When Americans think about moving overseas, one question always comes up:

“How will I get around if I don’t have a car?”

It’s a fair question.

After all, in America, having no car usually means having no life.

In the Philippines, however, transportation works very differently.

And after living here for years, I’ve come to a conclusion that surprises many Americans:

I never want to own a car again.

Not in the Philippines.

Not at my age.

Maybe not ever.

Life in America Means Driving

For most of my life in America, transportation meant:

• owning a car,
• paying insurance,
• paying registration,
• paying taxes,
• paying maintenance,
• paying repairs,
• paying gas,
• worrying about parking,
• and occasionally wondering why I bothered.

If you wanted to go somewhere:

You drove.

That was simply how life worked.

Life in the Philippines Is Different

In the Philippines, transportation is more like a menu.

You choose whatever works best for that particular day.

You can use:

• Grab,
• taxis,
• tricycles,
• tuk-tuks,
• jeepneys,
• buses,
• ferries,
• motorcycles,
• domestic airlines,
• or simply hire someone to drive you.

The result?

You spend a lot less time worrying about transportation.

My Personal Transportation Philosophy

At age 76, I’ve reached a simple conclusion:

If somebody else wants to do the driving, I’m happy to let them.

After years of driving in the Philippines, I eventually reached a conclusion, one that I wrote about in my post: I Learned More About Defensive Driving in the Philippines Than I Ever Did in America

Why own the headache?

I don’t own a car.

I don’t miss owning a car.

And frankly, I don’t miss:

• changing tires,
• arguing with mechanics,
• paying insurance,
• worrying about accidents,
• or hunting for parking spaces.

Or having to face the prospect of supporting an entire family for an accident that was not my fault.

In Puerto Galera, I can get almost anywhere I want to go for a few dollars.

Understanding how transportation works is just one part of adapting to everyday life, which is why I recommend reading What Filipinos Eat, Where They Shop, and Why It Matters More Than You Think.

That’s a trade I’ll take every time.

And consider this too: a decent pre-owned car, a reliable brand like Toyota, a four-door sedan will cost upwards of P500,000. which at the current rate of US dollar to Philippine peso of 60-1 is a bit over $8000,00. SUV’s are a lot more. You can get a lot of rides for that amount of money.

Grab: The King of Transportation Apps

Grab is essentially the Philippine version of Uber.

Actually, since Uber no longer operates here:

Grab is the transportation king.

Using the app, you can book:

• regular cars,
• larger vehicles,
• taxis,
• deliveries,
• food,
• and various other services.

The advantages:

• prices are shown upfront,
• drivers compete for fares,
• payment is simple,
• and the rides are generally inexpensive.

In major cities like Manila and Cebu, Grab is indispensable.

Motorcycle Taxis: For People With Better Nerves Than Me

Apps such as:

• Angkas,
• JoyRide,
• MOVE IT,

allow you to ride on the back of a motorcycle.

The advantages:

• incredibly cheap,
• incredibly fast,
• excellent for beating Manila traffic.

The disadvantages:

• you are riding on the back of a motorcycle in Manila traffic.

At my age, I’ll leave this form of transportation to younger people and those with stronger hearts.

Taxis: The Golden Rule

Traditional taxis remain common.

There is only one rule:

Make sure the driver uses the meter.

If someone says:

“Fixed price, sir.”

Be cautious.

The fixed price is often fixed in their favor.

Tricycles and Tuk-Tuks: The Real Backbone of the Philippines

For everyday life outside major cities, nothing beats the tricycle.

These are motorcycles attached to sidecars.

They’re:

• cheap,
• everywhere,
• and essential.

That said, if you’re a larger American retiree, you may discover that folding yourself into a traditional tricycle requires flexibility you haven’t possessed since the Nixon administration.

This is why I prefer the larger tuk-tuks available in many areas.

They’re easier to enter.

Easier to exit.

And at my age, that’s an important feature.

Jeepneys: The Authentic Experience

No discussion of Philippine transportation is complete without the jeepney. Rolling cast iron.

Built originally from surplus American military jeeps after World War II, jeepneys have evolved into colorful symbols of the Philippines.

Riding one is simple:

• flag it down,
• climb aboard,
• pass your money forward,
• say:

“Bayad po.”

When you want to get off:

“Para po.”

The advantages:

• very cheap,
• very authentic,
• very Filipino.

The disadvantages:

• frequent stops,
• crowded conditions,
• and little chance of getting anywhere quickly.

Think of it less as transportation and more as a cultural experience.

Inter-Island Travel

Living in an archipelago means boats become part of life.

Ferries

You can travel by:

• large overnight ships,
• Ro-Ro ferries,
• fast craft vessels,
• speedboats.

Domestic Airlines

For longer distances, most people fly.

Major carriers include:

• Philippine Airlines,
• Cebu Pacific,
• AirAsia.

Personally, I prefer Philippine Airlines.

Perhaps I’ve simply been unlucky, but my experience with Cebu Pacific has involved more delays than I care to remember.

The Greatest Luxury Nobody Talks About

One of the unexpected luxuries of retirement in the Philippines is this:

You can stop driving.

Really stop.

No insurance.

No car payments.

No repairs.

No registration.

No parking.

No road rage.

No wondering whether the mechanic actually fixed anything.

Instead, you simply decide:

How do I want to get there today?

And someone else worries about the rest.

The Bottom Line

Americans often ask:

“Can I survive in the Philippines without a car?”

After years of living here, my answer is:

Not only can you survive.

You may discover that giving up your car is one of the most liberating decisions you’ll ever make.

And honestly?

At age 76, letting somebody else do the driving feels like one of retirement’s greatest rewards.

📬 BUNKER NOTICE

One of the greatest hidden luxuries of retirement in the Philippines isn’t a lower cost of living.

It’s realizing that after decades of driving, paying insurance, fighting traffic, and worrying about repairs, you can finally let somebody else do the driving.

Subscribe to The Bunker Briefing for more observations, practical advice, and hard-earned lessons about retiring in the Philippines.