Why do people hold on to cars that they never drive?

[Anonymous]

Cars that sit in their driveway, unused, for years. Can someone explain this to me? Why not get rid of junk taking up space, that you never use?

[Anonymous]

My BIL.
He not only has cars, plural, but a boat and trailer. He says he can't part with them because his father owned them. He could easily get a nice sum for all but no, he just can't part with any. He's poor as dirt and has that money right under his nose yet the stuff just sits and rots. He actually pays for up to date licenses on all but never uses them. All sitting under a carport covered up. He leaves his good vehicle out in the elements. CRAZY. FIL died over 12 years ago so when BIL inherited the house and everything with it he became an instant hoarder. He won't throw away FIL's clothes either. He's wearing 20 year old t shirts you can see through. I bought him brand new ones and a new winter coat but he has yet to even take them out of the packages.
My husband deals with him. I won't anymore. I'm just grateful we don't live near him.
I did think he had separation anxiety but I now think he never had anything of value so what's his is his. Period. He also has one of those mobility scooters. His uncle asked to borrow it after a hip replacement and BIL told him no. And he wonders why no one talks or visits him. He loves his misery.
I pity whomever gets clean up detail when he dies.

[Anonymous]

I'm saving one for my kid who turns 16 next year.

[Anonymous]

It's their car. Why do you care?? They have their personal reasons. You should learn to respect others and co exist with other people.

[Anonymous]

You live a lot of life in a car. Some get sentimental about them.

[Anonymous]

Sentimental reasons. We sometimes drive it. Was saving it for a kid but want a newer one with better safety features. Why do you care?

[Anonymous]

People are think things are worth more than they actually are, and then the memories or sentimental value. We were about to sell a deceased person's car, but one of the brothers, who rarely sat in the car, asked to keep it. The whole family buys/keeps material things for some kind of comfort/connection.
Half of them are autistic, maybe that has something to do with it in this case.

[Anonymous]

People are hoarders

[Anonymous]

This my neighbors but with everything sitting outside. They even had a giant bag of sand in the middle of their driveway for about 5 years.

[Anonymous]

I have a car that I rarely drive. I’m not a comfortable driver. If I ever HAVE to drive, I want to drive THIS particular car.
If I ever need to be driven, particularly if it’s urgent, it may be easier to get someone to drive me if I already have an available car.
It’s also sentimental. If I did not have a car, I would not make an effort to purchase one.
So for a relatively small amount of money, I have options that I would like to keep open should I need them.

FWIW, I have lived in 2 places that experienced severe (but not catastrophic) flooding during hurricanes. Having the future option to use the car to leave in an emergency, possibly taking others along as well, is one that I would like to keep open.

Why do you care OP? Are you a minimalist who uses everything you own on a regular basis? Curious? Nosy? Something else?

[Anonymous]

They have hoarding tendencies, OP. Usually it comes with an inability to sort through items (often linked to ADHD) and anxiety-related inability to let go (often linked to autism).

Hoarding is a very serious disorder that's difficult to treat. But if the only manifestation is holding on to one old car, then you're in luck. I know people with stuff in their house up to the ceiling. It's also inheritable, so if the parent was a hoarder, it's more likely that at least one kid will be too.

[Anonymous]

It’s nice to have a backup vehicle in case yours is in the shop getting repaired or you get a flat. Other times people hold a truck in case they have to haul something big from a store like Home Depot.

[Anonymous]

Other than insurance and registration and whatever occasional maintenance needs arise, it costs very little to hold onto a car even if you don’t drive it much. But it’s value in terms of convenience and being able to just get in and go somewhere on a moments notice is huge.

People without cars planning a trip that requires a car - they spend a LOT of time putting their travel plan together. They either have to do a car share, a rental, or hire an Uber or Lyft.

People with cars? They just get in the car and go.


That’s why.

[Anonymous]

I drive my old car <40 miles per month. It’s a 2019, I bought it new and paid it off in 2020, with my umbrella policy the insurance is $125/month. I hang onto it because the new truck in the driveway is actually my work vehicle, although it’s my daily driver. People assume I bought/own it. I could sell my old car and just buy another if my work situation changes, but I already own this free and clear and it has very low miles and should last me another decade or more easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My BIL.
He not only has cars, plural, but a boat and trailer. He says he can't part with them because his father owned them. He could easily get a nice sum for all but no, he just can't part with any. He's poor as dirt and has that money right under his nose yet the stuff just sits and rots. He actually pays for up to date licenses on all but never uses them. All sitting under a carport covered up. He leaves his good vehicle out in the elements. CRAZY. FIL died over 12 years ago so when BIL inherited the house and everything with it he became an instant hoarder. He won't throw away FIL's clothes either. He's wearing 20 year old t shirts you can see through. I bought him brand new ones and a new winter coat but he has yet to even take them out of the packages.
My husband deals with him. I won't anymore. I'm just grateful we don't live near him.
I did think he had separation anxiety but I now think he never had anything of value so what's his is his. Period. He also has one of those mobility scooters. His uncle asked to borrow it after a hip replacement and BIL told him no. And he wonders why no one talks or visits him. He loves his misery.
I pity whomever gets clean up detail when he dies.

I have a similar BIL. He has kept 2 properties and a dozen vehicles of his parents, all deteriorating, but he has a sentimental connection to them.