I’ve watched this shift happening right outside my apartment window over the past year. Fewer cars idling at intersections, more bike bells ringing through Plateau streets. The numbers now confirm what many of us have been sensing.
Montrealers are driving less than nearly anyone else across Canada. We average just 4.6 days behind the wheel each week. That sits noticeably below the national benchmark of 5 days. Vancouver leads at 5.2 days, making our city’s retreat from car dependency even more striking.
The trend goes deeper than weekly habits. Quebec saw car ownership drop eight percentage points between 2025 and 2026. We now sit at 79 percent ownership, trailing the national average of 85 percent. This represents one of the steepest declines anywhere in the country.
Cost pressures drive much of this transformation. Quebec actually enjoys the lowest average car ownership expenses in Canada at $4,067 annually. But affordable doesn’t always mean manageable, especially when budgets feel stretched thin across every category.
Nearly one in ten Canadians now say monthly car expenses exceed what they can reasonably handle. Another 32 percent have deliberately reduced their driving frequency just to cope with rising costs. Maintenance bills climbed $113 year-over-year to reach $1,196 nationwide, adding unexpected strain to household finances.
I spoke with Marie Dumont, a graphic designer in Mile End, last month about her decision to sell her Honda Civic. “The insurance kept climbing, parking was impossible, and honestly I barely used it,” she told me over coffee at her favorite Saint-Viateur café. “Between the metro and BIXI, I get everywhere I need.”
Her story mirrors a broader pattern emerging across Montreal neighborhoods. Our extensive bike infrastructure makes car-free living genuinely practical here. Protected lanes now connect major districts, from the waterfront through downtown and into residential areas. Year-round cyclists have become common sights even during winter months.
Trade uncertainty complicates the picture further. Turo’s 2026 State of Car Ownership in Canada report reveals that 75 percent of Canadians worry tariffs will push vehicle prices higher. Thirty percent say these concerns make them less likely to purchase a car. Seventy percent won’t buy American-made vehicles until Canada-U.S. relations stabilize.
These anxieties translate into concrete behavior changes. Eleven percent fewer Canadians plan to buy cars within the next one to three years compared to last year. The hesitation reflects both immediate financial pressure and longer-term economic uncertainty.
Younger generations feel the squeeze most acutely. Gen Z pays more for car ownership than any other age group in Canada. They spend an average of $5,820 yearly according to Turo’s findings. That’s substantially higher than what older Canadians face for similar vehicle access.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 36 percent of Gen Z Canadians don’t own vehicles at all. Compare that to just 15 percent among the general population. Many younger Montrealers I’ve interviewed express little attachment to car ownership as a life milestone or status symbol.
Thomas Chen, a 26-year-old software developer in Griffintown, articulated this perspective clearly. “My parents see cars as freedom and independence,” he explained. “I see them as expensive liabilities that tie me down financially.”
The infrastructure conversation matters here too. Forty-five percent of Canadians wish better transit options existed so car ownership wouldn’t feel necessary. Montreal’s metro system serves central neighborhoods well, while bus networks extend reach into outer boroughs.
Yet gaps remain obvious to anyone relying on public transit daily. Evening service thins out considerably. Weekend schedules frustrate those needing reliable transportation for shift work or social activities. Certain neighborhoods still lack convenient connections to rapid transit lines.
Bassem El-Rahimy, Head of Turo Canada, contextualized these findings thoughtfully. “For decades, car ownership has been the default option in Canada,” he stated in the report. “Now we’re seeing that assumption start to shift.”
He continued: “People still need access to a car, but they’re questioning whether they need the financial weight that comes with owning one.” This distinction between access and ownership represents a fundamental rethinking of urban mobility.
Car-sharing services, rental options, and peer-to-peer platforms now offer alternatives to traditional ownership models. Montrealers increasingly embrace these flexible solutions for occasional needs while avoiding constant ownership costs.
I’ve noticed this pattern among friends and colleagues throughout the city. They rely on public transit and cycling for daily routines. Then they book shared vehicles for weekend trips to the Laurentians or grocery runs requiring trunk space.
The environmental dimension resonates strongly here too, though the Turo report focused primarily on economic factors. Montreal has committed to ambitious climate targets requiring transportation sector transformations. Reduced driving aligns naturally with these sustainability goals.
Walking through Rosemont or Villeray neighborhoods lately, the streetscape feels different. More pedestrians occupy sidewalks. Bike racks overflow outside popular destinations. Parking spots sit empty longer than they once did.
These observations match the data precisely. Turo’s State of Car Ownership study surveyed 1,509 Canadians aged 25 and older through the Angus Reid Forum in December 2025. The methodology ensures representative sampling across regions and demographics.
Montreal’s unique position within Canada makes our transportation choices particularly noteworthy. We combine European-influenced urban density with North American car culture. The resulting hybrid creates space for alternatives to flourish more easily than in sprawling suburban regions.
Winter conditions complicate matters, of course. Cold months test the commitment of even dedicated cyclists and transit users. Yet improved infrastructure and better winter maintenance have made year-round car-free living increasingly viable.
The broader economic context shapes these decisions too. Housing costs consume larger budget shares than ever before. Young professionals especially face tough choices about where limited dollars go. A car payment versus rent increase becomes a genuine either-or decision.
Looking ahead, this trend seems likely to accelerate rather than reverse. Vehicle prices continue climbing. Insurance rates keep rising. Maintenance costs show no signs of moderating. Meanwhile, alternatives improve steadily in quality and convenience.
Montreal stands positioned to lead Canada’s transportation transformation. Our infrastructure foundation exists already. Cultural openness to alternative mobility runs deep. Economic pressures push residents toward change regardless of environmental motivations.
The question now becomes whether policy will keep pace with shifting public behavior. Expanded bike networks, improved transit frequency, and pedestrian-friendly street design all deserve continued investment. These choices will determine whether Montreal’s car-light future feels liberating or merely like making do with less.
