> A car isn't a necessity

If you happen to live in a city. If you live outside a big metro area, at least in the US, a car absolutely is a necessity.

Where I live, there are no buses, no cabs, no uber, nothing. I don't have children or need to haul large loads frequently, so I might be able to make it work, but it would be a HUGE quality of life hit, necessitating taking a different job nearer me which almost certainly wouldn't pay as well as what I make now, moving closer to work - if I can find anything that's nearby and reasonably priced - and/or spending large amounts of time walking/biking. If I did have children or other dependents, there's just no real way I could expect to not have a car.

I agree and my situation in regards to Uber/public transportation is the same. People who say a car isn't a necessity in America, have likely never lived out of a big city. I live in a rural area (not quite USDA definition), where the closest store is 12mi one way. It's a convenience store/gas station. The grocery store is 3mi more up the road. I have kids, animals, and somewhat of a small hobby farm (chickens, garden, etc).

It is an absolute necessity for me to have a car and all the costs that entails. I'd rather give up my cell phone than the car.