Car Free Day is a chance to leave the car at home, try a different way of getting around and think about how we travel every day.

Whether you walk to work, cycle to the shops, catch the bus, take the train or simply swap one car journey for an alternative, small changes to how we travel can make a difference.

And going car-free doesn’t have to mean giving up cars altogether. It’s about having more choice and using a car when you genuinely need one.

What is Car Free Day? 

Car Free Day takes place every year on 22nd September, encouraging people around the world to rethink their reliance on private cars and experience their streets differently.

For one day, people are encouraged to leave their cars at home and choose alternative ways to travel. It can be as simple as walking somewhere you would normally drive, cycling to work, or using public transport for a journey.

It’s also a good opportunity to think beyond one day. Which journeys could you make differently on a regular basis?

Why go car free?

Reduce your impact

Transport is an important part of our everyday environmental footprint. Choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving can help reduce emissions associated with your journey.

You don’t have to change every journey either. Swapping just a few car trips for alternative ways of travelling can be a simple place to start.

Explore your local area

When you’re behind the wheel, it’s easy to focus on getting from A to B. Walking or cycling can give you the chance to slow down and see your local area differently. You might discover a new café, park, shortcut or street you’ve never noticed from the driver's seat.

Public transport can also turn your journey into a chance to sit back, read, listen to a podcast or simply enjoy some time away from the road.

Move more

Leaving the car at home can also be a great way to build a little more movement into your day. Walking part of your journey, cycling to the station or even taking a longer route on foot can add some extra activity without needing to find time for a separate workout.

But what about the journeys when you need a car?

Going car-free doesn’t mean that every journey has to be made without a car. Some trips simply work better with one. Maybe you’re carrying shopping, travelling somewhere that's difficult to reach by public transport, heading out of town or making a journey with several stops.

That’s where car clubs can offer a different approach to getting around.

How Co Wheels can help

At Co Wheels, we believe having access to a car doesn't necessarily mean having to own one.

With a car club, you can book a car when you need it, rather than having one parked outside your home for every journey.

A car when you need one

Use a Co Wheels car for the journeys where having a car makes sense, then leave it parked when you don't need one.

That means you can combine car travel with walking, cycling and public transport, choosing the option that works best for each journey.

Choose electric

If you need to drive, you can choose an electric Co Wheels vehicle where available.

Electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions while driving, offering another option for making more sustainable journeys.

Flexible and pay-as-you-go

With Co Wheels, you pay for the time you use the car rather than paying for a vehicle to sit outside your home.

It gives you the flexibility to choose when driving makes sense, without the ongoing commitment of owning a car.

Make Car Free Day the start of something

You don't need to completely change the way you travel overnight.

Start small. Walk a journey you'd normally drive. Take the bus into town. Cycle to the shops. Get the train instead of driving. Or simply think about whether you really need the car for your next trip.

And when you do need four wheels, car sharing can give you access to a car without needing to own one yourself.

This Car Free Day, give the car a day off and see where your journey takes you.

Not yet a member? Sign up before the end of Car Free Day using the code CARFREE26 and get free membership and £20 driving credit. Terms and conditions apply. 

t&c's: *Valid for new members only. Driving credit valid for 30 days from account verification. Offer expires midnight 22.09.26