How To Find Low-Cost (or even FREE) Transportation

Whether you're lacking the funds to purchase your own vehicle or are having difficulty filling up your gas tank week after week, you’re not alone. For many households, transportation is the second-largest annual expense after housing, taking up a large portion of one’s income. The struggle to find reliable, affordable transportation in order to maintain financial independence is an issue many American families face. Despite the importance of its availability, there are still a great number of cities that only offer limited public transportation options. The lack of affordable transportation has reduced individuals access to jobs, key goods and services becoming a huge barrier for people trying to better their economic standing.

With commuting problems being a central theme for many low-income people trying to build a better future, we’ve decided to look into possible solutions. Below are a variety of companies and organizations that assist in connecting low-income residents with better transit options.

Car Donation Programs

Offering access to affordable and sometimes free transportation, working your way up to a more stable financial situation is possible with the help of these car donation programs. The primary goal of these organizations is to assist low-income families in building self-sufficiency. If you find yourself struggling to find reliable transportation, these programs may offer the opportunity you’ve been searching for to improve your lifestyle.

Smart Auto Finance Options

Another good option for reliable transportation is financing a new or used vehicle. There are a number of companies that will help you find the best financing options for your budget, credit and personal needs. This company makes auto loans easier for Americans. It's simple approval criteria makes car buying a piece of cake for people with credit issues. Take advantage of this resources to explore your options and find a car loan with low monthly payments no matter what your credit score is.

Discounted Transportation

There are a number of companies that offer discounted travel options for specific groups. It takes a little research but the savings makes it all worth it. Typically companies will have a loyalty program where you can earn points that turn into discounts and free tickets. Many will also offer every day discounts of up to 50% off for kids, seniors, military, groups and more. Amtrak and Greyhound are two of the larger companies where you can find these special discounts for certain groups.

Carpooling/Ride Sharing

Turn carpooling into your main form of commuting and save money each month. The first direct savings you will notice is on your gas bill. The amount of savings in fuel depends on the number of people you carpool with. The more people you have the more savings you'll experience! Secondly, you can save on car repairs. Daily commuting takes a toll on your car each year. Maintenance and repair bills quickly add up along with car mileage. By alternating vehicles with others in your carpool, your car will experience less wear and tear and you’ll be making fewer visits to the repair shop.

Using rideshare services can also be an extremely affordable way of getting around. Companies such as Uber and Lyft offer discounted rides for people willing to share their trip with someone else going in the same direction.

Vehicle Sharing

Depending on where you live, you may also have the opportunity to use companies such as Car2Go. Essentially it’s like renting a car but better and hassle-free. They offer customers the convenience of on the spot transportation without the costly responsibility of vehicle ownership. Once you download the mobile phone app, you can check the map to see where Car2Go cars are made available (on the street and in designated areas). Find one close, hop in (with no reservations required) and return wherever you’d like. Parking is also free in most cities.

Car ownership can be expensive. On average, car owners pay more than $8,000 for costs including depreciation, insurance, maintenance, and fuel. If you own your own vehicle, you may choose to offset these costs by renting your car out and earning money. Companies like this one are growing all over the country. They make listing your car easy and provide $1,000,000 in liability coverage.

Craigslist

Although buying a car may sound expensive, it doesn't have to be. If you can’t afford a car payment and are in need of your own transportation Craigslist is a good place to look for used cars. You can normally find used vehicles for $1,000 or less. You will also save on insurance as you won’t be required to carry costly coverage. When searching for cars for sale in your area, try narrowing your search by cars sold by owners only. This is because many dealers purchase used cars at auction and are unaware of the real condition of the car. Private owners are more likely to know the cars history and condition.