Buying a Car vs. Using Taxis: Which Is More Cost-Effective?

Today, many car enthusiasts wonder: which is more cost-effective—driving on gasoline, gas, or diesel? But that is not the main question. Is it better for Ukrainians to buy their own car, or is it preferable to use taxi services? Let’s take a closer look at this.

Advantages of using a personal car:

• An owner can take their car and drive wherever they want, whenever they please.
• The driver is always personally responsible for their actions on the road.
• The owner can choose exactly whom to let into the car.
• Many men find great satisfaction not only in driving their own car but also in repairing and maintaining it.

What should be considered when driving a personal car?

Many people would never trade their own car for public transport or taxis. However, it is important to understand that owning and operating a car inevitably involves factors such as:

• fuel purchases;
• vehicle inspection costs;
• necessary replacement of oil and other consumables;
• potential repairs;
• insurance and parking fees;
• force majeure situations;
• vehicle wear and tear over time.

To understand how much it will cost to own a car—for instance, over a year of use—you first need to realize that expenses go beyond just fuel and maintenance. Let’s look at the example of a Hyundai Accent.

This car model features a 1.6-liter engine. When equipped with an automatic transmission, it consumes approximately 10 liters of gasoline per 100 km of city driving. This means the cost of driving 100 km starts at 230 UAH. When you factor in maintenance costs, you need to add at least another 150–200 UAH per 100 km for vehicle upkeep. And these are just the minimum figures.

Ultimately, a 100 km trip costs at least 430 UAH—or 4.3 UAH per kilometer. And that is based on the roughest, most conservative estimates. If you include parking fees, insurance, potential fines, unexpected breakdowns, and tire replacements, that figure at least doubles or triples, reaching 8–10 UAH per kilometer. And that’s without even considering the cost of buying the car itself!

Is it worth buying a car? Or is it better to use a taxi?

Take our taxi company, for example: the average cost per kilometer is 6–7 UAH. Based on this, it is safe to say that traveling with the taxi service SHARK TAXI is very affordable. So, think carefully about whether it makes sense to buy an expensive car. Plus, it is incredibly easy to summon a driver from anywhere using the taxi mobile app.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that for Ukrainian citizens, using taxi services is far cheaper than buying a car and handling its maintenance and other associated costs. Many studies confirm this. Moreover, a trip with an experienced taxi driver ensures safety and offers an affordable, comfortable way to reach your destination.