The decision to get a car can impact a newcomer’s life in numerous ways. Here’s the answer to whether people require a car when they come to Canada. 

Well, the decision to get the car often depends upon a variety of factors. 

For instance, some questions a newcomer might ask themselves before making this decision are: 

  • How much does it cost? 
  • Does my family situation mean I need a car? 
  • Does my work situation mean I need a car? 
  • How important is travel flexibility to me and my family? 

Ultimately, the choice to purchase a car in Canada is personal and influenced by multiple factors. 

Proximity To Public Transit  

Many Canadian newcomers settle in metropolitan areas like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. 

In these situations, it is common for newcomers to be within 500 meters of a public transportation access point, such as a bus, subway, or other vehicle. 

According to Statistics Canada data from 2020, over 80% of the population in the following 16 Canadian metropolitan areas lived within 500 meters of a public transportation access point. 

  • Toronto, Ontario (ON): 93%
  • Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.): 92.7%
  • Montreal, Quebec (Q.C.): 91.6%
  • Regina, Saskatchewan (S.K.): 90.4%
  • Victoria, B.C.: 90.4%
  • Calgary, Alberta (A.B.): 88.9%
  • Oshawa, ON: 88.7%
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba (M.B.): 88.2%
  • Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, ON: 86.2%
  • Ottawa, ON: 85%
  • Guelph, ON: 83.5%
  • Quebec, QC: 83.1%
  • Edmonton, AB: 82.7%
  • Saskatoon, SK: 82.6%
  • Hamilton, ON: 81.1%
  • St. Catharines-Niagara, ON: 80.9%

Therefore, newcomers to Canada who settle in a region with good access to public transportation might decide against purchasing a car if public transportation can effectively help them travel. 

Family Size 

The next thing to know about whether people require a car when they come to Canada is the size of their families. 

Newcomers might come to Canada with family members and this can impact how they get around. Single travelers are less likely to need their own vehicle than newcomers who come to Canada with a larger group. 

Note: For newcomers looking for alternatives to a car, consider car-sharing services and ridesharing through Uber or Lyft. 

Cost 

Being a newcomer to Canada involves handling many expenses simultaneously. From finding a place to live to purchasing groceries and paying for school, newcomers already have a lot to handle financially before considering buying a car. 

Although prices associated with leasing a car will vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle, ratehub.ca data from January 2024 suggests that the average monthly cost of car ownership in Canada is $1,387. 

Note: This value is based on a collection of average costs, including gas, maintenance, car insurance, and parking. 

Safety and Car Theft In Canada 

Even if newcomers decide to purchase a car, there is still some risk because of the rise of car theft across Canada. 

According to the IBC, i.e., Insurance Bureau of Canada, car theft in this nation has risen to the point that Canadian private auto insurers paid out $1.5 billion in theft claims throughout 2023. 

To put this figure into perspective, the Bureau states that this figure is a 254% increase from just five years ago and that, between 2018 and 2021, auto theft claims cost private insurers just $556 million per year. 

Work Situation 

Newcomers might also evaluate their daily commute. For instance, someone who works from home is less likely to need a car than someone who must commute to their place of employment.  

Travel Flexibility 

The last thing to know about whether people require a car when they come to Canada is the travel flexibility. 

Travel flexibility is the term used to describe the comparative freedom that a newcomer with a car has to travel where and when they want. This level of freedom will be different for someone without a car. 

Without their own car, newcomers are likely to: 

  • Only be able to travel according to the public transportation schedules in their region 
  • Be forced to pay to use ridesharing services when they need to get to a different location 

This can be a restrictive and/ or costly way to navigate a newcomer’s community, run errands, or just explore more of Canada. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].