Only food cost is higher than car expenses

By Alzira Rodrigues | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

Serasa released this week a poll evaluating the impact of cars on the family budget. Among other findings, the work reveals that, for most of the interviewed (63%), the automobile is the second higher expense in the family budget, trailing only food and ahead expenses with basic bills (57%).

The study, made in partnership with the Opinion Box Institute, included 2,067 interviews from December 12 to 18 and also aimed to identify market trends and behavioral relationships between Brazilians and the car.

One of the findings was that at least one in ten car owners intend to get rid of the vehicles in the next 12 months to minimize budget impacts. 23% of the drivers began to use the car after the pandemic as an income source and work tool, betting on app transportation, delivery services or new activities.

Some other points of the study:

• Home-office or hybrid work models generated by the pandemic changed car use for at least 48% of Brazilians.

• Among the most usual uses of the automobile are weekend outings, shopping and daily chores, and commuting to work or study places.

• Financial organization shows up as a conflict matter for drivers: 40% consider complex calculations about vehicle maintenance complex, and 32% admit expending more than planned.

• Among the reasons for the cost increase, considering the pandemic time and the scenarios faced are fuel prices, mentioned by 48% of the interviewed. For those who reduced car use compared to the pre-pandemic period, the new work formats as home office (26%) and hybrid work (22%) are the main factors.

The research, named “Brazilians’ Relationship with the Automobile”, also reveals that two in ten car owners did not plan how to pay the IPVA (car ownership tax) in 2023. “Even being a recurrent expense, always in the same period of the year, the amount due still surprise the drivers”, says Laís Gabriel, a Serasa specialist.

Photography: Pixabay

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Alzira Rodrigues

Jornalista formada pela Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, iniciou a cobertura do setor automotivo em 1981 na Sucursal do ABC de O Estado de S. Paulo. Manteve-se na área desde então, passando por outros jornais e também revistas e sites.

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