corsia logo

The Future of Car Ownership

The Future of Car Ownership

The way we live and consume today is totally different from what it used to be in the past. Our priorities are different and constantly changing. We place value in different things now. Take car ownership, for example.

Owning a car used to be seen as a status symbol, but today, cars are no longer perceived in the same way. More than a status symbol, they have become a bare necessity for most people.

Whether you like it or not, cars cost the average American $9,000 every year. What’s even more shocking is that 96% of the time, the average vehicle is not even used at all. It’s just parked somewhere along with other cars that are rarely driven.

According to 1995 data from Reinventing Parking , “across the world cars seem to be parked at least 92% of the time and typically about 96% of the time. […] I doubt more up to date or accurate data sets would change this number much.”

If you go out and look around, you would not just see cars in motion. Quite the contrary! You will most certainly see lines of parked cars on every street. Walk a little further and you will see plenty of parking lots. These huge areas could have been served a much better purpose.

Will the way people use (or don’t) cars look different in the future?

Dimora Vicci

I would love to own a Volkswagen Beetle or a Chevrolet Corvette one day. But that day still seems very far away for me. Not because these two cars, in particular, are too expensive and unrealistic for me to have. The truth is, I still haven’t had the real need to own a car. I can easily use public transport, Lyft, Uber, Sidecar, Flywheel, or any other transportation network company. As you can see, there are many convenient options that keep me from buying a car.

“The age of young people with driver’s licenses has been steadily decreasing ever since right around when I was born. In 1983, 92% of 20 to 24-year-olds had driver’s licenses. […] Today it’s just 24%. All told, a millennial today is 30% less likely to buy a car than someone from the previous generation,” according to a Lyft co-founder John Zimmer.

As you can see, the percentage of people who buy cars will most likely keep decreasing. Considering the fact that 92-96% of cars are parked most of the time anyways, using other means of transport instead of owning a car seems like a viable option for Americans, also beneficial for the environment.

That’s just the world we live in today. We have way too many transportation options. Owning a car, is simply just one of them, not necessarily the most important one.

Will transportation network companies kill private car ownership?

Before giving a definite answer, let’s look at the psychology of owning a car. What role does car ownership play in the lives of Americans? How are American roads constructed?

The psychology of owning a car

Having grown up in the Balkans has certainly taught me how important cars have been for many generations before mine.Being the car owner in the past surely meant a great deal.

In the US, during the early days of the automobile history, only the wealthiest of Americans had the luxury to own a car. But back then, vehicles weren’t a necessity for the masses.

Once cars started to be mass produced and transformed into a “necessary machine”, the whole picture changed. Car ownership has acquired a different meaning for Americans. It brought a sense of freedom and independence into their lives.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and you’ll see how different the picture looks nowadays. Although for the older generation of Americans, a car still represents power, freedom, and independence, for younger people,  a personal vehicle is just another “possession”.

There are many other things younger generations identify with power, freedom, and independence. Thus, owning a car for them does not have the same meaning it did for their parents and great parents.

The role of car ownership in the lives of Americans

Owning a car is very American. Not only it is an important part of lives of Americans, but also of their identity. Americans love to drive. For them, a car is an epitome of convenience – a selling point that’s not easily avoided. They love to have the freedom of having as many cars as they want. According to studies, an average American family relies precisely on 2.28 cars, with 66% of Americans owning two or more cars.

The American roads

The more cars were built, the more roads and space they required. In America, roads and entire urban areas are built to accommodate cars, not communities. That’s our reality today, whether we like it or not.

Often, these roads and highways were built through city centers, giving cars access everywhere. As revolutionary as it sounds, this caused many communities to separate even further over the years, making cars not only a symbol of the new era but a necessity in order to survive it.

What does this all mean for the auto industry?

Since more and more people are willing to “replace” car ownership with other transportation options and continue to share cars in the future, what will happen with the auto industry? Will ride sharing have a negative effect on car shipping industry? Or will the industry stay strong no matter what people will use as means of transport in the future?

America runs on trucks

Americans don’t only love to drive, they also move a lot. All year round there are millions of people moving to different cities for different reasons. Whether it is searching for new love, new job, or simply because they want to breathe different air, Americans are all in when it comes to moving. Often, people who move need to move their cars as well. And that is very good news for moving and shipping industries which are an essential part of the economy.

Auto shipping has become a serious business in the US. In fact, this industry is expected to become even more important in the coming years. According to a research report by IBISWorld titled Vehicle Shipping Services in the US: Market Research Report, “the Vehicle Shipping Services industry’s strong performance largely reflects a rebound from a very low recessionary base in 2009. Over the five years to 2014, as pent-up demand was satisfied and interest rates began to increase, car sales slowed and vehicle freight volume growth declined. However, demand for industry services has begun to normalize, and industry revenue is expected to increase over the five years to 2019.”

Auto transport is not what you think it is

corsiaparallax2
The auto shipping industry is not just like any other industry; it’s more complex than you may think. And while auto-transport is, at its core, a process of transporting a vehicle by an auto shipping company, in reality, things are not as simple. More often than not, transporting a vehicle implies thorough research and meticulous planning.

We hope this here will help you understand better what auto transport is all about.

How to move a car across the country?

Moving a car across the country it’s not something that can happen overnight. First. you need to research, request multiple quotes, and then hire the right moving company.Want to know how to choose the right company? Here is a guide to help you out.

But don’t think your job is done here. We encourage you to learn more about the auto transport process. Browse our FAQ to understand better how car shipping works.

In case it is your first time moving a car across the country, read our First Timer’s Guide to Car Shipping here. This article about how to ship a car you bought online might also come in handy.

How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?

There are many factors that affect the cost of shipping a vehicle. Shipping distance, vehicle make and model, the type of carrier you choose, vehicle condition, supply and demand, as well as how fast you need the car. If you’d like to read in details  about all the factors that can affect the total car shipping price check out this article here.

Another important factor is the season you pick for shipping your car. In a few months moving season will knock at the door. If you are relocating soon, start planning now. We’ve created a guide to help you avoid unpleasant surprises. Also, make sure not to choose a car transporter solely based on car shipping price. Here is why.

To get a price and ship your car with Corsia Logistics, fill out our online quote request. For more personalized service, call (818) 850-5258 and speak with one of our logistics experts.

Will private car ownership soon come to an end?

Most certainly not. According to an article by Ale Resnik for the Fortune Magazine, car ownership is not going anywhere anytime soon. Rideshares are not going to be the definitive killer of car ownership. They will complement it, which will, in turn, make car ownership more affordable in the future.

“The same trends that will make car sharing more affordable will also make ownership significantly more affordable and even profitable. Ride-sharing is not killing car ownership, but complementing it. Cars are getting smarter and more connected, costs to own are expected to fall and new models of ownership will emerge”

Ale Resnik

Furthermore, we have yet to see what role driverless cars will play in the car ownership – ride share equation. Until then we have to be open to any options that better fit our lifestyle and at the same time don’t hurt our planet.

Save

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
car shipping quote

Truckers Can Fight Sex Trafficking

If You See Something, Say Something! This is the slogan of the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization’s main goal is to have more

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping an electric vehicle like Rivian requires several considerations. Here we will share some key aspects to keep in mind when you need to ship

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next