A study by the Behavioural Insights Unit at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, conducted in partnership with Bolt, reveals that 78% of Portuguese young people between the ages of 18 and 29 point to the high costs associated with cars as the main reason for not wanting to own a vehicle. The study, conducted in June 2026 with 1,000 residents in Portugal, shows that only 27% of young people associate car ownership with independence, while 38% believe that true freedom comes from financial stability.
The difficulty in finding parking (43%) and environmental concerns (27%) are also factors influencing this shift, but the financial burden remains the strongest argument. João Pedro Paz, Project Manager at the Behavioural Insights Unit at Católica Lisbon, highlights that this generation increasingly values convenience, flexibility, and access to different transportation options, without the financial burden that vehicle ownership entails.
In their daily lives, 61% of young people walk daily and 50% use public transport every day, while 24% use ride-hailing services every week. Approximately 62% of respondents admit that shared mobility solutions reduce the need to buy their own car, and 41% prefer access to different transportation options rather than owning a vehicle.
Mário de Morais, General Manager of Bolt Portugal, argues that the results should serve as a warning for those designing mobility policies in cities. The executive states that young people are showing that independence no longer depends on car ownership, but rather on the existence of accessible, reliable, and flexible transport, and that the future lies in greater integration between public transport and shared mobility solutions.
