan to give up within two to three years, meaning more than one in four London car owners expect to be without a vehicle within three years.
London car owners pay an average of £285.52 per month to run their vehicle, the highest of any city in the country and 27% above the national average of £224.83. The strain is showing in how they maintain their cars too, with 35% having delayed repairs multiple times in the past year, above the national average of 30%.

Despite these costs, 45% of Londoners say their car is very important to their daily life, and three quarters (75%) say their car failed to meet their needs on at least one occasion in the past year, the highest of any region in the UK.

As attitudes to car ownership change, car sharing is moving from niche to mainstream in the capital. Nearly a third of Londoners (30%) have used a car sharing platform in the past 18 months, against 17% nationally, and 43% of London car owners say they would be willing to rent out their own vehicle, compared to 26% nationally.

London’s car sharing gap

In January of this year, car sharing platform Zipcar left the UK market. The following month, Turo surveyed 1,000 Londoners, revealing its effect and Londoners’ car usage habits.

Among non-car owners, 69% say they need access to a car at least once a week, yet 49% are considering an unwanted car purchase due to a lack of accessible alternatives. More than half (52%) say they would prefer to rent from a local neighbour than a large corporation.

When it comes to car owners, the cost doesn’t justify the usage:

72% do not use their vehicle daily
24% regret buying their car
64% say they would rent it out for more than £400 a month

The two surveys point to a city where the supply and demand for peer-to-peer car sharing are closely aligned. Owners have cars sitting idle and costs they want to offset. Non-owners need occasional access and favour a local model over a corporate one.

Rory Brimmer, Managing Director UK at car sharing marketplace Turo, said:

“Londoners are fed up with paying the highest running costs in the country for a car they rarely use, and the data shows they are actively looking for a better way. The appetite is there on both sides, owners want to offset their costs and non-car owners want flexible local access without being forced into ownership. Peer-to-peer car sharing connects both sides, and for those who list on Turo, top hosts earn £479* a month, in a city where running costs are the highest in the country, that makes a meaningful difference.”