{"id":947,"date":"2024-09-19T08:59:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T13:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/?p=947"},"modified":"2025-07-11T07:41:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T12:41:16","slug":"do-you-need-a-car-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/do-you-need-a-car-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Need a Car in Chicago? Exploring Transportation Options in the City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/moving-to-chicago-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving to Chicago<\/a>, one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll make is whether to get a car or commute with the city\u2019s many other options. Many Chicagoans choose to forego the expense of owning or leasing a vehicle and instead take advantage of the city\u2019s robust public transportation system, its walkability, and the many bicycle lanes and paths to get around. To help you make the best decision for your daily transpiration, here are some benefits, drawbacks, and alternative options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits of having a car in Chicago<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are plenty of benefits to having a car in Chicago. Driving allows you easy access to the metropolitan area\u2019s many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/service-areas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">neighborhoods and suburbs<\/a> that are filled with great restaurants and fun attractions, not to mention quick and easy runs to the grocery store and your daily commute to and from work. And, thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domu.com\/blog\/chicago-coordinates-chicago-grid-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago\u2019s grid system<\/a>, the city is relatively simple to navigate even for newer residents who aren\u2019t yet very familiar with the streets, avenues, and boulevards. Having your own set of wheels also lets you take day trips to nearby Wisconsin and Indiana, which are less than an hour away from the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another advantage to having a car in the Windy City is, of course, the weather. Although Chicago\u2019s climate is great for people who walk or bike throughout much of the year, the winters often bring snow, ice, and subzero windchills that might make you want to hop into a nice, warm vehicle. However, if you can find alternative transportation from December through February, you might want to avoid getting a car, as there are a few drawbacks like high costs, gridlocked traffic, and the frustrating hunt for a parking space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drawbacks to having a car<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like there are advantages to having a vehicle, there are some drawbacks to having a car in Chicago. Here are a few to keep in mind as you determine whether to get a car:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cost.<\/strong> If you\u2019re on a budget, you might not want expenses like your lease or loan, insurance, fuel, and maintenance to hit your wallet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traffic.<\/strong> Like any big city, Chicago\u2019s streets and expressways get pretty congested. If the thought of sitting in gridlock makes your skin crawl, it might be better to find alternate modes of transportation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parking. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/about\/facts.html#:~:text=Welcome%20to%20Chicago%2C%20the%20third,of%20nearly%20three%20million%20people.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Over three million people<\/a> live in Chicago, and many are drivers who must compete for parking spots. If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/apartment-movers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving to an apartment<\/a> that doesn\u2019t have a parking lot or sits on a parking permit-only street, hunting for a space to put your car into every day might not be worth it to you. However, neighborhood-based social media groups frequently have information on rentable parking places if you\u2019re set on getting a car.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of parking, if you\u2019re new to Chicago, you should familiarize yourself with the unwritten rule of <a href=\"https:\/\/news.wttw.com\/2024\/01\/08\/wttw-news-explains-uniquely-chicago-tradition-dibs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dibs<\/a>. This polarizing concept basically means that if you dig the snow out of a parking spot on the street during the winter, that spot is yours. Some Chicagoans put chairs, statues, and other semi-disposable items right on the street to reserve their spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re staying out of the dibs debate. However, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/chicago-moving-company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best movers in Chicago<\/a>, we help people settle into new homes all across the metropolitan area, and dibs do sometimes prevent us from parking our moving trucks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reasons you might not need a car in Chicago<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, do you need a car in Chicago? It\u2019s a tough question, particularly now that you have some benefits and drawbacks to consider. If you\u2019re still on the fence about getting a vehicle, there are some additional ways you can get to and from work, social outings, or wherever else you want to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Great public transportation system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Eight train lines and 128 bus routes make the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transitchicago.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)<\/a> one of the top public transportation systems in the country. You can get just about anywhere in the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week by hopping the infamous \u201cL\u201d train (unless the subway or a bus is more convenient for you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The local transportation system is also suburb-friendly for residents who need to frequently travel outside of city limits. If your daily commute takes you into the burbs, look into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacebus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pace Bus<\/a> system, which serves 247 different municipalities in six different Illinois counties. If the train life is more your style, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/metra.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metra<\/a>, which can take you as far north as Kenosha, WI, west to Elburn, IL, and south to Joliet, IL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternatives to having a car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Public transportation isn\u2019t convenient or desirable for everyone, and fortunately, Chicago offers some alternatives for carless folks, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/divvybikes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Divvy<\/a>, a bike share system that lets you rent a bicycle from more than 1,000 stations throughout Chicago and enjoy the over 400 miles of bike lanes in the city.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/depts\/cdot\/supp_info\/escooter-share-pilot-project.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scooter sharing<\/a> so you can cruise the streets on your way to work or just enjoy the town on a day off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zipcar.com\/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwl6-3BhBWEiwApN6_kkmU8hy77U3E9S0_2S8lwkpXagMFw0Olg1Ocfpr0-taPDuoYtYw4BxoClzgQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zipcar<\/a>, which lets you pay by the hour if you need to run a few errands and need some cargo room.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These options are available in many of Chicago\u2019s neighborhoods, and for residents who are open to these different modes of transpiration, they\u2019re convenient and wallet-friendly ways to get around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You focus on your transportation and we\u2019ll focus on your move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you need a car in Chicago? The jury is still out, and the answer is unique to each individual person. While you consider the pros, cons, and alternatives to having a vehicle, let us help you plan your move! If you\u2019re moving within the metropolitan area, we can take care of the packing and transportation. And if you\u2019re moving to our fair town from out of state, we\u2019ll meet you at your new Chicago house, apartment, or condo and provide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/loading-unloading-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">unloading service<\/a> to help you settle into your Windy City dwelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Contact us<\/a> today for a free estimate!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re moving to Chicago, one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll make is whether to get a car or commute with the city\u2019s many other options. Many Chicagoans choose to forego the expense of owning or leasing a vehicle and instead take advantage of the city\u2019s robust public transportation system, its walkability, and the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[184,21,6],"tags":[135,8,22,243],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=947"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947\/revisions\/950"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}