Renting a Car vs Public Transport: Which Is Better for Your Next Vacation?

Elevated Magazines
Nov 7
5 min read

Deciding how to get around on holiday is one of the simplest and most important choices you’ll make when planning a trip. Do you want the freedom to stop at hidden viewpoints and follow serendipity down country lanes? Or would you rather relax, leave the driving to someone else, and arrive at city sights without hunting for parking? The answer depends on the destination (is it a dense city or a wide-open region?), the type of trip (road trip vs. city break), your budget, and your environmental priorities.

This blog walks you through the pros and cons of renting a car and using public transport, compares costs, and gives practical guidance for travellers in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and the UK. You will also find some helpful links so you can learn more about renting a car versus taking public transport when you travel in some of the world’s most popular travel destinations.

Pros and Cons of Renting a Car

Pros

Freedom and flexibility. A car lets you set your own schedule, detour to off-the-beaten-track places and stop whenever a view or cafe catches your eye, ideal for scenic drives in New Zealand’s South Island, Australia’s coastal highways, or national parks in the USA. Tourism NZ explicitly promotes self-driving routes as a way to make the most of rural and scenic areas.
Convenience for luggage and groups. Families or friends with lots of gear benefit from a private vehicle: door-to-door travel, easier luggage stowage and no need to coordinate with timetables.
Access to remote places. Many natural attractions, rural towns and scenic lookouts aren’t well served by public buses or trains. Renting is often the only practical option to reach them.
Comfort and privacy. Long journeys are more comfortable when you control the temperature, music and stops, and you avoid crowded public transport.

Cons

Cost can add up. Rental fees, insurance, fuel, parking, tolls and one-way drop-off charges can make driving expensive, especially in city centres with high parking costs.
Local rules and paperwork. Different countries have particular rental rules; in New Zealand you’ll need a valid licence and to be aware of operator rules, and consumer protections require rental cars to be roadworthy. Always check local rental rules before booking.
Stress in cities. Congestion, narrow streets, complicated parking and low-emission or congestion charges (e.g., in many UK cities) can make driving more hassle than it’s worth in urban centres.
Environmental impact. Conventional private cars typically emit more CO₂ per passenger-kilometre than public transport unless you’re carpooling or using EV rentals.

Pros and Cons of Using Public Transportation

Pros

Cost-effective in cities. In dense urban areas (London, New York, Sydney, Auckland), public transport is often cheaper than paying for parking and congestion tolls, and frequent services mean you can move quickly between tourist nodes. TfL and city transport bodies actively promote public transport as a greener, cheaper way to get around in cities.
Lower environmental footprint. Trains, trams and buses carry many people per vehicle and are generally more efficient per passenger-km than single-occupancy cars, especially where networks are modern and well-used. Governments and transport agencies in the UK and Australia are prioritising greener public transport options.
No parking or local driving stress. You don’t have to worry about finding a spot, reading local parking signs, or navigating unfamiliar traffic rules.
Local experience. Riding public transport can feel more “local” - you’ll see city life at ground-level and may find spur-of-the-moment experiences.

Cons

Less flexibility for rural routes. Public transport tends to concentrate on urban corridors; services to small towns, remote beaches or mountain trailheads can be infrequent or non-existent.
Timetables and connections. You’re bound by schedules and may spend time waiting or transferring, which can shrink the amount of “do” time you have on short trips.
Luggage and comfort constraints. Trains and buses can be cramped at peak times, and handling lots of luggage or sporting equipment is harder.
Safety and coverage variability. Public transport quality varies by place - some cities have world-class systems, others have limited, delayed or infrequent services. Check official travel advice for your destination.

Cost Comparison: Renting a Car vs Public Transport

Costs vary widely by country, city and trip length, but here are the main cost lines to consider.

Renting a car

Base daily rental rate (varies by vehicle class and season)
Collision Damage Waiver/insurance (often sold at the counter)
Fuel (or EV charging costs)
Parking fees and fines
One-way drop-off fees (if you pick up in one city and return elsewhere)
Tolls and congestion charges

Public transport

Single fares or day/passes (city day/weekly passes can make public transport extremely cost-effective)
Regional/intercity fares for trains/coaches (can be cheaper if booked in advance)
Rental bikes, tram tokens or tourist hop-on hop-off buses (occasional extras)
Rideshares or taxis for last-mile connections

Practical rule: in dense city breaks (London, central Manhattan, central Auckland, Sydney CBD), public transport plus occasional rideshare usually beats the total cost of car rental once you add parking and congestion/toll charges. For multi-stop rural trips, national parks or cross-country itineraries (e.g., California coast, New Zealand South Island, Tasmania), a rental car or campervan is often cheaper and more convenient than piecing together sparse public transport.

For country-specific guidance and tips on getting around, both tourism bodies and local transport agencies publish up-to-date travel advice - good starting points are Tourism New Zealand and the Transport for London site.

Conclusion - How to choose for your trip

Choose a rental car if: your itinerary covers wide distances, includes remote attractions, you travel in a group/family with luggage or want maximum flexibility.
Choose public transport if: your trip is a city break or you want a lower-carbon, low-stress option with predictable costs.
Mix and match: many smart travellers combine approaches - use public transport in cities and hire a car for a few days when you head into the countryside. This hybrid approach often gives the best of both worlds.

Before you book anything, run a quick cost-and-time check: estimate daily rental + petrol + parking + tolls vs. daily passes + occasional taxi. Also check local rules (rental terms, insurance, driver licence requirements), important reading for New Zealand renters and overseas visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can renting a car be practical in big cities?

Yes, but only if your itinerary includes many suburban or out-of-centre stops where parking is available and cheaper. For purely central-city sightseeing, renting a car is often impractical due to parking costs, congestion and restrictions. Use public transport or short-term car hires (or park outside central zones and use transit). TfL and city guides explain how public transport often outperforms cars in dense city cores.

When is public transport not ideal?

When your destination is remote, services are infrequent, or you’re carrying heavy equipment (e.g., surfboards, camping gear). Inter-regional travel in countries with vast distances (parts of Australia or the rural USA) may be slower and less convenient by public transport, making a rental car or a domestic flight plus local hire a better option.

Is one option more environmentally friendly than the other?

Generally, public transport (trains, trams, buses) has a lower carbon footprint per passenger than single-occupancy cars, particularly in places where networks are well-used and electrified. Governments and agencies in the UK and Australia are pushing greener public transport and low-emission vehicle strategies because of transport’s significant share of emissions. If you’re environmentally conscious but need a car, consider electric or hybrid rentals where available and minimise solo driving.

Handy links and further reading

Tourism New Zealand - Getting around and self-drive tips. New Zealand
Transport for London - sustainability and why public transport matters in cities. Transport for London
Practical rental-car tips (USA) from AAA - great for insurance and cost-savings guidance. mwg.aaa.com