Indian Woman in US Says Having No Car Feels Like ‘House Arrest’: ‘It’s a Survival Need’

Moving from India to the United States can mean adjusting to several everyday differences, from work culture and expenses to transportation. For Drishti Baldeva, one of the biggest changes was realising how important owning a car could be for daily life.

In a video shared on Instagram, Baldeva spoke about her experience of living in the US and compared the country’s transport system with what she was accustomed to in India. She said that before moving abroad, she viewed owning a car largely as a convenience or luxury. After experiencing life in the US, however, her perspective changed.

According to Baldeva, having access to a car can become essential in many parts of the country, particularly where public transport and walkable neighbourhoods are limited.

‘In India, I used to think a car was a luxury’

Explaining the difference between her experiences in India and the US, Baldeva said, “In India, I used to think a car was a luxury, but after coming to the US, I realised it’s not a luxury – it’s a survival need.”

She pointed to India’s wide range of transport options as one of the biggest contrasts.

“In India, every two minutes you can find a rickshaw, bus, e-rickshaw, metro, or anything at all to go anywhere,” she said.

Baldeva argued that the situation can be very different in many parts of the US. While acknowledging exceptions, she said that outside a few major cities, public transportation may not be readily available for everyday commuting.

“Here, leave aside two or three cities like New York, and public transport in the rest of the US is almost non-existent,” she said, adding that she had experienced waits of up to 45 minutes for a bus and found some areas difficult to navigate on foot.

Why a car can become important for everyday errands

Baldeva also highlighted another challenge for newcomers: the distances between homes, shops and essential services.

“Everything here is so spread out that you have to drive 10 miles just to get groceries,” she said.

For someone without a personal vehicle, relying on ride-hailing services for routine errands can also become expensive.

Baldeva claimed that taking an Uber every day could cost around $50 to $60, depending on the circumstances. Based on her experience, she believes that international students and professionals may find learning to drive and arranging a vehicle becomes an early priority after moving to the US.

“That’s why, whether you are a student or an engineer, within one month of landing, learning to drive and buying a car both become a necessity,” she said.

Summing up her experience, Baldeva described life without a vehicle as being similar to “house arrest.”

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A post shared by CA Drishti Baldeva | Finance | Travel (@ca.drishtibaldeva)

‘Honestly a culture shock’

For Baldeva, the transportation difference was more than a minor lifestyle adjustment.

Sharing the video, she described the experience as a “culture shock”, particularly because she was accustomed to being able to find an auto-rickshaw, bus or metro relatively easily in India.

“America has one rule: if you don’t drive, life gets hard. Coming from India, where an auto, metro or bus is usually just a few minutes away, this was honestly a culture shock,” she wrote.

She also drew attention to the ongoing costs associated with car ownership, listing:

Car + insurance + gas + maintenance

These expenses can make owning a vehicle a significant financial commitment, particularly for students or people who have recently moved to the country.

At the same time, the convenience of having a car can make commuting, grocery shopping and other routine activities considerably easier in areas where public transportation is less accessible.

Social media users react to her experience

Baldeva’s video prompted discussion among social media users, with several people sharing their own observations about driving in the US.

One commenter discussed the relatively young age at which people can begin driving in some American states, writing that a driver’s licence can be obtained at 16 in Massachusetts, while the minimum age there for licensing is 16.5. The user also mentioned that some states allow people to begin learning to drive even earlier.

Another person simply described the post as “good information.”

The reactions show how transportation can be one of the less obvious adjustments for Indians moving to the US. While major cities such as New York have extensive public transportation, many suburban and less densely populated communities have been designed around car travel.

Is owning a car really necessary in the US?

Baldeva’s experience highlights an important distinction between different parts of the United States.

Car ownership is not equally necessary everywhere. Cities with extensive subway, bus or commuter-rail networks can offer residents alternatives to driving, while people living in suburbs or areas with limited public transit may depend much more heavily on personal vehicles.

For newcomers, the decision can therefore depend on where they live, their workplace or university, access to public transportation, commuting distance and budget.

A car can provide considerable freedom, but it also comes with costs such as insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking and financing.

For Baldeva, however, the adjustment from India’s readily available local transport to a more car-dependent lifestyle was significant enough to completely change how she viewed vehicle ownership.