Do I need a car in Philly?

Q: Can you get around Philadelphia without a car?

If youre living in Philadelphia without a car, the public transportation system has you covered. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) includes a system of buses, trolleys, subways and a commuter rail with lines throughout the city.

Q: Is Philadelphia a walkable city?

Yes, yes, youve heard this: Philadelphia is a very walkable city. In every walkable city” list ever composed, were near the top, usually somewhere after New York and ahead of Seattle.

Philly is one of those rare cities in the USA where a car is not necessary for a visit. Indeed, it is a city where a car would be an expensive nuisance. The drivers are crazy, parking is either non-existent or expensive, and everything you'd want to see is either close enough for a walk or easily gotten to by public transport. If too tired to walk or unwilling to take mass transit, just hop in the omnipresent cabs.

Table of Contents Show

Can you get around Philadelphia without a car?
Is Philadelphia a walkable city?
Do you need to rent a car when visiting Philadelphia?
Do most people have cars in Philly?

Unless you have a major interest in the Revolutionary War, I agree that you can skip Valley Forge. The simple fact is that nothing really significant happened here -- which is actually the main reason it is so famous, because the Continental Army COULD have collapsed here, but didn't. All you will find are plaques detailing which units almost starved or froze at which site.

Actual battles were fought at nearby Brandywine Creek and at Monmouth NJ.

Thanks to a convenient public transportation system and affordable cabs and rideshare services, there is no need to rent a car in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Getting from the Philadelphia airport to the city center is easy, quick, and affordable thanks to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). SEPTA offers a Regional Rail that stops at all major Philadelphia International Airport terminals and reaches the city center in about 25 minutes. An adult ticket costs $6.50 and children under 12 ride for free.

Once you’re in Philly, getting from place to place using public transportation shouldn’t be a problem (after all, SEPTA is the nation’s sixth-largest public transportation system!). Explore the City of Brotherly Love via train, subway, trolley, and bus. You can even download their iOS or Android app for real-time alerts regarding weather delays, route changes, and more.

Finally, if you want to ride in style, classic yellow cabs are safe and widely available. Fan-favorite ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft serve the whole city.

Skipping out on a rental car means you’ll save money, avoid heavy traffic, and won’t waste time circling city blocks looking for a parking space.

If for whatever reason a rental car is a must-have, be sure to protect yourself with rental car coverage. You can add this option to your normal car insurance policy!

If you’re worried about this coverage driving up your rates, download Jerry to save big. A car insurance super app, Jerry helps drivers save over $800 a year on their car insurance policies.

Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

By Mary Cahill

Updated on Nov 22, 2022

Reviewed by Brenna Swanston.

Where to get a rental car in Philadelphia
Do you need a car in Philadelphia?
How to save on car insurance in Philadelphia

As long as you’re within the city limits, you don’t need a car in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania

. Most neighborhoods are highly walkable, and the city’s public transportation system offers routes via train, subway, trolley, and bus.

Visitors and residents alike will likely find that getting around Philadelphia without a car is pretty easy, but if you need a little guidance, the

licensed broker app

and insurance comparison expert

Jerry

has you covered. We’ll discuss Philly’s general walkability, go over some rental car basics, and provide you with some tips on how to save money on

car insurance

if you decide to bring your wheels to the City of Brotherly Love.

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds

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Mary Cahill

Mary Cahill is an insurance writer from New Haven, CT. She studied at Drexel University and is the author of two novels. In addition to writing, Mary’s interests include urban hiking, thrifting for vintage clothing, and international literature. Her favorite place in the world (so far) is Bergen, Norway. Her dream car is a Porsche 911.

Can you get around Philadelphia without a car?

If you're living in Philadelphia without a car, the public transportation system has you covered. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) includes a system of buses, trolleys, subways and a commuter rail with lines throughout the city.

Is Philadelphia a walkable city?

Yes, yes, you've heard this: Philadelphia is a very walkable city. In every “walkable city” list ever composed, we're near the top, usually somewhere after New York and ahead of Seattle.

Do you need to rent a car when visiting Philadelphia?

Thanks to a convenient public transportation system and affordable cabs and rideshare services, there is no need to rent a car in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getting from the Philadelphia airport to the city center is easy, quick, and affordable thanks to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).